Buttermilk Pie
Buttermilk Pie is a sweet custard pie with just a hint of lemon. This traditional Southern dessert recipe is beloved for its creamy texture, buttery flavor, and subtle tang from buttermilk. Best of all, it’s incredibly easy to make with pantry staples. A great pie for Thanksgiving.
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BUTTERMILK PIE RECIPE
This unassuming pie will surprise you! If you’ve ever had Buttermilk Pie it tastes a little like sugar cream pie. The tangy flavor of the buttermilk with the brightness of a little bit of lemon zest make it unique and delicious.
What Is Buttermilk Pie?
Buttermilk pie is a classic Southern dessert made with a custard-like filling of buttermilk, eggs, sugar, butter, and flour or cornmeal, baked inside a flaky pie crust.
When baked, the filling forms:
- A slightly crisp, sugary top layer
- A smooth, creamy custard center
- A rich buttery flavor with mild tanginess
It’s often compared to chess pie, but traditional buttermilk pie has a lighter flavor thanks to the acidity of buttermilk.
SIMPLE INGREDIENTS
- PIE CRUST – You can use a ready-made pie crust or homemade pie crust here. Start with an unbaked pie shell and blind bake it. If it gets too brown while baking cover it with aluminum foil.
- BUTTERMILK – Do not use low-fat buttermilk. Use full fat buttermilk.
- EGGS – It helps if the eggs are room temperature. It makes it light and fluffy.
- SUGAR – We use white sugar but you can use light brown sugar too.
- LEMON JUICE AND ZEST – This gives the pie a fresh tang and brightness.
- VANILLA EXTRACT
What Is Buttermilk Pie?
Buttermilk pie is a classic Southern dessert made with a custard-like pie filling of buttermilk, eggs, sugar, butter, and flour or cornmeal, baked inside a flaky pie crust.
When baked, the filling forms:
- A slightly crisp, sugary top layer
- A smooth, creamy custard center
- A rich buttery flavor with mild tanginess
It’s often compared to chess pie, but buttermilk pie has a lighter flavor thanks to the acidity of buttermilk.
Serve it with fresh berries and whipped cream!
OTHER PIE RECIPES
- Banana Cream Pie
- Cranberry Chocolate Pie
- Peanut Butter Pie
- S’mores Pie
- Cherry Cheese Pie
- Boston Cream Pie
- Lemon Pie
- Peaches and Cream Pie
- Turtle Pie
Buttermilk Pie
Ingredients
- 9" single crust pie dough
- 1/2 cup butter, melted and slightly cooled
- 1 ¼ cups sugar
- 3 large eggs, room temperature
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- (optional) sweetened whipped cream and berries for topping
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425° F. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to fit a 9-inch pie plate. Crimp edge of crust. Line unpricked crust with a double thickness of foil. Fill with pie weights, dried beans or uncooked rice.
- Place on a baking sheet; bake until edge is light golden brown, 8 minutes. Remove foil and weights; bake until bottom is golden brown, 6 minutes longer. Cool. Reduce oven setting to 350° F.
- In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar until blended. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in flour and salt. Gradually stir in buttermilk, lemon juice, lemon zest, and vanilla.
- Pour filling on top. Bake until center is set, 45-55 minutes. Cover top loosely with foil during the last 15 minutes if crust is browning too much.
- Cool completely on a wire rack. Great served chilled with whipped cream and berries. Refrigerate leftovers.
