Chess Pie Squares

Name: Chess Pie Squares
Total time: 1 h 15 min
Yield: 24 squares
Cuisine: southern
Ingredients: 2 cups/240 grams all-purpose flour; 1/2 cup/57 grams confectioners’ sugar; 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt; 6 ounces/170 grams unsalted butter (1 1/2 sticks), softened; 6 ounces/170 grams unsalted butter (1 1/2 sticks), at room temperature; 1 1/2 cups/297 grams granulated sugar; 6 large egg yolks; 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract; 3/4 cup/168 milliliters buttermilk, at room temperature; 2 tablespoons fine white or yellow cornmeal; 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

Recipe from Julia Reed

Adapted by Margaux Laskey

Updated Nov. 3, 2022

Chess Pie Squares — Lisa Nicklin for The New York Times

Total Time: 1¼ hours, plus cooling
Rating: 5(298)
Comments: Read comments

These heavenly little bars, adapted from the Southern cookbook author Julia Reed, are a modern-day, perfect-for-a-picnic version of a traditional custard pie made from flour, cornmeal, sugar, eggs, butter and buttermilk. They are like lemon bars without the lip-puckering citrus: a blanket of egg-rich custard generously laced with vanilla atop a lightly salted, crumbly shortbread crust.

(If you don't have buttermilk, you can make an easy substitute by combining one tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice with a cup of milk. Let stand for 5 minutes, then measure out ¾ cup.) —Margaux Laskey

Featured in: ‘Julia Reed’s South’: Entertaining, in Luxurious Down-Home Style

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Ingredients

Yield:24 squares

For the Shortbread Crust

2cups/240 grams all-purpose flour
½cup/57 grams confectioners’ sugar
¾teaspoon kosher salt
6ounces/170 grams unsalted butter (1½ sticks), softened

For the Filling

6ounces/170 grams unsalted butter (1½ sticks), at room temperature
1½cups/297 grams granulated sugar
6large egg yolks
2teaspoons pure vanilla extract
¾cup/168 milliliters buttermilk, at room temperature
2tablespoons fine white or yellow cornmeal
2tablespoons all-purpose flour

Ingredient Substitution Guide

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Preparation

Step 1
Heat oven to 350 degrees.
Step 2
Make the shortbread crust: In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar and salt. Cut in butter with a pastry blender or two forks until well blended and the dough holds together when you press a lump in your hand.
Step 3
Press dough evenly into the bottom of 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Bake until edges begin to brown, 15 to 18 minutes. Remove shortbread from oven and let cool slightly. Reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees.
Step 4
Make the filling: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Beat in egg yolks, one at a time, until well blended. Switch to the whisk attachment and slowly beat in vanilla and buttermilk until well blended. Beat in cornmeal and flour until just combined.
Step 5
Pour filling over crust. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the top is golden and set. Cool in the baking dish on a wire rack and cut the dessert into 24 squares (each about 2 inches) to serve.

Ratings

5 out of 5

298 user ratings

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Comments

PF7 years ago

Yes, if you add another egg yolk and cut back on the sugar the result will be "very eggy".

Margaux Laskey, Staff Editor7 years ago

Not much if any at all. We'll update the ingredients to include yellow as an option. Just make sure it's fine, not coarse.

Jane7 years ago

Okay I made these! They are great. Very eggy. I used only 1 c sugar, not 1.5 cups, and tossed in an extra egg yolk. Just had my first one and won't be my last before bed.

Jean Terranova6 months ago

Added chocolate chips - they are a bit on the gooey side - I would cook longer. Very tasty, though!

Cate10 months ago

You know how if the first taste of a cake or pie is delectable, the second and third bites are good but usually not as great as the first? These bars are an exception! They are exceptionally delicious; it’s very hard to stop eating them. I highly recommend the flaky salt on top after baking, and cut into much smaller pieces so you can stop yourself after 4. Or try to.

Sarah2 years ago

How are these best stored?

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