chess pie

noun

, Southern Cooking.

1. a dessert of cornmeal, sugar, butter, egg yolks, milk, and flavorings baked in a pastry shell.

Word History and Origins

Origin of chess pie¹

First recorded in 1930–35; apparently for chest pie; chest perhaps alluding to its depth

Example Sentences

An elegant slice of chess pie piped with chantilly cream and offered with a scoop of bourbon ice cream has me snapping away.

From Washington Post

Ask for the chess pie and you get the whole thing, presented in slices beneath a glass globe.

From Washington Post

Chocolate chess pie is a slice of heaven made possible with a coffee- and orange-flavored cream and candied ginger.

From Washington Post

Even after her departure from Johnny’s, though, the menu dared you to leave dessert crumbs — impossible in the case of her legacy lemon chess pie.

From Washington Post