Southern Buttermilk Pie Recipe
This Southern Buttermilk Pie is a classic, tangy dessert combining the rich flavor of buttermilk with fresh lemon zest and juice, all nestled in a flaky pastry crust. Perfectly balanced between sweet and tart, this pie bakes to a tender, custard-like texture that’s ideal for a comforting dessert or special occasion treat.
- Author: mia
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Southern American
Dry Ingredients
- 1½ cups sugar
- 3 Tablespoons flour
Wet Ingredients
- 3 large eggs
- 1 cup buttermilk
- ½ cup melted butter (corrected from ‘buttermilk melted’)
- 1 Tablespoon lemon zest (loosely packed)
- 3 Tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Other
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit to ensure it’s at the right temperature when your pie is ready to bake.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, combine the sugar and flour thoroughly. Set this mixture aside as it will serve as the base for the filling.
- Combine Wet Ingredients: In a separate large bowl, whisk together the eggs, buttermilk, melted butter (note: the recipe lists ‘buttermilk melted’ but based on typical pie recipes, melted butter is used), lemon zest, lemon juice, and vanilla extract until fully blended.
- Combine Wet and Dry: Slowly pour the wet ingredient mixture into the bowl with the sugar and flour. Stir gently until just combined to avoid overmixing, which can affect the texture.
- Prepare the Pie Shell: Place the prepared pastry crust into a pie dish if it isn’t already. Pour the pie filling into the crust evenly.
- Protect the Crust Edge: Cover the edge of the pie crust with foil to prevent it from burning during baking.
- Bake the Pie: Bake the pie in the preheated oven at 350°F for 25 minutes. Then carefully remove the foil from the crust edges and continue baking for an additional 20 minutes. Bake for a total of about 45 minutes or until the filling is almost set but still slightly jiggly in the center. Avoid over-baking to keep the custard creamy.
- Cool the Pie: Remove the pie from the oven and allow it to cool at room temperature for about one hour to let the filling set completely.
- Serve: Garnish with whipped cream and fresh berries before serving for an extra touch of flavor and presentation.
Notes
- Using melted butter instead of melted buttermilk is a common clarification for this recipe to achieve the proper texture and richness.
- Be careful not to over-bake the pie; the filling should remain slightly jiggly as it will firm up while cooling.
- Covering the crust edges with foil protects them from burning but still allows the filling to bake evenly.
- Allowing the pie to cool completely before slicing ensures clean cuts and proper setting of the custard.
- This pie pairs excellently with fresh berries or a dollop of whipped cream to complement its tangy flavor.
Keywords: Southern Buttermilk Pie, buttermilk pie, lemon buttermilk pie, classic Southern dessert, custard pie, lemon zest pie