Chess pie
Pie
CountryUnited States
Main ingredientPie crust, eggs, butter, granulated sugar, vanilla, corn meal
VariationsLemon chess pie, vinegar pie

Chess pie is a dessert with a filling composed mainly of flour, butter, sugar, eggs, and sometimes milk, characteristic of Southern United States cuisine.[1] Because the ingredients are inexpensive and available year round, it is considered one of the classic desperation pies.[2] Jefferson Davis pie is similar, but may also contain spices, nuts, or dried fruits and is usually topped with meringue.[3]

Etymology

The origin of the name "chess pie" is not definitively known, although many theories have been proposed.[4]

The most likely theory is that "chess-cake pie" (i.e., "cheese cake pie") became "chess pie" over time.[5] Martha Washington's Chess Cake recipe is similar to today's chess pie.[6][7]

Another popular theory is that "chess pie" is an eggcorn of "It's just pie" due to a misinterpretation of the pronunciation "It's jes' pie" in Southern American English, inasmuch as the pie was thought to be so simple any home cook with eggs, butter, and sugar would know what to do.[7][8][9] It also contains no fruit, as most pies did at the time.[citation needed]

History

Chess pie is the South's most searched-for Thanksgiving pie.[10]

Despite the pie's iconic status in the South, no recipe for "Chess Pie" appears in the first Southern cookbook, The Virginia Housewife (1824) by Mary Randolph. Food writer Jean Anderson characterizes the early recipes for transparent pudding, such as "Mary Randolph's Transparent Pudding" (containing no milk) in the 1825 edition are "for all intents and purposes chess pie".[11]

The cookbook Buckeye Cookery—With Hints on Practical Housekeeping (1881) included a recipe submitted by Mrs. J. Carson of Glendale, Minnesota.[12] The recipe maintained the basic custard ingredients of eggs, butter, and sugar, but the egg whites were whipped into a meringue and spread on top.[13]

Recipes for "Chess Pie" made without milk can be found in early 20th century cookbooks.[11]

Variations of the chess pie have included transparent pie, molasses pie, brown sugar pie, syrup pie, and vinegar pie.[14]

Composition

The basic chess pie recipe calls for the preparation of a single crust and a filling composed of flour, butter, sugar, eggs, and milk or condensed milk. Some variations call for the addition of cornmeal as a thickener. Many recipes call for an acid such as vinegar, buttermilk, or lemon juice.[15][16]

Recipes dating from the 19th century typically include eggs, butter, sugar, and vinegar baked in a pie crust, with regional variations.[17]

Flavor variations include lemon, coconut, and chocolate chess pie.[18]

Some nut pies, including some pecan, fall under the category of chess pies.[19]

Traditional pecan pie recipes do not include milk or condensed milk in the filling, and are typically regarded as a type of sugar pie similar to British treacle tart rather than a milk-containing custard.[citation needed]

See also

References

  1. ^ Weinstein 2007, p. 339.
  2. ^ Wheaton, Hazel (2024). "What Are Desperation Pies, and Why Are These Vintage Treats So Hot?". Taste of Home
  3. ^ Kaufman, Cathy K. (2007). "Pastries". The Oxford Companion to American Food and Drink. Smith, Andrew F. (ed.). Oxford University Press. p. 438. ISBN 978-0-19-530796-2. OCLC 71833329
  4. ^ "Chess pie". Britannica. Archived 2023-03-14 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2024-09-11.
  5. ^ "chess pie". Dictionary of American Regional English. Archived 2024-04-17 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2024-09-11.
  6. ^ Calta, Marialisa (2012-02-13). "We cannot tell a lie: this cake looks a lot like a pie". The Oklahoman. Archived 2024-09-11 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2024-09-11.
  7. ^ Cathey, Dave (2016-01-06). "A dessert gambit: Oklahoma cafeteria's closing brings the Food Dude to search for a chess pie recipe". The Oklahoman. Archived 2024-09-11 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2024-09-11.
  8. ^ Salkeld, Lauren (2022-09-08). "What Exactly Is Chess Pie?". The Kitchn
  9. ^ Donovan, Lisa (2018-12-17). "I wanted the real story behind chess pie's name. But no one wanted to talk about it.". Washington Post. Archived 2021-12-03 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2024-09-11.
  10. ^ Cericola, Lisa (2024-08-29 [2023-10-13]). "Even We Were Surprised By The South's Most Searched For Thanksgiving Pie". Southern Living. Archived 2024-04-27 at the Wayback Machine.
  11. ^ Anderson, Jean (2012-03-14). "The South's Storied Chess Pie: Food + Cooking". gourmet.com. Archived 2024-09-14 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2024-09-11.
  12. ^ Wilcox 1881, p. 217.
  13. ^ Wilcox, Estelle Woods (1881). Buckeye Cookery: With Hints on Practical Housekeeping. Buckeye Publishing Company. p. 217.
  14. ^ McDermott, Nancie (2010). Southern Pies: A Gracious Plenty of Pie Recipes, From Lemon Chess to Chocolate Pecan. Chronicle Books. ISBN 978-0-8118-6992-8. Archived 2024-09-14 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2024-09-12.
  15. ^ Rattray, Diana. "Southern Chess Pie: Tips and Variations". The Spruce. Archived 2018-02-22 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2018-02-21.
  16. ^ Brownfield, Elizabeth (2013-05-09). "Chess Pie Recipes: Taste of the South". Southern Living. Archived 2013-05-14 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2013-05-13.
  17. ^ Huggins, Mollie (1897). Tried and True: Tennessee Model Household Guide. Practical Help in Household. Publishing House Methodist Episcopal Church, South. p. 142.
  18. ^ Schneider, Crady (2017-03-14). "Chess Pie: Nothing More Southern". Porter Briggs. Archived from the original on 2018-02-22. Retrieved 2017-06-19.
  19. ^ Galarza, Daniela (2015-07-01). "Everything You Need to Know About Classic American Pie". Eater. Archived 2021-12-03 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2018-02-21.

Works cited

  • Weinstein, Jay (2007). "Karo Syrup". The Oxford Companion to American Food and Drink. Smith, Andrew F. (ed.). Oxford University Press. p. 339. ISBN 978-0-19-530796-2. OCLC 71833329