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Why You’ll Love My Recipe
This Lemon Chess Pie takes a traditional Southern favorite and gives it a bright, citrusy twist. Flavored with lemon in three delicious ways, it’s sweet, tangy, and irresistibly creamy. This pie is proof that simple ingredients can make the most memorable desserts!
Why not make your very own Betty Crocker Pie Crust for this recipe? Or, learn how to make a classic Chess Pie instead!
Karlynn’s Recipe Notes
- Skill Level: This Lemon Chess Pie is surprisingly easy to make, even if you’ve never made a chess pie before!
- Total Time: About 1 hour and 10 minutes from start to finish.
- Variations: For a more flavorful twist, serve your pie with a dollop of Lemon Whipped Cream or a spoonful of Lemon Curd on top. You can also add a thin layer of Homemade Raspberry Jam to the bottom of the crust before adding the filling for a sweet, fruity upgrade.
- Tools For This Recipe: You will need a mixing bowl, a whisk or hand beater, a pie dish, a cooling rack, and a pie server to enjoy your finished dessert!
What You’ll Need for Ingredients
Lemon Juice, Zest, and Extract: Using all three forms of lemon helps build a fuller, brighter citrus flavor. The lemon zest contributes essential oils that enhance the pie’s aroma, the juice adds a natural acidity, and the extract ties everything together so the pie tastes consistently lemony.
Cornmeal: This helps give the pie that classic Southern texture and a slight, tasty crunch. Karlynn’s Tip: Toasting the cornmeal lightly in the oven or in a dry skillet before adding it to the filling can enhance its deep, nutty notes.
Butter: Butter is essential for giving your chess pie its rich, creamy texture and classic flavor. Karlynn’s Tip: Use unsalted butter so you can control the pie’s sweetness and let the natural lemon flavor shine.
White Sugar: Sweetens the filling and balances the zesty tang from the lemon. Karlynn’s Tip: Measure your sugar carefully and avoid substitutions like brown sugar to avoid changing the pie’s texture.
How To Make Lemon Chess Pie
This is a quick overview of the recipe. The full list of ingredients & complete step-by-step instructions are in the recipe card below.
- Prepare your pie shell.
- In a bowl, mix the flour and sugar.
- Cream the butter and sugar mixture until fluffy.
- Beat the eggs slightly and add them to the butter and sugar.
- Mix in the cornmeal, lemon juice, lemon extract, and lemon zest until smooth and combined.
- Stir in the milk.
- Pour the filling into the prepared pie shell.
- Bake at 350°F for up to 45-55 minutes, or until the center is set and the top is golden brown.
- Let the pie cool on a rack for 1 hour before slicing and serving!
Karlynn’s Tips and Tricks for the Perfect Lemon Chess Pie
- Room Temperature Ingredients: Make sure your eggs and butter are at room temperature before mixing. This helps the filling come together smoothly and bake more evenly!
- Enhance The Lemon Flavor: For extra lemony goodness, sprinkle a little finely grated zest over the top of the pie right after baking. It adds a bright, citrusy aroma and a fresh pop of flavor.
- Cool Before Slicing: Let the pie cool completely on a rack for at least an hour before cutting. This allows the filling to set perfectly and keeps your slices clean!
Storage Instructions
Enjoy this Lemon Chess Pie fresh for the most delicious flavor and texture, but if you have leftovers, here’s how to safely enjoy them later.
Refrigerator: Store slices in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3–4 days. This keeps the custard creamy and the crust tender.
Freezer: According to USDA food storage guidelines, custard pies like chess pie should not be frozen. The filling contains eggs and sugar that can separate or become watery after thawing.
Even though it’s tempting to save a slice for later, this pie is best enjoyed within a few days, so treat yourself while it’s fresh!
More Delicious Pie Recipes
If you’re in the mood for more delicious Pie recipes, why not make one of these:
• Sour Cream Raisin Pie is a sweet, classic dessert that’s perfect for any occasion.
• Learning How to Blind Bake a Pie Crust will help you create perfectly crisp and flaky bases every time.
• Campfire Cherry Hand Pies are a fun, portable treat that you can enjoy by the fire or at home!
That’s all, folks! There’s something so comforting about a classic Lemon Chess Pie. I love baking this when I want a simple, homemade dessert that still feels special.
Give this recipe a try and let me know in the comments how your pie turns out, or if you experimented with any fun flavor twists. I always love hearing about your baking adventures!
Happy Baking!
Karlynn
Lemon Chess Pie
Ingredients
Pie Shell
- 1 single pie crust, 9 inch
Filling
- 1 ½ cups white sugar
- ¼ cup butter, softened
- 3 eggs, beaten
- ¼ cup whole milk
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon cornmeal
- ⅛ cup fresh lemon juice
- ¼ teaspoon lemon extract
- 2 tablespoons lemon zest
Instructions
Pie Shell
- Prepare Pie shell
Filling
- Preheat oven to 350°F
- Mix the flour with the sugar in a bowl.
- Cream the sugar mixture and butter in a large mixing bowl until fluffy.
- Beat the eggs slightly and add into the butter and sugar mix.
- Add in the milk and mix.
- Add the cornmeal, lemon juice, lemon extract and lemon zest. Mix it well until combined and smooth.
- Pour mixture into pastry shell.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 45 – 55 minutes, until set in center and golden brown on top.
- Let the pie cool for about 1 hour on a cooling rack before slicing.
- Sprinkle the top with icing sugar before serving.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Hallie says
What is the reason you use cornmeal in the pie batter?
Mary says
Question: may I make this using a graham cracker crust instead?