Buttermilk Pie

5 from 7 votes

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Old Fashioned Buttermilk Pie is an easy pie recipe that is rich, thick and has a sweet custard-like center. If you’re expecting company soon, this buttermilk pie recipe is the best dessert to greet them with!

This pies is one of the easiest you’ll ever make. You simply add a quick custard filling to a prepared pie crust and bake for just under an hour! Doesn’t get more simple or easier than that. 

slice of buttermilk pie on a white plate with a fork
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What is Buttermilk Pie

Southern 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.

Ingredients

  • Single pie crust: I always make a double flakey pie crust (per the recipe) and make another pie that needs a single crust such as pumpkin pie or this Toll House Cookie pie. Might as well right?
  • Sugar: this is granulated sugar and just adds the sweetness to the baked custard filling
  • Flour: just a bit to help thicken the filling
  • Eggs: these also help thicken the custard and add a great creamy texture
  • Butter: this is added to the filling so help make it rich and creamy
  • Buttermilk: the star of the show, this adds flavor, brightness, and great texture. If you have a little leftover buttermilk I highly recommend making this buttermilk biscuit recipe.
  • Vanilla: this adds some flavor to the custard
A perfect pie with pinched crust and a yellow inside is in a clear pie dish on a white marbled counter.

How to make 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.
Step by step pictures of a pie being made. Number 1 shows a pie crust rolled out in a large circle and a rolling pin by it. Number two has the pie crust put in a pie dish. Number three shows the pie crust that has been decorated on the edges. Number four shows a glass bowl with the pie filling in it and an orange whisk. Number five show the pie all put together in the dish. Number six shows the cooked pie with a red and white striped dish towel underneath.

Serving Suggestions:

This pie is best cold in my opinion but is also good at room temperature. I don’t like it warm all that much but you might. There’s lots of flexibility here. You can serve this creamy custard pie with a tangy flavor with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream but it’s not a must.

Frequently Asked Questions

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.

A piece of old fashioned pie is on a white salad plate on top of a plain white plate with a silver fork on the plate. The rest of the pie is pictured in the background in a clear pie dish with a silver butter knife on it.

More Pie Recipes

If you’ve tried this Buttermilk Pie Recipe or any other recipe on Bless this Mess, then don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave me a comment below! I would love to hear about your experience making it. And if you snapped some pictures of it, share it with me on Instagram so I can repost on my stories.

Slice of buttermilk pie on a plate
5 from 7 votes

Old Fashioned Buttermilk Pie Recipe

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!
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 45 minutes
Total: 55 minutes
Servings: 8

Ingredients 

  • Single pie crust
  • 1 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 tablespoons flour
  • 3 eggs
  • 1/2 cup butter, melted
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla
  • Pinch of salt

Instructions 

  • Prepare your pie crust, and place it in the bottom of a deep 9-inch pie plate.
  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
  • In a large bowl, add sugar and flour, and whisk to combine.
  • Add the eggs, and whisk to combine.
  • Add the butter, buttermilk, vanilla, and pinch of salt, and whisk to combine.
  • Pour the buttermilk mixture into the unbaked prepared pie crust, and bake for 45 to 50 minutes.
  • The center will be set when the pie is done.
  • Remove from the oven, and let cool for at least 2 hours before serving.
  • Or let cool, cover, and keep in the fridge until serving (I prefer this pie cold).

Notes

  • You make add a lemon flavor to this by pie adding 1 tablespoon of lemon zest and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice to the pie filling before baking.
  • I like this pie best cold. Let the pie cool for 2 hours, then cover tightly with plastic wrap, and keep in the fridge until ready to serve.
  • This can be made 1 to 2 days ahead of time.
  • New to working with buttermilk? Here’s a whole post with more information about it!

Nutrition

Serving: 1 of 8 slices, Calories: 274kcal, Carbohydrates: 34g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 14g, Saturated Fat: 8g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 4g, Trans Fat: 0.5g, Cholesterol: 95mg, Sodium: 147mg, Potassium: 71mg, Fiber: 0.1g, Sugar: 33g, Vitamin A: 493IU, Calcium: 48mg, Iron: 0.4mg
Like this recipe? Rate and comment below!

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!

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Recipe Rating




11 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Made this pie for a family reunion today. It was devoured and enjoyed by many. Taste just like mom used to make one said 😊thanks for sharing!

  2. 5 stars
    My husband and my dad both grew up in small town southeast Texas where Buttermilk Pie reigns supreme! I found your recipe and tried one my go of making my husband a birthday pie and IT WAS a HIT! This Thanksgiving I was asked by my mother in law and my dad to bring Buttermilk Pie! I feel like I’ve made it as a daughter in law 🤣🤣 This recipe is SO easy and small town, southeast Texas approved!!!

    1. I LOVE hearing this, it’s so fun to hear how the recipes are used in real life, thank you so much for taking the time to share this with me!

  3. 5 stars
    I LOVE this recipe and I’m team LEMON all the way!!! I’ve made it both ways with and without and it’s good both. I actually like the lemon version warm and the without lemon version cold!! So good!

  4. You know what’s funny is my young women (14&15 yr olds) told me they looove butter milk pie. I had never made it ( or heard of it) until it was requested!

  5. This buttermilk pie might be old-fashioned but I’ve never tried making it, so it’s trendy for me! 🙂 Can I use lime juice instead of lemon juice, Melissa?