Gluten Free Chess Pie Recipe

Last Updated on February 7, 2023 by Ellen Christian

You are going to love this Gluten Free Chess Pie recipe! Try this dessert that is similar to gluten free buttermilk pie today. 

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Chess Pie is an old-fashioned, extremely rich, and sweet pie that is made with eggs, butter, and sugar. 

Gluten Free Chess Pie Recipe

Gluten Free Chess Pie

Chess Pie is a recipe that was brought over from England originally. It is an egg-based pie that is similar to a buttermilk pie or vinegar pie.  

Vinegar pie typically has the addition of vinegar and Chess pie has the addition of cornmeal.  Buttermilk pie uses buttermilk for a more dairy-based pie recipe.

If you have never had this type of pie before, imagine a Pecan pie but without the corn syrup or the pecans. A popular southern variation is a Lemon Chess pie which is basically a Chess pie with the addition of lemon juice.

Chess pie is a sweet pie that is often served with a cup of tea or a glass of milk to cut the sweetness. 

You can make this a gluten-free chess pie by simply using a gluten-free pie crust. There is no gluten in the filling.

Gluten Free Chess Pie on white and blue plates

Frequently asked questions

What is the chess in chess pie?

So, I have heard several different explanations for why this is called chess pie. The first is that the word “chess” sounds like the southern pronunciation for “just”. 

The story goes that when a woman was asked what she made for dessert, she responded “just” pie and it was interpreted as chess pie. 

I have also heard that since lemon chess pie is very similar to lemon curd pie, it was interpreted as lemon cheese pie as in cheese curds. You choose the one you like best. No one seems to know.

Gluten Free Chess Pie Recipe

Does a chess pie need to be refrigerated?

No, do not refrigerate this pie. You need to make sure you have enough time for it to cool completely. But, it should be served at room temperature.

Leftovers will need to be refrigerated but you don’t need to refrigerate it before you serve it. It will stay good in the refrigerator for three days.

How can you tell when chess pie is done?

Chess pie should jiggle just slightly when it is done. If it jiggles quite a bit, it is not done yet. 

Gluten Free Chess Pie Recipe

Gluten free chocolate chess pie

If you want a gluten free chess pie with chocolate, you can easily do that by adding three to four tablespoons of cocoa powder. Whisk it well to combine the ingredients.

What do I need to make gluten free chess pie?

You will need two 9″ pie plates, a saucepan, and a whisk. This is a very simple pie recipe. Finally, you can also pick up a copy of the Gooseberry Cookbook where I found this recipe (reprinted with permission).

You are going to love this Gluten Free Chess Pie recipe! Chess Pie is an old fashioned, extremely rich, and sweet pie that is made with eggs, butter, and sugar. 

How to serve gluten free chess pie

I just love the way chess pie tastes with a scoop of homemade whipped cream. It doesn’t get any better than that. But, if you prefer, you can add fresh fruit to the top. Strawberries or cherries would be quite good.

How to Make a Rhubarb Custard Pie With No Milk

More pie recipes

So, if you enjoyed this gluten free chess pie recipe, you might want to try a few of these.

Yield: 16

Gluten Free Chess Pie Recipe

Gluten Free Chess Pie Recipe

You are going to love this Gluten Free Chess Pie recipe! Chess Pie is an old fashioned, extremely rich, and sweet pie that is made with eggs, butter, and sugar. 

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes

Ingredients

  • 4 eggs, beaten
  • 2 c sugar
  • 2 t vanilla extract
  • 3/4 c butter
  • 2 T cornmeal
  • 2 9-inch pie crusts, baked

Instructions

  1. In a large saucepan, over medium heat, combine all ingredients except crusts.
  2. Cook over medium heat until thickened, stirring constantly.
  3. Pour evenly into pie crusts.
  4. Bake 350F for about 10 minutes or until golden.
  5. Cool completely. Makes 2 pies.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

24

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 196Total Fat: 10gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 46mgSodium: 118mgCarbohydrates: 25gFiber: 0gSugar: 17gProtein: 2g

Did you make this recipe?

If you make this, tag me on Instagram so I can see @ellenblogs

This post was originally created and photographed in 2013. It was updated in 2020 with more information and better photos.

22 thoughts on “Gluten Free Chess Pie Recipe”

  1. My husband LOVES Chess Pie!! We always buy it pre-made because I don't know how to make it. It would be such a surprise to make this for him!! ;D Thank you!
    Reply
  2. I have never had a chess pie. I have seen them in my cookbooks but have not had one. I love Gooseberry Patch cookbooks. I could sit and read them for hours. 
    Reply
  3. I've heard of Chess Pie, but I honestly didn't know what it actually was.  Sounds like something I'll have to try!
    Reply
  4. 3 Things: A) Gooseberry Recipe Books ARE THE BEST. I receive them as gifts from my grandmother and I cherish them.  B) Can I come over for dinner? lol  C) This looks delicious!
    Reply
  5. This pie looks delicious.  I am trying to eat gluten free but am very new to it.  I haven't seen any pie recipes like this yum!!
    Reply
  6. Chess Pie is one of our favorites. I hadn't thought about using gluten free pie crusts, talk about a why didn't I think of that moment. 
    Reply
  7. Interesting history on the pie. I can't imagine a pecan pie without the corn syrup though. LOL That's what makes it so good, right? I have heard of a chess pie, but never seen one before. I was imagining a checkerboard. 
    Reply
  8. I love historical cooking as well. Their recipes seem so simple to us yet packed with flavor. I can't imagine making some of the recipes they did without all the modern technology.
    Reply

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