The Most Famous Pies in Southern History

We can all agree that we love chess pie, but we can’t seem to agree where the dessert got its name. The mixture of eggs, butter, sugar, vanilla, and flour made its way to the American South from England. It became popular in Virginia and has had many incarnations, from the Classic Chess Pie, Chocolate-Pecan Chess Pie, and Pumpkin-Lemon Cream Cheese Chess Pie to fruity versions, like Lemon Chess Pie, Tangerine Chess Pie and Grapefruit Chess Pie. Because the pie was kept in pie chests, some say the name “chess” comes from “chest.” Others say that the pie was often served during evenings spent playing chess. Still others claim that “chess” is a variant of the British “cheese” pie. No matter the origin, this pie has become a Southern staple.