Buttermilk Pie

4.7
(499)

This creamy buttermilk pie is a wonderful old-fashioned dessert. I often bake two and freeze one to have on hand for unexpected guests!

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A slice of buttermilk pie topped with whipped cream
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Prep Time:
10 mins
Cook Time:
40 mins
Additional Time:
1 hr
Total Time:
1 hr 50 mins
Servings:
8
Yield:
1 (9-inch) pie

This old-fashioned buttermilk pie recipe features a creamy, custard-like filling in a flaky pastry crust. There’s a reason this tried-and-true dessert has stood the test of time!

What Is Buttermilk Pie? 

Buttermilk pie is a traditional Southern dessert. It’s similar to chess pie, but it features buttermilk (instead of whole milk) and is thickened with just flour (instead of flour and cornmeal). The budget-friendly dessert is made with simple kitchen staples, which made it popular during the Great Depression and World War II. 

What Is In Buttermilk Pie?

These are the simple ingredients you’ll need to make this homemade buttermilk pie recipe (you likely already have them all in your kitchen):

  • Eggs: This recipe starts with three large eggs.
  • Sugar: Sweeten things up with 1 ½ cups of white sugar. 
  • Butter: You’ll need a stick of softened butter.
  • Flour: Three tablespoons of all-purpose flour helps thicken things up. 
  • Buttermilk: Of course, you’ll need buttermilk! A cup, to be exact. 
  • Lemon juice: A tablespoon of lemon juice adds welcome brightness. 
  • Vanilla: A teaspoon of vanilla extract enhances the overall flavor. 
  • Nutmeg: Freshly grated nutmeg lends warm, cozy flavor. 
  • Pie crust: Use a store-bought pie crust or make your own at home

How to Make Buttermilk Pie

You’ll find the full, step-by-step recipe below — but here’s a brief overview of what you can expect when you make buttermilk pie: 

  1. Beat the eggs until frothy, then beat in the sugar, butter, and flour.
  2. Stir in the remaining ingredients, then pour the mixture into the pie shell.
  3. Bake until the center is firm. Let cool before serving. 

How to Store Buttermilk Pie

Store the buttermilk pie, tightly covered or placed in an airtight container, in the refrigerator for up to three days. 

Can You Freeze Buttermilk Pie? 

Yes! You can freeze the buttermilk pie, wrapped in at least one layer of storage wrap and one layer of foil, for up to three months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight. 

Allrecipes Community Tips and Praise

“As-is, this is an excellent recipe,” according to one Allrecipes community member. “It is not overly sweet, with a lovely texture. Coupled with a flaky home-made crust, it's near perfection. (Use a deep dish pan and there's not a problem with overfilling).”

“It turned out so good,” says Kim Templeton. “Easy recipe to follow with simple ingredients. I will definitely be making this pie again!!”

“Absolutely amazing,” raves Heather Lamberson. “Won second place in our pie contest. What really helped was making the crust from scratch. I left out the lemon and added cinnamon.”

Editorial contributions by Corey Williams

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Ingredients

Original recipe (1X) yields 8 servings

  • 3 large eggs

  • 1 ½ cups white sugar

  • ½ cup butter, softened

  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

  • 1 cup buttermilk

  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice

  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

  • teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

  • 1 (9 inch) unbaked deep dish pie crust

Directions

  1. Gather all ingredients. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

    Ingredients to make buttermilk pie

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  2. Beat eggs in a large bowl with an electric mixer until frothy.

    A glass bowl with frothy eggs and a hand mixer

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  3. Add sugar, butter, and flour; beat until smooth.

    A bowl of mixed butter, sugar, flour, and eggs with a hand mixer

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  4. Stir in buttermilk, lemon juice, vanilla, and nutmeg.

    A bowl of smooth buttermilk pie filling

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  5. Pour into pie shell.

    A fill shell filled with buttermilk pie filling

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  6. Bake in the preheated oven until center is firm, 40 to 60 minutes.

    A baked buttermilk pie on a wire cooling rack

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  7. Remove from the oven and cool for 1 hour before serving.

    A slice of buttermilk pie topped with whipped cream

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

1,057 home cooks made it!

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

413 Calories
21g Fat
52g Carbs
5g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 8
Calories 413
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 21g 27%
Saturated Fat 10g 50%
Cholesterol 102mg 34%
Sodium 257mg 11%
Total Carbohydrate 52g 19%
Dietary Fiber 1g 3%
Total Sugars 39g
Protein 5g 10%
Vitamin C 1mg 1%
Calcium 52mg 4%
Iron 1mg 6%
Potassium 96mg 2%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.