This old-fashioned buttermilk pie recipe is a true classic, featuring a rich, sweet, and creamy custard-like filling with a caramelized crunch on top. It’s a comforting dessert with a perfectly golden brown crust that only adds to its homemade flavor.
This easy buttermilk pie is a timeless southern dessert that you’ll fall in love with at the first bite. This recipe will give you a pie with a sweet, tangy flavor and a creamy inside that is just irresistible. Plus, the buttermilk adds a unique, tangy flavor that sets it apart from the rest.
If you’re a fan of the creamy texture of buttermilk pie, then you’ll also love my chocolate pie recipe. Or, if you’re in the mood for something truly old-fashioned, try my oatmeal pie recipe. And for a pie that’s rich in sweetness, my chocolate coconut pie is a must-try.
This recipe was found in the Beta Sigma Phi Dessert cookbook that was published in 1968. I have found many treasures in this cookbook and look forward to finding more. So far all the recipes tested have come out wonderful and I love finding the old fashioned recipes that I’ve never tried before.
Table of Contents
Why I Love This Recipe
- Uses up Buttermilk: I don’t typically always have buttermilk on hand, but when I do I like to use up what I purchased. This pie along with my favorite buttermilk cookies or buttermilk biscuits are my go-to recipes.
- Family Favorite: This recipe is one that you can tell has been passed down through generations and has become a beloved dessert in many families.
- Lots of Flavor In Every Bite: The combination of sweet and tangy flavors in this pie is simply perfect, thanks to the carefully selected ingredients and their proportions. When I first took a bite, I was blown away by how flavorful it was – in just one bite!
- Surprisingly Simple: Despite its rich, sweet flavor, this pie is surprisingly easy to make. It’s a recipe that anyone can master, even if you’re a beginner in the kitchen.
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Key Ingredients
- Butter: The main fat in this recipe, butter adds a rich, creamy flavor and helps achieve the perfect texture in your buttermilk pie.
- Granulated Sugar: This sweetener not only sweetens the pie but also helps to give it a beautiful caramelized crunch on top.
- Flour: A thickening agent, flour ensures that the pie has the right consistency and holds together well.
- Lemon Juice: This ingredient adds a tangy flavor to the pie, balancing out the sweetness for a perfectly balanced dessert.
- Vanilla Extract: A classic flavor enhancer, vanilla extract adds a warm, comforting aroma and flavor to your buttermilk pie.
- Large Eggs: These are crucial for the custard base of the pie, providing a creamy texture and helping the pie to set.
- Buttermilk: The star of the show, buttermilk gives this pie its unique, tangy flavor that is characteristic of the classic southern dessert.
- Pie Crust: Whether you use a store-bought or homemade pie crust, it’s the vessel that holds all the delicious custard, giving your pie its shape and a bit of crunch.
Equipment
- Electric Mixer – This is essential to cream together the butter and sugar until they are light and fluffy, giving your pie that perfect, creamy texture.
- Large Bowl – You’ll need this to mix all your ingredients together, ensuring that they are well combined before pouring them into your pie crust.
- Pie Plate – This is where your unbaked pie crust will go. Make sure to prepare it before you start mixing your pie filling.
How to Make Old-Fashioned Buttermilk Pie
Preparation
To start, preheat your oven to 325˚ F. This will ensure that it’s at the right temperature when you’re ready to bake your pie.
Step 1 – Mix the Butter and Sugar
Using your electric mixer, cream the butter and sugar together for about 2 minutes. You’ll want to mix them until they’re light and fluffy. This is what will give your buttermilk pie that rich, sweet flavor and creamy texture.
Step 2 – Add the Remaining Ingredients
Next, add the remaining ingredients in a specific order. Start by adding the flour, lemon juice, and vanilla extract. Then, add the eggs one at a time, making sure to mix well between each addition. Finally, stir in the buttermilk. This will give your pie its tangy flavor and old-fashioned appeal.
Step 3 – Pour the Filling and Bake
Once your pie filling is ready, pour it into the prepared pie shell. Fill only to the edge of the crust. You may have extra filling depending on the size of your pie plate. Bake your buttermilk pie at 325˚ F for 60-70 minutes. You’ll know it’s done when the pie is firm. Your pie will have a perfectly golden brown color when set and done baking.
Expert Tip
To avoid a soggy bottom crust with your old fashioned buttermilk pie, sprinkle two teaspoons of all-purpose flour at the bottom of your unbaked pie shell before adding the pie filling. This simple step helps absorb any excess moisture, keeping your crust nice and crisp.
Recipe Variations
- Lemon Extract: For a citrusy twist, use ½ tablespoon of lemon extract instead of lemon juice in your buttermilk pie recipe. This will give your dessert a refreshing lemon flavor that pairs perfectly with the tangy buttermilk.
- Orange Extract: If you’re a fan of orange flavor, swap the lemon juice in the recipe for orange extract. This simple swap will give your old-fashioned buttermilk pie a bright, citrusy flavor that’s perfect for summer.
- Meringue Top: For a show-stopping finish, top your buttermilk pie with baked meringue. The light, fluffy meringue adds a beautiful contrast to the rich, creamy custard filling.
What to Serve With
- For a classic Southern dessert spread, serve your old-fashioned buttermilk pie with a generous dollop of whipped cream. The lightness of the whipped cream pairs perfectly with the rich, tangy flavor of the buttermilk custard.
- If you’re a coffee lover, you’ll appreciate how well a slice of this buttermilk pie complements your cup of joe. The slightly bitter coffee enhances the sweetness of the pie, making for a truly satisfying morning or afternoon treat.
Recipe FAQs
Old-fashioned buttermilk pie has a unique tangy flavor, thanks to the buttermilk in the custard. The tanginess is balanced by the sweetness of the sugar, and the pie has a creamy, smooth texture. It’s often compared to a custard or a chess pie.
Buttermilk pie features ingredients like lemon juice and vanilla extract that chess pie does not have. Plus, for a buttermilk pie, we use all-purpose flour as the thickening agent, while for the chess pie, we use cornmeal instead.
Storing and Reheating
- Refrigerate: Leftover slices of this pie can be stored in the refrigerator. Just cover the pie dish with plastic wrap or transfer the slices to an airtight container. It will keep well for up to 3 days.
- Freeze: Unfortunately, due to the creamy nature of this old-fashioned pie, it does not freeze well.
More Old-Fashioned Pie Recipes You’ll Enjoy
Serving Size
- What to Expect: This old-fashioned buttermilk pie recipe yields a classic Southern dessert that’s enough for 8-10 servings.
- How to Scale: If you’re hosting a larger gathering and need more than 10 servings, you can easily double the recipe. Just make sure to use a larger bowl for mixing and two 9 or 10-inch pie crusts to accommodate the increased quantity. Follow the rest of the instructions as directed.
Old Fashioned Buttermilk Pie
Ingredients
- ½ Cup butter softened
- 2 Cups granulated sugar
- 3 Tablespoons all purpose flour
- 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 5 large eggs
- 1 Cup buttermilk
- 1 unbaked 9 or 10 inch pie crust
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325˚ F. Prepare your unbaked pie crust.
- Cream together the butter and sugar for 2 minutes using an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy.
- Add the remaining ingredients in order, adding 1 egg at a time and mixing between each.
- Pour the pie filling into the pie shell. Bake at 325˚ F for 60-70 minutes or until firm.
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