Buttermilk Pie

Content… What Does It Taste Like? Recipe Ingredients How to Make It Recipe Variations Tips and Tricks Make-Ahead Instructions Serving and Storage Instructions What to Serve More Heavenly Pie Recipes to Try

What Does Buttermilk Pie Taste Like?

The buttermilk pie recipe involves a custard filling usually made with sugar, buttermilk, eggs, butter, and a bit of flour. Some people like to add nutmeg, vanilla, lemon juice, and lemon zest. For added texture and flavor, I add pineapple chunks. And the buttermilk doesn’t overwhelm the perfect medley of sweet, tangy, and fresh flavors.

Recipe Ingredients

1. Pie Crust – Either store-bought or homemade flaky pie crust works perfectly for this pie. 
2. Custard Filling – Basic custard ingredients, including butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla, flour, and, of course, buttermilk, make up the pie’s creamy substance. 
3. Spices and Fruit – To give it that light and fresh flavor, you’ll want nutmeg, a dash of salt, lemon juice and zest, and pineapple chunks. 

How to Make Southern Buttermilk Pie

Prepare the Pie

• Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
• Crust – Unroll a premade pie crust over the bottom of a 9.5-inch pie plate or deep dish pie pan. (Photo 1)
• Trim the edges, leaving a half-inch overhang. Fold the overhang over, lightly press it against the rim of the pie plate, and use a fork or your fingers to crimp it decoratively.
• Whisk – In a medium bowl, whisk the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add the eggs and vanilla. Continue mixing. (Photo 2)
• Flavor – Next, stir in the flour, lemon zest, nutmeg, and salt. Continue beating until smooth. (Photo 3)
• Buttermilk – Finally, add the buttermilk, followed by the pineapple chunks, if desired, and mix. (Photo 4)

Bake the Buttermilk Pie

• Bake – Pour the buttermilk filling into the prepared crust and bake at 400°F (205℃) for 10 minutes, reduce the heat to 350°F (180℃), and bake it for 50-60 minutes. (Photo 5)
• Remove the pie from the oven and let it cool for an hour or more before serving. If adding pineapple, you might have to let it cool longer. (Photo 6)
• Serve at room temperature with whipped cream.

Recipe Variations

1. Use different citrus. Replace the lemon with lime or orange for a subtle variation in flavor. 🍊
2. Swap out the fruit. Instead of pineapple chunks, you could use chopped mango, peaches, or any other similar fruit you love. 🥭
3. Make it boozy. Add a splash of bourbon for a flavorful adult kick! 🥃

Tips and Tricks

1. When using pineapples, make sure to drain them well so they don’t make a soggy crust.
2. If using sweetened canned pineapples packed with syrup, you may want to cut the sugar back to just a cup.
3. You can tell the pie is fully baked when it turns a nice golden brown and a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

Make-Ahead Instructions

Feel free to make this pie a day or two ahead of time for a stress-free dessert. Just let it cool completely before covering it and storing it in the fridge. Or freeze it, well wrapped, for 2-3 months, and thaw it in the refrigerator overnight.

Serve it chilled whenever you’re ready to dig in.

Serving and Storage Instructions 

Serve your deliciousness chilled or at room temperature, whatever you prefer.

Store leftover buttermilk pie in an airtight container or the pie dish (covered) in the fridge for 3-5 days. Yes, you can freeze it, thaw it in the refrigerator overnight, and enjoy. The texture will differ slightly, but it’s not a big deal.

What Goes With Buttermilk Pie

Serving buttermilk pie with homemade whipped cream and a drizzle of caramel sauce is utterly indulgent. You can also serve it with some chopped grilled pineapple, which is heavenly. Pair a hearty slice of pie with a piping hot cup of coffee or a steamy chai tea latte for optimal enjoyment. 😉

More Heavenly Pie Recipes to Try

1. Apple Pie
2. Pumpkin Pie
3. Chocolate Chess Pie
4. Coconut Cream Pie
5. Sweet Potato Pie

This blog post was originally published in November 2018 and has been updated with additional tips