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1800s-present - Southern home cooks adapting English sugar-custard and transparent-pudding traditions
A classic Southern pantry pie with a buttery sugar filling, cornmeal texture, and a bright touch of vinegar or lemon.
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Difficulty
Easy
Prep time
15 minutes
Cook time
50 minutes
Total time
2 hours including cooling
Servings
8 servings
Region
Southern United States
Era introduced
1800s-present
Introduced by
Southern home cooks adapting English sugar-custard and transparent-pudding traditions
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Chess pie is one of the Souths great pantry desserts: eggs, sugar, butter, and a little cornmeal or flour baked in a plain crust. Its name has several competing explanations, from cheese pie to chest pie to just pie, and none needs to be treated as settled fact. What matters in the kitchen is the balance: rich custard, slight grain from cornmeal, and enough vinegar or lemon to keep the sweetness lively.
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