A Southern classic, buttermilk pie is a staple at potlucks and celebrations in the region.
Smooth and as creamy as silk, this pie is an ultimate comfort dish. Just seven simple ingredients make this dessert straightforward and easy to assemble, but do not be fooled, an excellent buttermilk pie can take years to perfect. The trick to blending the ingredients by hand is not to rush. Take your time and enjoy the experience of crafting DeAnn’s Buttermilk Pie.
Ingredients
- ½ cup of butter, softened
- 3 eggs
- 1 ¾ cup of sugar
- ¼ cup flour, heaping
- 1 ¼ teaspoon of vanilla
- ⅔ cup buttermilk
- ½ to 1 cup of pecans (optional)
- 1 unbaked pie shell
Instructions
- Preheat an oven to 350 degrees fahrenheit.
- Combine all ingredients by hand.
- Pour into an unbaked pie shell either homemade or store bought.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 45-55 minutes until almost firm.
When my family arrived in Southeast New Mexico, we encountered many fabulous dishes. We were introduced to everything green chile and savored the many ways to enjoy the specialty.
About a year after our touch down in the state, we attended a church potluck where our family encountered buttermilk pie for the first time. My husband returned from the dessert table with a slice and asked me if I knew what it was. I replied that I had absolutely no clue, but that I would like to try it. He shared a bite with me and then tasted a bite himself. The pie melted instantly, and we were both smitten with the creamy flavor. I immediately stood up to get a slice of my own. After we each devoured a slice, we turned to the church members at the surrounding tables and inquired what the type of pie was. One of the ladies at the next table exclaimed, “Oh, that’s DeAnn’s Buttermilk Pie! That’s the best buttermilk pie in the county!”
Several minutes later, we were able to track DeAnn down to express our delight with the new-to-us dessert. We asked her how it was made, and she explained it was a type of custard pie that is common to the area. DeAnn also explained that there is a rich tradition of custard pies in the region and suggested that we sample a chess pie sometime. Come to find out, chess pie is a chocolate custard pie and a variant of the buttermilk pie, but that is a recipe for another time.
A few days after the church potluck, DeAnn placed her recipe card for buttermilk pie in our mailbox. I have attempted several buttermilk pies now using her recipe, but I have yet to master the hand mixing technique required for the silky custard. I am bettering my skills.
With her permission, DeAnn’s recipe graces these pages to share with the readers of Focus.
