Buttermilk Pie -- An Unexpected New Favorite
I never had much interest in Buttermilk Pie until a recent Thanksgiving when my sister-in-law brought one to dinner. She didn't make the pie, but rather purchased it from a lady in Llano who was famous for her buttermilk pies. And for good reason! Everyone raved about that pie, and from that day on I promised I'd try to find a really good recipe for it.
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Two Buttermilk Pie Recipes
It took a while, but I now have not one but two very good recipes. Also known as Magnolia Pie, my first recipe is made with buttermilk powder. The second recipe is this one, which I usually make with regular low fat buttermilk, but which I just discovered is fabulous when made with whole milk buttermilk such as Kemps Cultured Buttermilk Blend with Whole Milk (the only one my store sells). Here's a picture of what it looks like unbaked.
It goes from being a thick, custardy type batter to a very smooth and creamy tart pie. Usually it doesn't separate, but when I tested it with the full fat buttermilk it separated into two layers, which was nice.
For best results, use pure vanilla extract or better yet, Nielsen Massey Vanilla Paste 
Recipe
Buttermilk Pie
Ingredients
- 9 inch deep dish unbaked pie crust
- 1 stick 4 ounces high quality unsalted butter
- 1 cup plus 3 tablespoons sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 1 ½ teaspoons good quality vanilla extract
- ⅜ teaspoon salt
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 cup fresh well-shaken buttermilk
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. The rack should be in the lower third of the oven.
- In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the stick of butter using a low setting such as 30 or 40% power. You want the butter to be soft and goopy rather than liquid. Let it cool slightly. If you melt it at a low heat it won’t be too hot to begin with.
- In another bowl, beat the eggs with a handheld electric mixer.
- In a mixing bowl, combine the goopy, soft butter with the sugar and beat with the mixer until light. Add the beaten eggs and beat for a couple of seconds or just until mixed. Beat in the vanilla and salt.
- With a large mixing spoon or silicone scraper, stir in the flour. When flour is incorporated, very gradually add the buttermilk, stirring until blended.
- Pour into the pie shell and bake for 45 to 50 minutes or until top is lightly browned and center is slightly jiggly. If you use a ceramic pie dish such as an Emile Henry, you might need to add an extra 10 to 15 minutes (60 to 65). If pie is looking very brown toward the end but is not quite set, cover with a sheet of foil.
- When the pie is done, it will not be completely stiff, but it should not be too loose and shaky, either. It should be just slightly jiggly while hot and should set as it cools.
Vee says
I made this for Thanksgiving and it tasted similar to a chess pie, but not as sweet.
It is superfast to put together, which made it so easy to make 2-3 quickly to giveaway as a gift.
Thanks for the recipe!
C L says
This I must make! My grandma used to make buttermilk pie once in a blue moon and it was so delicious. Your recipe looks like it might be the closest I've seen to my grandma's, using just vanilla but no lemon. Can't wait to try this recipe. 🙂
Todd says
I had this for dessert last night and it was wonderful.
megan says
Now that is a pie I would love to try - one of the things I didn't like about the buttermilk pie I made was the overpowering lemon flavor.