Delicious Southern Chess Pie Recipe
This Southern chess pie recipe has been handed down through generations of family cooks because it’s so delicious! It’s easy to make ahead using simple ingredients like sugar, butter, eggs, and a frozen pie shell. It’s the perfect dessert for holidays and family gatherings.

This beloved dessert has a decadent custard filling baked in a flakey deep dish crust. It’s rustic and satisfies any sweet tooth. It’s one of my tried and true, go-to recipes for entertaining.
What Is Chess Pie
The classic recipe is simply a pie made with sugar, butter, milk and eggs. As we like to call it in our home, “sugar-butter pie.” You can also make a chocolate version which is amazing as well!
Why You’ll Love It
I was handed this recipe many years ago and it’s been a family favorite ever since.
- Easy. The filling comes together in just one bowl using a hand mixer. There’s no precooking, and prep takes only a few minutes.
- Simple ingredients. There are just 7 ingredients and they’re all kitchen staples so you can whip it up on short notice.
- Make ahead. Chess pie is best once the custard filling has set, so make it the night before for easy entertaining. Plus, you can enjoy it at room temperature, and it tastes even better the next day!
Serve it when your hosting Thanksgiving or a Friendsgiving dinner party. Add it to your Christmas dinner dessert or pie table. It’s a wonderful addition to Easter entertaining or for hosting a Southern themed dinner party, too.

Ingredients
- Eggs. Pull them out of the fridge about 30 minutes ahead to bring them down to room temperature so they integrate more easily.
- Sugar. Granulated white sugar is best. I don’t recommend trying to swap with an alternative sweetener. (Try my rustic apple-berry galette made with Truvia if you like recipes with other sweeteners).
- Butter. Use unsalted cold butter.
- Vanilla extract. A classic ingredient for most desserts; you should always have it in your panty.
- Milk. You can use whole milk, 2% or 1% milk. I have not made this with milk alternatives so I can’t recommend a substitute.
- Flour. Use simple all-purpose flour.
- Deep dish pie shell. I use a frozen pie crust to make this quick and easy (follow the directions on the package). It’s a freezer staple to have on hand for last minute baking. You can also use refrigerated pie dough and follow the package instructions to prep the crust, or make your own.
How to Make It
- Preheat the oven and blend eggs, sugar, and butter together with a hand mixer.
- Then mix in vanilla, milk, and flour, pour into pie shell and bake for 1 hour.
- Remove and let rest on a wire rack until cool.
Quick Tip
Place the pie shell on a sheet pan before pouring the filling in, then slide it into the oven. This makes it easier to transfer without spilling the liquid filling.
Expert Tips
- You must allow the pie to cool for about an hour so the custard can set. Otherwise it will ooze out when you cut into it.
- This pie can sit out on the counter for a while, but store it in the fridge overnight. Cover it with foil to keep it fresh and moist. It will keep well for up to 5 days…if it lasts that long!
- It also freezes very well. After wrapping the cooled pie in plastic wrap, wrap it in 2-3 layers of aluminum foil. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight.
- Serve it with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream, or both!

More Easy Pie Recipes
If you love this easy recipe, you’ve got to try these other delicious pies!
- Easy Kahlua Pecan Pie. It’s pecan pie with a twist! Use pre-made crust for easy preparation, and make this classic Southern pie with coffee liqueur added to the filling.
- Blackberry Custard Pie. The flaky crust, fresh berries, and luscious custard are a winning combination, and so easy to make!
- Classic Pumpkin Pie. This recipe is the only one I use for Thanksgiving dessert, fall dinner parties, or Christmas menus. It’s got pure pumpkin, sweetened condensed milk, and a ready made graham cracker crust.
- Cookie Butter Ice Cream Pie. My easy Biscoff ice cream pie recipe turns cookie butter spread into an amazing frozen dessert. Layers of chocolate ganache and no-churn cookie butter ice cream are topped with whipped topping and served in a deep dish pie shell.
- How to Make Pie Pops. Serving mini pies on a stick {aka Pie Pops} is one of my favorite dessert trends. They look adorable on display, you can make several flavors, kids and adults love them, and they are surprisingly easy to make.
There’s just nothing quite like a good old fashioned Southern chess pie. The simple and straight forward ingredients make magic as they all blend together.
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Easy Chess Pie Recipe
This chess pie dessert recipe is easy to make and everyone loves it. It's a classic southern pie with sugar and butter making it decadent and delicious. Serve with ice cream or whipped cream.
Ingredients
- 2 eggs
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- 1 stick (½ cup) cold butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup milk
- 2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 frozen deep dish pie shell
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Blend eggs, sugar, and butter together with a mixer on low.
- When mixture is combined well, add in vanilla, milk, and flour, and mix until well integrated.
- Pour mixture into pie shell and bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.
- Remove and let rest on a wire rack until cool.
Oh my goodness…I have been looking for a recipe for chess pie (or crack pie as I learned it). Hopefully this will be the one. Thank you! Looks so tastey.
I hope you like it as much as we do, Sandy. I could eat the whole thing my self!