Old-Fashioned Buttermilk Pie is a classic, traditional southern pie. It’s simple and made from regular ingredients, but it tastes so good. Buttermilk Pie is creamy, sweet heaven. It’s one of my very favorite pies.
What Is The Origin?
Buttermilk Pie is a southern dessert that has been passed down through the generations. Interestingly, it is thought to have originated in England.
What Does Old-Fashioned Buttermilk Pie Taste Like?
Old-Fashioned Buttermilk Pie has a super smooth, custard-like filling that is really sweet. It has just a little tang from the buttermilk, but mostly it is very sweet. This pie is for people with a serious sweet tooth. The filling only takes about 5 minutes to make and consists of eggs, buttermilk, sugar, melted butter, flour for thickening, and lemon juice, vanilla extract, and nutmeg for flavor.
What Is The Difference Between Buttermilk Pie and Chess Pie?
Buttermilk Pie is very similar to Chess Pie only a Chess Pie typically has cornmeal and a Buttermilk Pie does not. If you are looking for a Chess Pie Recipe, I love this Chocolate Chess Pie and this Lemon Chess Pie.
You can use a store bought pie crust or make your own. Watch the video below to learn how to make an easy homemade Flaky Pie Crust.
How To Tell When It Is Done
The center of the pie should jiggle just slightly when it is done. It will set up further in the refrigerator.
If the pie crust starts to get too brown before the pie is done baking, cover it loosely with aluminum foil.
Why Is My Pie Runny?
If your pie is runny, you most likely didn’t bake it long enough, or it could be that you didn’t add the full 3 tablespoons of flour. The flour acts as a thickener. It’s also essential to chill the pie before slicing.
How To Serve
You can eat this pie warm, room temperature, or chilled. I think it tastes best straight from the refrigerator, especially when the weather is warm. Then it is cool and creamy and oh so delicious.
How To Store
It should be refrigerated. Wrap it well and it will keep in the refrigerator for about 5 days. It will weep some. This is normal.
Can it be frozen? Yes, this pie can be frozen for up to 2 months.
More Buttermilk Pie Recipes
Old-Fashioned Buttermilk Pie
Ingredients
- 3 eggs
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 1/2 cup butter melted and cooled
- 3 tablespoons flour
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- pinch of salt
- 1 9-inch pie crust, unbaked
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whisk together eggs and sugar.
- Whisk in remaining ingredients until smooth.
- Pour into prepared pie crust.
- Bake at 400 for 10 minutes.
- Reduce heat to 350 degrees and continue bake for 40 to 45 minutes.
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So I stumbled onto this recipe by chance while looking for a costume for my kid. I used a graham cracker crust and followed the cook time to the T- I kept the pie in for only 40mins and I have an electric stove. The pie crust didn’t burn and the consistency of the center was slightly softer than that of the sides. Sort of like a brownie I guess, anyway I placed it in the fridge to cool faster because I really wanted a slice and was very happy with the results and how the pie turned out. When I cut a slice nothing fell apart to include the center and the consistency was all the same. I now love buttermilk pie!
Thank you for sharing ! Easy to make, heavenly taste!
If you’re using a frozen pie shell, does the pie shell have to be pre baked? It’s so ironic I wouldn’t eat Buttermilk Pie as a kid because I hate Buttermilk. I had a slice at Cracker Barrel and now I have to have it!
Me too, I tasted it at cracker Barrels and I’m making two and it’s 12 AM that’s how much I wanted it. I never heard of it until I moved to the South… It’s soooo yummy🤗
had It for the first time at Cracker Barrel came home and found this recipe and loved it!! It’s so easy to make and it came out near perfect. I topped it wait strawberries and whip cream. I think I might try pineapple next. I did add lemon extract and not juice. It went perfect with the strawberries. It was served cold and it went so fast! Thanks for the awesome recipe Christin!!
You’re a pig
Astute observation
I had this at Cracker Barrel as well and loved it. I plan on making it today for Mother’s Day. Regarding the very rude comment left below, I will side with you and simply say we shall be “pigs” together. Oink Oink.
Should I add the pinch of salt if I’m using real salted butter?
I moved to CO two years ago from the Great State of Texas— family rooted from the Carolinas, Southern FL, Atlanta and Louisiana. Never in my life would I imagine living in such a place where no one says thank you when you hold the door, and they’ve never heard of buttermilk or sweet potato pie!!!!!! I make about 2 of these a week, keeps my fiancé happy and my elderly neighbors cholestorol up.
I ALWAYS bake this at night just before going to bed, right as it’s done cooking, I turn the oven off and crack it and allow the pie to slowly come down to temp in there. Perfect consistency. We eat the slices with our hands as a snack (less dishes!).
Can I please have your recipe as i fail on chess pie, grandson says not enough butter flavor or it bombs. My sweet potato pie is ok but seem to lack the flavor my son-in-law from LA wants, margie
Made it for the first time tonight. It was awesome. Thank you
What is the white scoop of stuff on top of the pie?
vanilla ice cream (or were you joking?😜)
I made this tonight. Used an organic cane sugar. And a graham cracker crust. Cooked just like recipe called for and it was burnt! I’m not sure if it’s the cane sugar? Or the fact the recipe did not specify when you lower the oven temps to take out and wait for it to cool before cooking it the rest? At 30 minutes at 350 it was brown and not cooked in middle. Any suggestions?
Graham crackers are not raw like a pie shell that’s why it burned
What about using a frozen pie shell. Does it need to be pre-baked?
Unbaked deep dish pie crust. It will bake beautifully and the pie is absolutely awesome “fresh” strawberries. You will not be disappointed. It’s easy to make, just go by the recipe, it’s perfection!
Butter or no butter? Salted or not?
I use salted, so no need for the pinch of salt. I’ve made this for more than 30 years and have never been disappointed! However, my recipe is from my great grandma’s goodies and slightly different. All Come out the same!
I used self rising flour because the recipe didn’t specify plain flour also in the video I didn’t see butter being used but in the recipe it states to use a half cup of melted butter. So st this point I don’t know how the pie is to taste . 🤷🏽♀️
I used the butter but I substituted the sugar with stevia. (2 cups). Not sweet enough for me but it tastes really good still. I know it sounds weird but I tried it with pancake syrup… really good.
You might add a bit of honey or another natural sweetener to the stevia. A mix so it doesn’t come out tasting of honey. Best of luck.
Any time a recipe calls for flour that means plain flour. It will specify self rising if that is what it wants.
Help,,I picked up self rising flour instead of plan !!! Will it work????
I’m not sure how it will turn out using Self-rising flour.
Hi yes it will
I had a recipe book printed by my church to raise money in 1958. The years took it’s toll on my book. Could not find the recipe for the Buttermilk Pie, requested by my family every year. Sat down this morning to Google help. Lucky I found you. Same exact recipe, I am so pleased to find you. Merry Christmas to you and all your readers.
Can a use graham cracker pie crust for this
Yes
My nine year old grand daughter and I made this pie and it turned out perfect!!!! Its her favorite.
I make it every Xmas for the three years
I didn’t have any Lemon juice so I sub white wine I think I like it better then with lemon juice
Mine just came out of the oven. I cannot wait to try it.
Oh my, it is YUMMY!
Could I use gluten free flour instead of regular flour? Would it still work?
It should Claire, but I don’t cook with gluten-free flour so I am not sure.
I tried your recipe because my cookbooks were still boxed from our move. I made 3 for our Potluck Thanksgiving at work, the lady’s kept asking me if I was bringing my famous buttermilk pie but I improvised with your recipe. It was awesome t they never knew the difference. Thanks for your help, I think I’m going with yours from now on. Mike in San Antonio, Texas.
Can Splenda be substituted for the sugar and still turn out just as good being diabetic I don’t use sugar
I don’t think it will crystalize the same way that sugar does on the top of the pie.
I always use lemon extract for this pie. Very traditional in my family. If your in a higher altitude use a tablespoon of cornstarch to avoid runny middles.
Thank goodness I read this!! I was totally out of vanilla extract and used lemon… I feel much better now. It’s in the oven now so we will see if it works for me too!! 🤞🤞🤞
Wish I had read this before I put them in the oven! I have lived here 4 years and am still not used to modifying every blessed recipe ! I haven’t tried the pie yet, but I’ll bet it has a gooey center. Ah, well, next time!