Buttermilk Pie Recipe (2024)

Published: Nov 2, 2022 · Modified: Jun 25, 2023 by Emma Fajcz · As an Amazon Influencer, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Buttermilk pie is one Southern dessert that you need to try! It isn't fancy, but it has all the richness and sweetness you need at the end of a meal. It only takes a few ingredients and a short amount of time to make.

Looking for other tasty desserts? Check out this corn syrup-free pecan pie and this family favorite sour cherry pie.

About

Buttermilk pie is made from smooth custard baked inside of crisp flaky pastry. It often has a crunchy, sugary layer on top of the custard. This dessert is especially popular in the Southern United States.

This dessert has a smooth, lightly sweet custard filling. The custard browns on top as it bakes, giving it a crunchy sugary topping. You'll notice a slight tang from the buttermilk and a rich flavor from the melted butter.

Contrary to what you might expect, this dessert actually originated in the United Kingdom and made its way to America. It has become a very popular dessert in the South.

Why This Recipe Works

• It's made with quality ingredients. Using full-fat buttermilk and melted butter rather than margarine brings the best flavor. Of course, using homemade pastry brings it up another notch as well.
• It's not too sweet. Especially if you serve this pie warm, it's even less sweet. We actually like it chilled, which makes it taste a little sweeter.
• You won't overbake or underbake it. No more runny pies! Test the center with a toothpick; if it comes out clean, the pie is done. Also check it with a thermometer; it should be around 175°F.

Ingredients

Wondering what ingredients you need to whip up this delicious recipe? There's not a lot that you need to make this Southern dessert. Let's talk about the key ingredients.

• Buttermilk: Make sure to use full-fat buttermilk. You can substitute with whole milk with a touch of white vinegar in a pinch.
• Sugar: This sweetens the filling and can be adjusted depending upon your tastes. Feel free to use monkfruit if you're diabetic.
• Flour: This thickens the filling and helps it set when it's baked. I use all-purpose.
• Eggs: This is another key ingredient to give the filling its custard texture.
• Melted Butter: This adds richness and flavor to the filling.

See recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

How to Make

Gather the ingredients for the filling. You'll need eggs, buttermilk, melted butter, flour, sugar, and vanilla extract.

1. Whisk together the eggs, sugar, and melted butter until smooth.
2. Add the buttermilk, flour, and vanilla extract and whisk until smooth.

3. Pour the filling into an unbaked 9-inch pastry shell. Using homemade pastry will make the pie even better!

4. Bake at 350°F for 1 hour 20 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cover with foil if it's getting too dark.

5. Let it cool completely on a wire rack, then chill for at least 2 hours.

6. Cut the chilled dessert in slices and enjoy.

Recipe FAQs

Serve

Serving Temperature: People eat this dessert warm from the oven, at room temperature, or chilled. It's really up to you to decide which way you prefer. Our family enjoys it better once it has been chilled, as it tastes sweeter.

Toppings: It's not traditional to serve buttermilk pie with toppings, but you can try whipped cream or vanilla ice cream if you'd like.

If you're looking for other desserts to serve with buttermilk pie, try our cranberry apple galette, sour cherry pie, no bake cherry cheesecake, and sour cream pound cake.

Savory sides that would taste great with buttermilk pie include Southern baked beans, Southern potato salad, easy broccoli salad, Chick-fil-A coleslaw, and Italian pasta salad.

Store

Leftovers: It can keep up to 3 days in the fridge or 2 months in the freezer. Don't store it at room temperature, as it may spoil.

Reheat: Want to warm up leftover pie? Bake it at 325°F until it's heated through.

Freezing: Seal the baked and cooled dessert in a zip-top freezer bag or wrap it in foil, and freeze for up to 2 months. You can also pre-slice it for ease.

Thaw overnight in the fridge or at room temperature for a few hours.

Expert Tips

• Use homemade pastry for the best flavor.
• Use real butter in the custard, not margarine. It's healthier and tastier to use real butter.
• Be sure to whisk the filling until well mixed. Adding the buttermilk after the flour will prevent the filling from separating.
• Be careful not to overbake. The top should be browned and the custard set.
• Chill before eating. This dessert has a better flavor when served cold.

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