Updated on November 20th, 2023
If you’ve never tried a Buttermilk Pie, you’re missing out on a delicious dessert. It is a decadent, creamy dessert that is similar to creme brulee. The flaky crust is reminiscent of brownie lids, and it tastes rich and creamy. It should be served at room temperature, although it is best when served chilled. In a pinch, you can make your own buttermilk pie with vinegar or lemon juice.
Buttermilk Pie is a classic dessert with a rich, creamy filling and a flaky pastry crust. The filling is made with sugar, eggs, and butter and is flavored with lemon zest and juice. It’s also made without cornmeal or cornstarch and has a sweet, tangy flavor. In addition, it’s a delicious dessert to share with your family and friends.
The sweet and tangy flavor of buttermilk pie sets it apart from other pies. The pie is typically made with eggs, butter, and flour. It is also referred to as a chess pie because it contains a custard and is a type of chess. The main ingredients are butter, flour, and eggs, making it a delicious, no-fuss dessert. The crust is easy to prepare and does not need special baking skills.
What Is Buttermilk Pie?
Buttermilk pie is an old-fashioned southern dessert with a custard-based filling and a delicate pastry crust. It’s a traditional recipe from the era of “desperation pies,” which Southern women made for families in a time of war and depression. In the early years of the Great Depression, Southern women often incorporated vinegar, green tomatoes, and other pantry staples into the pie to make it sour and bitter.
Buttermilk pie is made with simple pantry ingredients (eggs, butter, sugar, and flour), the filling is made in one bowl, and the filling becomes a custard. In contrast, the pie bakes in the oven without the hassle of tempering egg yolks, heating milk, or any of the other unpleasant tasks typically associated with a custard pie.
Buttermilk pie has a buttery pastry crust and a creamy dairy-based filling. The filling contains butter, sugar, eggs, fresh lemon juice, and a nutmeg-flavored pastry crust. The pie can be eaten either warm or cold, but it’s best served chilled, and it can also be frozen. However, you must be sure to let the pie cool completely before freezing it.
What Does Buttermilk Pie Taste Like?
The flavor of buttermilk pie is comparable to that of crème brûlée, and it’s light, buttery, and creamy. Fans of the gleaming “lid” on top of crème brûlée (as well as the lids on brownie pans) will be pleased to learn that buttermilk pie has a crackly top as well. One of life’s great minor pleasures, like crème brûlée, is cracking your fork through the top of a buttermilk pie and into the creamy custard.
The custard filling of this delicacy is silky smooth and gently sweet. As the custard bakes, the sugary coating caramelizes, giving it a crispy texture. The buttermilk adds a tiny acidity, while the melted butter adds a decadent richness.
The flour in a Buttermilk Pie is essential in its structure, but it’s not supposed to taste like butter, and instead, it lends a tender and tangy flavor to the pie’s filling. In addition, the flour in the pie crust helps prevent the pie from burning. To avoid a burnt crust, you can use coconut flour instead of regular flour. If you’re worried about the gluten content, consider almond or coconut flour.
What Is The Origin Of Buttermilk Pie?
Buttermilk pie is thought to have originated in England and was brought to America by settlers. Buttermilk was plentiful in the South; thus, the pie quickly became popular. Buttermilk was readily available in Texas, and it was both cheap and easy to procure. When the fruit was out of season, residents began to turn to Texas Buttermilk Pie.
This tasty and straightforward pie recipe spread across the country as more people learned about it. Restaurants have even started to include it on their menus (Cracker Barrel buttermilk pie is still a favorite of many).
This pie may not have the same holiday prom queen power as pecan or pumpkin pie, but I believe it’s just as wonderful and deserving of a place at your table!
Buttermilk Pie vs. Chess Pie: What’s The Difference?
Buttermilk and chess pie are sometimes mistaken. However, there are two main differences.
The only one that uses buttermilk is the buttermilk pie, and evaporated milk is used in chess pie.
Cornmeal is used as a thickening in chess pie, whereas flour is used in traditional buttermilk pie.
Both are rich and wonderful, but I’d choose buttermilk pie if I had to choose one for the rest of my life. I like the buttermilk’s gentle tanginess, making the flavor more fascinating.
Chess pie may appear modest, but it is pretty rich and sweet—you may be shocked if you haven’t tried it before. The oozy filling is made with pantry essentials such as sugar, butter, eggs, and cornmeal. Some chess pie recipes use flour instead of cornmeal (or a combination of the two), but cornmeal thickens the filling while enhancing its lovely yellow hue. In most recipes, you’ll also find a tablespoon or so of vinegar, which helps to balance out all of the sugar.
What’s The Best Way To Make Buttermilk Pie?
In a 1-cup measuring cup, pour 1 tablespoon lemon juice or white vinegar. Pour the remaining milk into the cup and whisk gently to mix. Allow at least 10 minutes for the milk to curdle before serving.
The churning procedure will leave you with a thin, yellowish liquid if you make your own butter. This is real buttermilk, which you may use in this recipe without hesitation. For this recipe, I used store-bought cultured buttermilk.
A Buttermilk Pie should be allowed to cool to room temperature. When it’s cooled, it should be covered and refrigerated. The filling should be slightly loose. Using a flour-based crust can prevent the pie from browning. If you’re unsure about the recipe, check it before making it. You might even want to substitute almond flour instead of coconut flour. This pie is best served at room temperature, but it can also be eaten cold.
The flaky crust makes it a perfect addition to a meal or dessert. And while it is not as complicated to make as a custard pie, it still has a flaky crust!
Buttermilk’s Health Benefits
A Natural Coolant for the Body
Buttermilk is incredibly refreshing and cools our bodies down immediately. In the hot summer months of April to July, a glass of buttermilk sprinkled with cumin seeds, mint, and salt is ideal for quenching our thirst and cooling our bodies.
It can also be served with ice cubes, making it a healthy alternative to the chemical-laden cold drinks on the market.
Hot flashes in postmenopausal women can be relieved by drinking a glass of buttermilk.
Beneficial to Our Digestive System
Buttermilk is really beneficial to our digestive system. Buttermilk contains beneficial bacteria and lactic acid, which aid digestion and enhance metabolism.
It also aids in the maintenance of regular bowel movements and the relief of constipation. Irritable Bowel Syndrome can also be helped by buttermilk (IBS).
In addition, it aids in preventing stomach infections, lactose intolerance, and colon cancer.
Bones and teeth benefits
Buttermilk is a calcium-rich beverage. Buttermilk has about 116 mg of calcium per 100 mL.
Calcium is required to maintain a healthy skeletal system, and it strengthens our bones and teeth. Calcium aids in the prevention of degenerative bone illnesses such as osteoporosis.
Calcium is also essential for blood clotting, muscle contraction, and heart-pounding.
Acidity is relieved
Acid reflux and heartburn are frequently caused by fatty and spicy foods. A glass of buttermilk with black pepper and coriander on top helps relieve acidity symptoms quickly.
Buttermilk contains lactic acid, which helps to balance stomach acidity and provides a calming effect.
Cholesterol Levels May Be Helped
Buttermilk helps decrease blood cholesterol and triglycerides when consumed regularly.
As a result, it aids in the maintenance of cardiovascular health.
Blood Pressure May Be Lower
Regular drinking of buttermilk benefits people with hypertension and heart disease by lowering blood pressure.
Buttermilk contains potassium, which helps to lower blood pressure.
Immunity boosting
Buttermilk improves our immune system and protects us from a range of infections if we drink it every day.
Vitamin-rich food
B complex vitamins and vitamin D are abundant in buttermilk. Vitamins are highly beneficial to our bodies in a variety of ways.
Weight loss is aided
Buttermilk is high in proteins, vitamins, and minerals but low in calories and fat.
Buttermilk helps us stay hydrated and energized. It also makes us feel full, lowering the junk food we consume. It’s an excellent drink for those trying to lose weight.
Detoxification is aided
Buttermilk contains riboflavin, which aids in converting food into energy that the body can use for a variety of purposes. It also aids in producing certain hormones, enhances liver function, and aids in the body’s cleansing.
Conclusion
Buttermilk pie tastes sweet. It’s similar to chess pie but is made without cornmeal. The filling contains sugar, wheat flour, and butter, and it can contain lemon zest, nutmeg, coconut, and other flavorings. Its texture is soft and flaky, and its flavor is a perfect accompaniment to any dessert. When making a homemade version, make sure to follow the recipe carefully.
While Buttermilk Pie may not taste like buttermilk, it’s not as bad as it sounds. It is sweet and tart, with hints of nutmeg and a light crust made from wheat. A slice of this Southern Pie is a delicious dessert. There are many variations of it available. Try making your own, or you can buy a frozen pie crust and make it yourself. It is straightforward to make, and you’ll be surprised at how good it tastes.
