Lemon Chess Pie

If you're looking for the perfect classic dessert for your next dinner, let me introduce you to this lemon chess pie. It's a classic Southern dessert that's just bursting with lemon flavor.   Every bite of this citrusy pie is like sunshine in your mouth!

The tartness of fresh lemon juice mixed with the sweetness from the sugar reminds me of drinking a tall glass of ice cold lemonade. Bake it in my extra flaky gluten free pie crust and serve it up with a dollop of dairy free whipped cream for a little something extra!  Lemon lovers will go crazy for this pie at your next holiday gathering.

If you're looking for more great lemon desserts to bring a little sunshine into your life, try out my gluten free lemon cake or this awesome copycat Starbucks lemon loaf.

Why You 'll Love This Lemon Chess Pie Recipe

• Classic - This is an old-fashioned Southern favorite dessert just like Grandma's all over bake up!
• Lemontastic - These is no shortage of fresh lemon flavor in this chess pie! Every bite will remind you of lemonade.
• Easy - It only takes about 5 minutes to whip up this pie filling and less than an hour to bake.  The hardest part is waiting for it to cool before cutting yourself a slice. 
• Allergen Friendly - The filling for this pie doesn't use any flour, since it's thickened with cornmeal and cornstarch. This recipe is gluten free and dairy free as written.
• No Blind Baking Needed - I typically only blind bake pies that have uncooked fillings. As long as you bake your pie on the lowest oven rack, the bottom of the pie crust should be cooked through.

Why Do They Call It Chess Pie?

There are a number of stories linked to the name Chess Pie.  Some say it was because people kept them in a pie chest and others because they ate the pie while playing chess.  Some even liken it to a cheese-less cheesecake, indicating the name might have been cheese pie.  The most often told story seems to be of a Southern woman who threw together a pie made from pantry staples and used cornmeal to thicken the filling.  She said it was "just pie", but with her Southern accent is sounded like chess pie.

Whatever origin story you choose to believe, chess pie is very similar to a custard pie or buttermilk pie.  Both are made with sugar, eggs and milk.  The main thing that differentiates this type of pie is the addition of cornmeal as a thickener.    

Ingredient Notes

This delicious recipe is made with a few simple ingredients that should be available at most grocery stories.

• Sugar - Since this is a custard pie, granulated sugar and eggs are the main components.  There's a good amount of sugar here to offset the tartness of the lemons.  
• Cornstarch - Cornstarch will help the custard filling set up during baking.  
• Gluten Free Cornmeal - Cornmeal is the ingredient that differentiates a chess pie from a custard pie.  The cornmeal will help the filling to setup during baking.  Make sure to use certified gluten free cornmeal if you're following a gf diet.
• Salt - Just a little salt to balance the sweet flavors.
• Eggs - As a custard based pie, this recipe calls for 5 eggs.  I wouldn't attempt an egg replacement here.
• Vegan Butter - I used Country Crock plant butter, but any vegan stick butter should work fine.  If you're not dairy free, use unsalted dairy butter in the same measure.
• Non-Dairy Milk - I used unsweetened coconut milk in this recipe, but any non-dairy milk will work.  If you're not dairy free, use whole milk in the same measure.
• Lemon Juice - You could use the bottled stuff, but it will taste so much better if you squeeze the lemons yourself.  You'll need the juice from about 2 whole lemons.
• Lemon Zest - Before juicing those lemons, make sure to zest the outside.  The peel adds so much lemon flavor.
• Vanilla Extract - Just to a little sweetness and complexity to the flavor.
• Gluten Free Pie Shell - Use a store bought crust or a homemade pie crust.  I always use my favorite gluten free pie crust recipe. I keep mine frozen right up until the moment I'm ready to pour the filling in. This recipe will make enough filling for one 9-inch pie plate.

See recipe card for full ingredient list and quantities.

Storage

Store any leftover lemon chess pie wrapped in aluminum foil or plastic wrap in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Bring to room temperature before serving.