Chess Pie

Chess pie, a sweet and rich Southern classic, brings together eggs, butter, sugar, cornmeal, and flour in a crispy crust. Foodio/Shutterstock

Chess Pie

I’ve had this recipe for as long as I can remember. I’ve never considered it to be a “desperation” dessert because it’s so very rich and delicious.

Two popular variations are lemon and chocolate chess pie. The lemon version substitutes lemon juice and lemon zest for the cream and vinegar. The chocolate version omits the cornmeal and vinegar, and adds a few tablespoons of cocoa powder and another 1/4 cup of cream.