Recipe of the Week: Buttermilk Pie (2024)

FAQs

What's the difference between a chess pie and a buttermilk pie? ›

Both pies are very similar but have a few distinct differences. Like a chess pie, buttermilk pie starts with the same main components of butter, sugar, and eggs. But instead of milk and lemon juice (or vinegar), it uses straight buttermilk to give it a tart lusciousness.

Don't omit the flour

In comparison, buttermilk pie uses flour as a thickener. Without this ingredient, you wouldn't have the thick texture that buttermilk pie is known for; and your custard filling may not set as easily.

Buttermilk pie should be kept in the fridge in an airtight container to prevent spoilage and is best for three to four days after baking. Freeze any leftover buttermilk pie by tightly sealing it in an airtight zip-top bag or container. Pies stored in the freezer are best kept for two months.

According to historian William Woys Weaver, the molasses had been named after an iconic circus animal (Shoofly the Boxing Mule), who had been named after a popular song written during the Civil War (“Shoo Fly, Don't Bother Me”). The hearty pie-cake fusion remains popular in Pennsylvania's Amish country.

Name change

Some food writers and others have criticized naming foods including Crack Pie after addictive substances as insensitive and offensive. In May 2019, Devra First of the Boston Globe criticized the name in a column for making light of addiction by alluding to the addictiveness of crack cocaine.

Vintage Funeral Pie Recipe is an old-fashioned dessert that is made from raisins, spices, and walnuts. It was traditionally made by the Amish, but this sugary pie fits right into a Southern cook's recipe box.

Traditional buttermilk pie with a splash of Bird Dog Blackberry Whiskey. The Bird Dog gives a subtle berry undertone. If you haven't had Buttermilk Pie, it's similar to Chess Pie… very sweet!

Serving and Storage Instructions

Serve your deliciousness chilled or at room temperature, whatever you prefer. Store leftover buttermilk pie in an airtight container or the pie dish (covered) in the fridge for 3-5 days. Yes, you can freeze it, thaw it in the refrigerator overnight, and enjoy.

Why is My Buttermilk Pie Runny? It may not be fully cooked, OR it may be fully cooked but not fully cooled. You want to make sure to fully let the pie cool at room temperature (at least 2 hours) before you slice it to avoid it being runny.

Can I use buttermilk instead of heavy cream in pie? ›

Yes, you can swap them in a recipe, but it's not as simple as switching buttermilk for heavy cream/heavy cream for buttermilk. For example, if you're replacing buttermilk with heavy cream you'll probably need to switch out your baking soda for baking powder.

Buttermilk pie tastes like a buttery, vanilla custard, baked into a flaky, also buttery pie crust. Buttermilk lends a pleasant creaminess, and lemon zest and juice help to boost the pies tang. It's a simple, sweet, tangy delight!

Buttermilk pie is one of those old traditional Southern desserts that goes back through generations. Surprisingly though, it's said that buttermilk pie originates from the United Kingdom.

Like most dairy products, buttermilk should always be refrigerated below 40°F (4.4°C) to prevent widespread growth of bacteria. Avoid storing it in the door of your fridge, which usually experiences the most temperature fluctuations. Avoid leaving buttermilk out at room temperature.

“Well-wrapped, pie dough can be stored in the fridge for two to three days, or in the freezer for up to three months,” says David. “After day three in the fridge, you can expect your dough to oxidize, turning a grayish color.” This is completely normal, but can be postponed by adding a bit of vinegar to your recipe.

Cornmeal as a stabilizer in the filling is distinct to chess pie.” Buttermilk is the main factor in differentiating the two pies. Adding an acidic ingredient, like buttermilk or vinegar, to the pie will cut down on the sweetness and change the consistency of the filling.

And so, supposedly, the name “Chess Pie” was coined. Chess pie and its many Southern variations — including vinegar pie, transparent pie and Tyler pie (a favorite of Edna Lewis's, putatively named for President John Tyler and perfected by the women of Miss Lewis's hometown of Freetown, Va.)

Though it's not always called upon to thicken the filling, cornmeal is frequently what gives a chess pie it's velvety texture and yellow color. Buttermilk pie, meanwhile, always has buttermilk. More acids, like lemon juice or vinegar, are also frequently added to brighten up the recipe even more.

Buttermilk pie, true to its name, has a creamy dairy-based filling that's both sweet and tangy. Like chess pie, it has a buttery pastry crust and the filling is also made with sugar, butter, and eggs.