📍 Where this dish comes from: Savannah, Georgia · River Street
Discover the history of this region →
Discover the history of this region →
Chess pie is one of the oldest, simplest desserts in Southern baking, said to have gotten its name from being made with just ‘jes’ (just) what was on hand. This version keeps that same custardy, slightly caramelized character using a brown sugar substitute and a touch of vinegar for tang.
What You’ll Need
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 310kcal
Ingredients
- 2 cups almond flour (for crust)
- 1/3 cup butter melted (for crust)
- 1 large egg (for crust)
- 1 cup brown sugar substitute
- 1/2 cup butter melted
- 4 large eggs
- 1 tbsp cornmeal or almond flour
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- For the crust, combine almond flour, melted butter, and egg until a dough forms. Press into a 9-inch pie pan.
- In a bowl, whisk together brown sugar substitute and melted butter.
- Whisk in eggs one at a time, then almond flour, vinegar, and vanilla, until smooth.
- Pour filling into the crust.
- Bake 35–40 minutes, until the top is golden and slightly caramelized and the center is just set with a slight jiggle.
- Cool completely before slicing.
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 310kcal | Protein: 7g | Fat: 27g | Fiber: 2g
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Health Benefits
- A simple, low-ingredient dessert with significantly less sugar than the traditional version.
- Almond flour crust adds fiber and healthy fats not found in a traditional pastry crust.
- Best enjoyed in modest slices given its rich, custardy filling.