Hockaday Chess Pie Recipes

CHESS PIE

Steps:

• In a medium mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar. Beat in the flour and cornmeal.
• Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each. When the egg mixture is well beaten add the milk, vanilla, lemon juice and zest beat until smooth.
• Add pie crust to 9'' pie plate and crimp the edges. Pour in filling.
• Bake at 350 degreed F for 55-60 minutes. Check the pie after 30 minutes and place a piece of aluminum foil on top to keep it from getting too brown. (I spray the foil with a non-stick spray to keep it from sticking to the top of the pie.)
• Allow to cool for one hour before serving.

CLASSIC CHESS PIE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• For the crust: Whisk together the flour 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 325 degrees F.
• For the filling: Whisk together the melted butter, sugar and eggs in a large bowl. Once combined, stir in the buttermilk, cornmeal, vanilla and salt. Pour the custard into the cooled pie crust. Bake for 50 to 55 minutes, checking the pie after 30 minutes and tenting the crust with foil if it is browning too quickly. When the pie is ready, a skewer inserted into the center should come out clean and it should reach an internal temperature of 200 degrees F.
• Cool on a wire rack for 3 to 4 hours. If cut while too warm, the filling will not be set. Once cooled, sprinkle with confectioners' sugar, cut into slices and serve.

HOCKADAY CHESS PIE

Steps:

• Mix sugar and cornmeal.
• Add melted margarine and mix well Add eggs one at a time, blending well after each addition.
• Add the milk and vanilla, blend, then add the vinegar SLOWLY.
• Pour 2 2/3 cups of mixture into pie shell and bake 45 minutes.
• Be sure the temperature doesn’t go over 350 degrees.
• I always make 2.
• I like it chilled.
• ,but some people prefer to eat it warm.

SOUTHERN LEMON CHESS PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cream the butter and sugar, and add the eggs one by one. Blend in the lemon juice, zest, buttermilk, vanilla and cornmeal so you have a light mixture. Pour filling into pie shell and bake for 10 minutes. Lower temperature to 325 degrees and bake for 20 minutes or more until center is almost completely set.
• TIP: LEMON PEPPER
• This is a great tip to lower your salt intake. Just peel the zest from a lemon, avoiding the white pith which is bitter. Bake at a low temperature, like 300 for about 2035 minutes, until peel is dry (temperature depends on how big a batch). Coarsely chop, and blend in a spice grinder with 15 black peppercorns, 10 white peppercorns, 8 allspice berries, 1/2 teaspoon onion powder. Pulse to combine.
• LEMON BUTTER
• Soft butter. Juice lemons, add shallots and parsley. Season with salt and white pepper. Mix well and form into logs for serving and freezing.

LEMON CHESS PIE

Steps:

• In a large bowl combine the sugar, flour and cornmeal. Blend well, then add the eggs and combine well. Add the milk and mix then stir in the melted butter, lemon rind and juice. Pour this filling into the crust and cover then edge of the crust with foil to prevent it from burning, taking care not to touch the filling. Bake at 375 degrees F for 45 minutes, removing the foil after 30 minutes. Cool and serve or refrigerate overnight but let sit out 3 hours before serving to warm up slightly. Serve with dollops of whipped cream.

CHESS PIE

Steps:

• For the pie: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Place the blind-baked pie shell on a rimmed sheet pan.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the granulated sugar and eggs until combined. Add the butter, milk, flour, cornmeal, vinegar, vanilla and salt. Whisk until well blended.
• Pour the filling into the prepared pie shell and bake until the center of the custard is just set and the edges are slightly puffy, 45 to 50 minutes. Let cool completely
• For the whipped cream: Beat the cream with the confectioners' sugar and vanilla until soft peaks form. Chill until ready to serve.
• Slice the pie and serve with a dollop of whipped cream.