Best Brown Butter Chess Pie Recipes

BROWN BUTTER MAPLE CHESS PIE

Steps:

• In a food processor, mix together flour, sugar, and salt. Add in butter and pulse mixture until it resembles wet sand.
• Pour in ice water, starting with 3 tablespoons, and pulse again. Pulse until the dough comes together, forming a ball along the side of the food processor. If dough doesn't come together, add in additional tablespoon of ice water.
• Remove dough from food processor and place on a floured surface. Roll dough into a ball, then cover tightly with plastic wrap and place in fridge for at least 30 minutes, but up to 2 days.
• Preheat oven to 425°F. Grease a standard sized pie pan with butter. Set aside.
• Brown your butter by placing it into a small saucepan over low heat. Stir constantly until the milk solids from the butter separate and become a golden brown color. Remove from heat and allow to cool for at least 15 minutes.
• Remove pie dough disk from the fridge. On a lightly floured work surface, roll dough out to 1/4 inch thick. Carefully place dough into pie pan, pushing into the pan. Fold the edge of the dough over on itself, and use your fingers to create a crimped edge. Or, if you don't know how to do this, just leave it be. It will look great regardless!
• Prepare your crust to be blind baked by placing parchment paper over the dough, then adding uncooked rice into the center. Blind bake for 10 minutes while you make your filling.
• In a large bowl, combine butter, maple syrup, sugar, eggs, heavy cream, vanilla, and salt. Whisk until well combined, then add in cornmeal.
• Pour filling into partially baked crust, then lower oven temperature to 350°F and bake for an additional 45-50 minutes, until the center of the pie is set and is a light golden brown color.
• Allow pie to cool completely before topping with a dust of powdered sugar and serving. I suggest letting it cool on a cooling rack for 1 hour, then in the fridge for 2 hours. I also love pairing my chess pie with whipped cream, as these photos shows!

BROWN BUTTER CHESS PIE

Steps:

• To make the crust: Whisk together flour, sugar, and salt in a large bowl. Add butter and mix with a pastry blender or fork until the mixture resembles coarse meal and the butter is the size of small peas. Add 1 tablespoon of water and continue mixing. Add more water as needed, 1 tablespoon at a time, until a dough forms.
• Wrap the dough tightly in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Remove dough from refrigerator. If necessary, let it sit at room temperature for 10 to 15 minutes until slightly softened but still cold. Lightly flour work surface. Roll out dough into a circle about 1/8-inch thick. Transfer the dough to a 9-inch pie plate. Trim and crimp the edges as desired. Place the pie plate in the refrigerator while you make the filling.
• To make the filling: Preheat the oven to 325°F. Place the butter in a medium saucepan or skillet. Cook over medium heat until the butter melts and begins to foam. Continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until brown specks begin to form at the bottom of the pan and the butter has a nutty aroma. Remove the pan from the heat and allow to cool to room temperature. If desired, strain the butter to remove some or all of the browned bits. Place the eggs in a large mixing bowl, and beat lightly. Add the cooled butter, sugar, brown sugar, milk, and vanilla, and stir until combined. Stir in the cornmeal and salt. Transfer the filling to the pie crust. Place the pie plate on a rimmed baking sheet to catch any spills. Bake 55 to 60 minutes, or until the crust is browned and the filling is set.

BROWN BUTTER CHESS PIE

Steps:

• To make the crust: Whisk together the flour, sugar, and salt in a large bowl. Add the butter and mix with a pastry blender or fork until the mixture resembles coarse meal and the butter is the size of small peas. Add 1 tablespoon of water and continue mixing. Add more water as needed, 1 tablespoon at a time, until a dough forms. Wrap the dough tightly in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Remove the dough from the refrigerator. If necessary, let it sit at room temperature for 10 to 15 minutes until slightly softened but still cold. Lightly flour a work surface. Roll out the dough into a circle about 1/8-inch thick. Transfer the dough to a 9-inch pie plate. Trim and crimp the edges as desired. Place the pie plate in the refrigerator while you make the filling. To make the filling: Preheat the oven to 325°F. Place the butter in a medium saucepan or skillet. Cook over medium heat until the butter melts and begins to foam. Continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until brown specks begin to form at the bottom of the pan and the butter has a nutty aroma. Remove the pan from the heat and allow to cool to room temperature. If desired, strain the butter to remove some or all of the browned bits. Place the eggs in a large mixing bowl, and beat lightly. Add the cooled butter, sugar, brown sugar, milk, and vanilla, and stir until combined. Stir in the cornmeal and salt. Transfer the filling to the pie crust. Place the pie plate on a rimmed baking sheet to catch any spills. Bake 55 to 60 minutes, or until the crust is browned and the filling is set.