mama's chess pie

Name: Mama's Chess Pie
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 55 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: Southern
Ingredients: 4 large eggs; 1/2 cup(s) butter softened; 2 tablespoon(s) cornmeal; 1/8 teaspoon(s) salt; 1 1/2 cup(s) sugar; 2 tablespoon(s) evaporated milk; 1 teaspoon(s) vanilla *see note*; 1 - unbaked pie shell *see note*

(2 RATINGS)

690 Pinches 12 Photos

Cathy Smith

Cooper now in Columbus Ga., TX

Updated on Nov 28, 2019

This particular recipe is quite old, it is older than I am so it is 56* years. It has graced almost every Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner and still one of my favorites.

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Mama's Chess Pie dusted with powdered sugar.

Blue Ribbon Recipe

This old family recipe is a gem. It's creamy and smooth with a sweet, rich brown butter flavor. Brushing egg white on the crust and par-baking it helps the crust hold up well. It gives the crust excellent flakiness. Easy to make, this is a divine holiday dessert. We're ready to try the lemon version too!

— The Test Kitchen

prep time 5 Min

cook time 55 Min

method Bake

yield 6-8 serving(s)

Ingredients

4 large eggs
1/2 cup butter softened
2 tablespoons cornmeal
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 tablespoons evaporated milk
1 teaspoon vanilla *see note*
1 - unbaked pie shell *see note*

How To Make mama's chess pie

Test Kitchen Tips

Use a pie shield or foil to cover the pie crust when baking to prevent over-browning. We also suggest baking this on a cookie sheet to prevent the filling from coming out of the pie shell.

Step 1

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Note: I love a flaky crust so have found this to help, while baking keep a beaten egg white handy. Brush the unbaked pie shell bottom and sides with the beaten egg white.

Step 2

Bake that for 7-minutes. Let it cool then proceed on.
Step 3

Beat eggs and butter until light and lemon colored.
Step 4

Sprinkle in the remaining dry ingredients.
Step 5

Then add the evaporated milk and vanilla.
Step 6

Pour this into the pie shell.
Step 7

Bake for 55-65 minutes until set.
Step 8

NOTE: You can make this a lemon chess pie by adding 1/4 cup lemon juice and the zest from one lemon.
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