Old Fashioned Buttermilk Pie

Old fashioned buttermilk pie is an easy pie recipe that produces a rich, thick, sweet custard-like center when baked. If you're expecting company soon, this buttermilk pie recipe is the best dessert to greet them with!

It's one of the simplest pie recipes ever, too, as you just add a quick custard filling to a prepared pie crust and bake for just under an hour!

The Best Custard-Filled Pie Recipe

Easy, easy, easy. That's the magic of this buttermilk pie. You only have to make a single crust, and then you just mix all the filling ingredients together in a bowl and dump them in. You really won’t believe how simple this recipe is. The filling bakes into a nice soft custard and is delicious.

This old fashioned buttermilk pie is a favorite in our house, and I hope you love it. It's fun to make because I've found a lot of people haven't tried it before. You can find this recipe plus SEVEN other pie recipes in one post if you are still looking around for something that looks perfect for your Thanksgiving table.

There’s something magical about pulling a pie made from scratch out of the oven. It seems to take you back to a time when life was simpler and homemade pie was standard fare in American kitchens. Today, amidst the hustle and bustle of everyday life, taking time to make pie is almost therapeutic. It’s a slower process than opening a box of brownie mix, but there’s so much satisfaction in it. Butter, flour, and sugar are the building blocks of all things good, and making a homemade pie is a pretty great way to use them. Plan to take an afternoon to bake and you just might love how grounding the whole process is for you. And you’ll have a beautiful pie to enjoy after dinner or to share with friends, and that’s a pretty great reward, too.

What is buttermilk pie made of?

Buttermilk pie has a custard filling that's smooth and sweet. The filling takes less than 5 minutes to mix up and is made of sugar, flour, eggs, butter, buttermilk, vanilla, and a pinch of salt. Use a deep pie plate for this recipe so that your filling doesn't bubble over while cooking.

There are lots of variation of this pie that include things like vanilla, lemon, or nutmeg. My version is the traditional vanilla custard. You can add a dash of nutmeg to the top if you like. Directions on how to make this a lemon buttermilk pie are in the notes of the recipe.

Should buttermilk pie be refrigerated?

This pie is best served at room temperature but can be served warm or cold depending on your preferences. I prefer it cold out of the refrigerator! To store, let it cool for 2 hours after baking, cover it tightly with plastic wrap, and keep it in the fridge until ready to serve.

Is buttermilk pie supposed to be runny?

No, if it's runny it probably hasn't cooked long enough. It will continue setting and thickening as it cools, which is why you want to give it a solid 2 hours to cool and properly set before cutting into it.

Is chess pie the same as buttermilk pie?

Buttermilk pie originated in England and has become a Southern staple in the United States. It's similar to a Chess Pie but is made without cornmeal or vinegar.

 

How to Make a Buttermilk Pie:

1. Roll out your favorite pie crust (store bought or homemade)
2. Place the pie crust in a deep pie plate.
3. Crimp the edges of the crust.
4. Mix up your simple buttermilk pie filling.
5. Pour filling into crust.
6. Bake until golden-brown. Serve warm, cold, or at room temperature.

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If You Love Buttermilk Pie, You Might Also Like These Recipes:

• 4 Recipes for a Perfect Pie Crust (my guide on all things pie crust!)
• Homemade Chocolate Cream Pie
• The Best Pecan Pie Recipe
• Easy Chicken Pumpkin Pot Pie (spoiler alert – it uses pre-made puff pastry instead of a pie crust!)
• The Best Easy Apple Cake
• No Bake Peanut Butter Pie Recipe
• Blueberry Pie Cookie Bars
• Dutch Apple Pie Recipe
• Homemade Coconut Cream Pie
• North Carolina Lemon Pie
• America’s Test Kitchen’s Fresh Strawberry Pie
• Soft Gingerbread Cookie Recipe

This post was originally published in 2015, and has been updated and rephotographed in November 2019.

This is such a delicious and simple buttermilk pie recipe to bake for your family and guests, no matter the occasion. Happy pie making from my kitchen to yours!