Browned Butter Chess Pie Recipes

BROWN BUTTER MAPLE CHESS PIE

Steps:

• Prepare one half recipe of the pie crust according to directions. Form into a disk and place in the fridge.
• Preheat oven to 425°F. Grease a standard sized pie pan with butter. Set aside.
• Brown your butter by placing it into a small saucepan over low heat. Stir constantly until the milk solids from the butter separate and become a golden brown color. Remove from heat and allow to cool for at least 15 minutes.
• Remove pie dough disk from the fridge. On a lightly floured work surface, roll dough out to 1/4 inch thick. Carefully place dough into pie pan, pushing into the pan. Fold the edge of the dough over on itself, and use your fingers to create a crimped edge. Or, if you don't know how to do this, just leave it be. It will look great regardless!
• Prepare your crust to be blind baked by placing parchment paper over the dough, then adding uncooked rice into the center. Blind bake for 10 minutes while you make your filling.
• In a large bowl, combine butter, maple syrup, sugar, eggs, heavy cream, vanilla, and salt. Whisk until well combined, then add in cornmeal.
• Pour filling into partially baked crust, then lower oven temperature to 350°F and bake for an additional 45-50 minutes, until the center of the pie is set and is a light golden brown color.
• Allow pie to cool completely before topping with a dust of powdered sugar and serving. I suggest letting it cool on a cooling rack for 1 hour, then in the fridge for 2 hours. I also love pairing my chess pie with whipped cream, as these photos shows!

BROWN BUTTER PECAN PIE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• For the crust: Whisk together the flour, sugar and salt in a large bowl. Remove the butter from the freezer and work it into the dough by hand, working quickly to keep the butter as cold as possible. (Cold butter flakes are the secret to a flaky crust.) Be sure to leave pea-size butter flecks visible. Slowly pour the ice water into flour mixture. Using your hands, mix until a dough starts to form. Be careful not to overmix. It should appear shaggy but cohesive.
• Lightly dust a clean work surface with flour. Using a rolling pin, roll the dough out into a 1/4-inch-thick circle, 12 inches in diameter. Transfer the dough round to a 9-inch pie dish. Press the dough down into the dish. Tuck any overhanging dough back under the rim, using your hands to create a thick outer edge. Use a fork to crimp the edges or your hands to pinch for a more professional look. Place in the freezer to chill for 15 minutes.
• Remove from the freezer. Using a toothpick or a fork, poke holes in the bottom of the crust. Line the crust with parchment paper and fill the raw pie shell with pie weights or dried beans. Blind bake for 15 to 20 minutes until it begins to lightly brown. Remove from the oven and remove the parchment and pie weights.
• Beat the egg and 1 tablespoon water in a small bowl. Brush the edges of the crust with the egg wash. Return to the oven and bake until light golden, about 10 minutes. Remove and let cool completely before filling. Lower the oven temperature to 350 degrees F.
• For the filling: Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Slowly cook the butter, letting it bubble and swirling the pan occasionally, until it browns, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and allow to cool.
• Whisk together the brown sugar, corn syrup, molasses, bourbon and vanilla in a large bowl. Whisk in the eggs. Fold in the pecans and salt. Once combined, stir in the brown butter. Pour the filling into the crust.
• Bake until the pie is golden brown, the filling is set and the internal temperature measures 200 degrees F, 40 to 45 minutes. (Check the pie after 30 minutes and tent the crust with foil if it is browning too quickly.) There should be a slight wiggle to the center of the pie. Cool completely on a wire rack.
• For the whipped cream: Add the heavy cream to a large chilled bowl. Using an electric hand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whip on medium speed until soft, cloud-like peaks form. Turn the mixer speed to low and add the confectioners' sugar and salt. Gently fold in the bourbon.
• Slice the pie into 8 equal pieces and top each slice with bourbon whipped cream.

BUTTERMILK CHESS PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C.)
• In a large bowl, combine sugar and flour. Beat in the eggs and buttermilk until blended. Stir in the melted butter and vanilla. Pour filling into the pie crust.
• Bake in the preheated oven until filling is set, about 45 minutes.