• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • About
  • Recipes
    • Main Course
    • Side Dishes
    • Desserts
    • Dips and Appetizers
    • Low Carb and Keto
  • Kitchen Product Reviews
  • This for That
My Kitchen Serenity
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Main Course
  • Side Dishes
  • Desserts
  • Dips and Appetizers
  • Low Carb and Keto
  • Ingredient Substitutions
  • Subscribe
  • Shop
  • About
  • ×

    Home » Desserts » Southern Lemon Chess Pie

    Southern Lemon Chess Pie

    Published: Nov 16, 2022 by Anne Clark · This post may contain affiliate links · 29 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    3 slices of lemon chess pie on blue platter with lemon garnish
    baked lemon chess pie on blue plate

    This ooey-gooey, sweet and tart lemon chess pie bakes up with a sweet delicate candy-like top crust. Made with simple ingredients and easy directions, this pie is an old-fashioned southern favorite that everybody loves.

    slice of pie on white plate with fork. Glass of milk and another plate with slice of pie on the side
    Jump to:
    • Why This Recipe Works
    • What Goes into this Pie?
    • How to Make Lemon Chess Pie
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Recipe Tips
    • More Pies to Try
    • Recipe
    • Comments

    Why This Recipe Works

    I'm glad you're here. Now, let's talk about this easy recipe for lemon chess pie and highlight its best features!

    Easy crust shortcut! This delightfully easy recipe comes together in almost no time thanks to using a store-bought frozen pie crust. A bright and tangy lemon pie, this recipe is sure to please anyone who tries it.

    Are you a lemon lover? I absolutely love everything lemon. Lemon pie, lemon cake, lemon chicken, etc., are just the best! So if you're here because you're wondering how to make a lemon chess pie, then you've come to the right place.

    And it's a super easy dessert! Not just for a summer or holiday dessert either, this beautiful lemon chess pie is a wonderful dessert any time of the year. Make this simple and classic southern dessert and bring a little sunshine into your day no matter what time of year it is!

    If you're also a fan of super easy recipes, give my One Pot Chicken and Rice a try! It also uses some shortcuts to make sure your dinner is ready in 30 minutes.

    What Goes into this Pie?

    ingredients measured out in silver bowls on counter top

    Deep dish pie crust - make sure you use the 9-inch, deep dish version; otherwise, all the pie filling won't fit in a regular size pie crust. The frozen pie crust is just fine and very handy.

    Yellow cornmeal - the cornmeal gives the top of the crust a nice, sweet crisp!

    Lemon juice and lemon zest - the star of the pie!  Fresh lemons give the pie that classic lemon tartness. Save some of the lemon peel for garnish.  It takes about 4-5 large lemons to make ½ cup juice.

    Sugar, flour, eggs, and butter - basic ingredients you probably already have on hand.  Just make sure to use real butter.

    How to Make Lemon Chess Pie

    For the best results, please follow the recipe card!

    photo collage of instruction steps
    1. Combine sugar, cornmeal, flour, and eggs in large bowl using a whisk. 
    2. Stir in melted butter, lemon juice, and lemon zest.  Mix well. 
    3. Pour into prepared pie crust and bake for 35 minutes or until filling is mostly set but no more than 40 minutes. Check on the pie after about 25 minutes to see if the crust is starting to brown too quickly -- see recipe note below if this happens.
    4. Cool on a wire rack.  Transfer to refrigerator to chill.  When chilled, sprinkle with powdered sugar or top with whipped cream.  TIP:  Can be served at room temperature but I think it's better served cold.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What's a good travel container for a pie?

    So now that you've made this delicious lemon chess pie, what is the best way to transport it?  I recently discovered a plastic carrier that's perfect for transporting pies, muffins, and cupcakes.  It's the Southern Homewares 3-in-1 Plastic Holder Container.  It offers easy-grip handles, a snap-tight lid, and it's made out of durable plastic.  Available now on Amazon!

    Are chess pie and vinegar pie the same thing?

    Vinegar pie and buttermilk pie can both be categorized under the broad term "chess pie." Any sort of acid added to the eggs - whether citrus juice in this recipe, or buttermilk or vinegar in others - will help lower the temperature at which the egg will achieve a custardy consistency.

    So, in short, vinegar pie and buttermilk pie are types of chess pie. Vinegar pie gets its twang from vinegar instead of lemon juice.  Lastly, buttermilk pie usually contains evaporated milk whereas chess pie typically doesn't contain dairy.

    Could I substitute another citrus for lemon?

    While I happen to LOVE lemon everything, there is nothing at all preventing you from trading out different citrus for this recipe. Lime would easily be the most comparable switch and you likely wouldn't need to change anything else about the recipe. Lime chess pie sounds intriguing doesn't it?

    Bitter citrus like grapefruit might require more sugar, depending on your taste preferences. Oranges and mandarins, which are naturally sweeter, would likely require less added sugar.

    How much lemon juice equals one lemon?

    One large, ripe lemon will give you about 4 tablespoons of juice. You'll need 4-5 large lemons to have enough lemon juice for this pie.

    Recipe Tips

    • For a gluten-free chess pie, consider using gluten-free all purpose flour and a gluten-free pie crust.  A follower of mine told me that Walmart carries a gluten-free graham cracker ready made pie crust that works well with this recipe!
    • Place the pie on a cookie sheet, then place it into the oven to bake it.  The cookie sheet makes it easier to handle in and out of the oven.
    • It's OK if the pie filling doesn't appear to be fully set when you remove it from the oven. As the pie cools, it will thicken. Once completely cooled, sprinkle with powdered sugar, or top with whipped cream.
    • If the crust starts to brown too quickly while baking, take a strip of foil and cover just the edges of the pie crust.  Continue to bake as directed.
    • If you're one of those bakers that makes your own pie crust, good for you! I recommend that you always double up on your favorite recipe and freeze your own pie crusts for easy use in the future. This comes in handy when you have an unexpected guest coming over and want a last-minute dessert or a crust to whip up an easy chicken pot pie.
    • Buy a ready-made pie crust and pre-bake (blind bake) according to package directions.
    • Alternatively, you could press the thawed, ready-made pie crust into a tart pan for that fancy crinkled pie look; then bake as directed.
    whole baked pie with powdered sugar sprinkled on top and lemon peel swirl on top

    More Pies to Try

    • Easy Chocolate Chess Pie
    • Frozen Strawberry Margarita Pie
    • Gluten-Free Banana Cream Pie
    • The Best Southern Pecan Pie

    If you’d like some recipe inspiration delivered straight to your inbox, sign up for my email newsletter on my subscribe page.

    If you tried this recipe, please rate it and leave me a comment. I'd love to hear from you!

    Recipe

    slice of lemon chess pie by My Kitchen Serenity

    Lemon Chess Pie

    Lemon Chess Pie is an easy, tart ooey gooey pie that bakes up with a sweet crispy candy-like top crust.  Chess pie is an old fashioned southern favorite that everybody loves.
    4.29 from 21 votes
    Print Pin For Later Rate
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 35 minutes
    Total Time: 45 minutes
    Servings: 8
    Calories: 350kcal
    Author: Anne Clark

    Equipment

    • large mixing bowl
    • whisk
    • measuring cup(s)
    • measuring spoons
    • wire rack

    Ingredients

    • 1 ready-made deep dish pie crust
    • 1-½ cups sugar
    • 1 Tablespoon cornmeal
    • 1 Tablespoon all purpose flour
    • 3 large eggs
    • 3 Tablespoons melted butter
    • ½ cup lemon juice it takes about 4-5 large lemons to make ½ cup juice. Alternatively, you can use bottled lemon juice.
    • zest of one lemon

    Instructions

    • Bake ready made pie crust according to package directions. This is known as blind baking or par baking.
    • Heat oven to 375F.  Combine sugar, cornmeal, flour, and eggs in large bowl using a whisk.  Stir in melted butter, lemon juice, and lemon zest.  Mix well.  Pour into prepared pie crust and bake for 35 minutes or until filling is mostly set but no more than 40 minutes. Check on the pie after about 25 minutes to see if the crust is starting to brown too quickly -- see recipe note below if this happens.
    • Cool on a wire rack.  Transfer to refrigerator to chill.  When chilled, sprinkle with powdered sugar or top with whipped cream.  TIP:  Can be served at room temperature but I think it's better served cold.

    Notes

    • Place the pie on a cookie sheet, then place it into the oven to bake it.  The cookie sheet makes it easier to handle in and out of the oven.
    • It's OK if the pie filling doesn't appear to be fully set when you remove it from the oven. As the pie cools, it will thicken. Once completely cooled, sprinkle with powdered sugar, or top with whipped cream. 
    • If the crust starts to brown too quickly while baking, take a strip of foil and cover just the edges of the pie crust.  Continue to bake as directed.
    • If you're one of those bakers that makes your own pie crust, good for you! I recommend that you always double up on your favorite recipe and freeze your own pie crusts for easy use in the future. This comes in handy when you have an unexpected guest coming over and want a last-minute dessert or a crust to whip up an easy chicken pot pie.
    • Buy a ready-made pie crust and pre-bake (blind bake) according to package directions. Alternatively, you could press the thawed, ready-made pie crust into a tart pan for that fancy crinkled pie look; then bake as directed. 
    • Chess pie is at its best flavor and texture when fully chilled, but some people eat it while it's still warm or room temperature. Either way, it's oh so delicious.
    Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @mykitchenserenity or tag #mykitchenserenity on Instagram!!

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 350kcal | Carbohydrates: 54g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 73mg | Sodium: 161mg | Potassium: 71mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 38g | Vitamin A: 221IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 18mg | Iron: 1mg

    This recipe was originally published in 2019 and was updated in 2022.

    Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy to my readers. I'm not a nutritionist and I don't guarantee the accuracy of this data. The data may differ according to the brands I used versus the brands you use. To calculate the data yourself using your brands, try using an online nutrition calculator or app.

    « Mexican Marinated Chicken
    Easy Chocolate Orange Cake »

    About Anne Clark

    Hi! I'm Anne, the founder and content creator at My Kitchen Serenity, a food blog focused on serving the needs of busy moms and dads who are looking for easy and delicious recipes for the family.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Beth

      November 24, 2022 at 3:05 pm

      3 stars
      Made recipe as posted but should have doubled to fill my deep dish crust. Very disappointing.

      Reply
      • Anne Clark

        November 25, 2022 at 8:51 am

        Beth, I'm sorry the pie didn't turn out like you'd hoped. What I can say is, the filling isn't supposed to come all the way to the top of the crust; it should be about an inch from the top. The reason for this is because before baking the pie, the filling is very thin and has the consistency of water and would spill over while trying to put it in the oven. Before baking the pie, it should look like the photo in my process shots. Hopefully, it tasted OK. I appreciate you letting me know!

        Reply
    2. Shelly

      January 06, 2023 at 8:13 pm

      2 stars
      The filing tastes great, but never set up. It got super dark in the oven, so I took it out to cool and hopefully set, but it never did. Q we

      Reply
      • Anne Clark

        January 07, 2023 at 12:02 pm

        I'm sorry the pie did not work out for you, Shelly. I'm not sure why the filling got super dark and never set. My lemon chess pie filling is supposed to be somewhat gooey like curd pie (not firm like a cream pie). The top browning too quickly sounds like your oven cooks at a higher temperature than what you set it on, perhaps? I am glad you liked the flavor. Thank you for letting me know!

        Reply
    3. Dancermum

      January 16, 2023 at 7:23 pm

      4 stars
      So easy, so good…but too much sugar; i did 1cup and I will be reducing it to 3/4C next time

      Reply
    « Older Comments

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Profile picture pose outside in front of tall brown grass in lavender floral blouse

    Hi. I’m Anne and I’m happy to share with you my easy, family-friendly recipes. I’ve been cooking for my family for 30 years, and what I’ve learned is that most busy families appreciate easy homemade meals. Now that the kids are grown, my passion is creating and sharing flavorful food for you and your family to enjoy as well. If you have any questions, feel free to email me at [email protected] 

    I’d love to hear from you!

    Recently Updated

    • Cheeseburger Tater Tot Casserole
    • Easy Pork Stir Fry
    • Avocado Egg Boats
    • Asian Cabbage Salad

    Seasonal Favorites

    • Homemade Cornbread Dressing
    • Easy Chocolate Chess Pie
    • Southern Mac and Cheese Baked
    • Easy Apricot Nectar Cake with Glaze
    • Creamy, Cheesy Southern Cabbage Casserole
    • Keto Pumpkin Bars with Candied Pecan Topping

    Popular Recipes

    • How to Cook Brats in the Oven
    • Southern Baked Beans
    • Easy Rotel Chicken Spaghetti
    • Easy Banana Nut Muffins Recipe
    • Easy BLT Dip with Cream Cheese
    • Keto Stuffed Bell Peppers

    Cajun Favorites

    • Cajun Chicken and Sausage Jambalaya
    • Easy Red Beans and Rice with Sausage
    • Cajun Butter Chicken
    • Easy Shrimp and Rice Casserole
    • Fried Green Tomatoes with Shrimp Cajun Sauce
    • Easy Keto Jambalaya Recipe

    Footer

    collage of all featured articles

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    Privacy

    • Privacy Policy and Disclosure
    • Accessibility Statement
    • Web Stories

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    9518 shares