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What is Chess Pie?

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Chess pie is a dessert popular in the US. It may also be called translucent or transparent pie. It is a single crust pie, quite similar in taste to a pecan pie, but without the pecans. In fact most recipes for this pie are almost identical to recipes for pecan pie, omitting the nuts.

Chess pie tends to be a bit gelatinous, and quite sweet. It may have a bit more texture than a pecan pie as many recipes add a tablespoon or two of cornmeal. Food historians suggest that the pie may have originated in England. It is in fact somewhat similar to treacle tart. However, most are puzzled by the name of the pie.

Increasing the amount of eggs used in a chess pie can enhance the pie's texture.
Increasing the amount of eggs used in a chess pie can enhance the pie's texture.

There is little association between the game of chess and chess pie. Some suggest initial recipes for this pie may have derived from Chesterton England. Others venture that the name chess pie may be a corruption of cheese pie. Yet the recipes certainly do not call for cheese. However, the curd texture of cheese pie is somewhat similar to chess pie.

Most chess pie recipes for an eight or nine inch (20 to 23 cm) pie call for about a cup of sugar, half a cup of melted butter, 2-3 eggs, vanilla, and a tablespoon or two of cornmeal. The larger number of eggs will yield a more gelatinous pie.

Half a cup of melted butter is a common chess pie ingredient.
Half a cup of melted butter is a common chess pie ingredient.

The mixture is poured into a pie shell and baked for about 45 minutes. Over-baking the pie can ruin it, as it can cause burning, or the pie filling may become unstable. Variants include recipes that call for chocolate, coconut, buttermilk, or lemon flavor. Some recipes simply use a pecan pie recipe and leave out the nuts. This produces a perfectly respectable version of chess pie.

Chess pie should not be confused with chess cake. Chess cake usually means a type of cake with cream cheese added, usually as part of baked topping combined with fruit. Chess squares may be a cookie recipe with a cream cheese and fruit topping.

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Tricia has a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and has been a frequent DelightedCooking contributor for many years. She is especially passionate about reading and writing, although her other interests include medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion. Tricia lives in Northern California and is currently working on her first novel.

Learn more...
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Tricia has a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and has been a frequent DelightedCooking contributor for many years. She is especially passionate about reading and writing, although her other interests include medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion. Tricia lives in Northern California and is currently working on her first novel.

Learn more...

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    • Increasing the amount of eggs used in a chess pie can enhance the pie's texture.
      By: andriigorulko
      Increasing the amount of eggs used in a chess pie can enhance the pie's texture.
    • Half a cup of melted butter is a common chess pie ingredient.
      By: sommai
      Half a cup of melted butter is a common chess pie ingredient.
    • Some suggest initial recipes for chess pie may have derived from Chesterton England.
      By: Negura Dincolo
      Some suggest initial recipes for chess pie may have derived from Chesterton England.
    • Chocolate may be used to flavor a chess pie.
      By: Natika
      Chocolate may be used to flavor a chess pie.