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Chess pie is a classic Southern dessert with simple ingredients and truly marvelous flavor. It’s also a customer favorite at Busken Bakery, in fact Busken’s Chess Pie outsells their famous Pumpkin Pie during the Thanksgiving season! “It is hands down our best selling pie and probably my favorite item here at the bakery,” noted Brian Busken, Vice President of the 88 year old bakery. For generations, Busken customers have grown up enjoying these perfect pies, considering them just as much a taste of home as apple pie. But what makes chess pie so good, and who came up with it first? Read on for some tasty tidbits about the history of these world-famous pies.

Why Are They Called “Chess Pies”?

piesThe name has little to do with the popular board game — though it’s possible many have enjoyed the tasty treat while playing the ancient board game. One possibility is that “chess” actually refers to “pie chest,” an 18th-century food storage cupboard that predates household iceboxes, where chess pies were typically stored. “Chess” may also be a reference to cheese, as chess pie is actually fairly similar to cheesecake (but obviously without the cheese). The name may have also come from the phrase, “It’s juss’ pie,” coined by a hotel chef after presenting his unique creation to his staff.

Simple Pies – Simple Ingredients

piesSimilar in texture to English lemon curd pie, the sole ingredients of chess pie filling are butter, sugar, eggs and milk. Chess pie likely originated from sheer necessity — because those were the only ingredients available to use for many people. But that’s all it took to create this Southern classic! Most find it decadent enough plain, but chess pies are often sprinkled with chopped pecans or coconut shavings. The filling can also be flavored with chocolate, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, or lemon juice. For the final touch, chess pie is absolutely divine with a dab of whipped cream and your favorite fruit.

Do you love Busken’s chess pie? Whether you grew up with this special Southern treat or you want to find out what you’ve been missing, Busken Bakery invites you to try one for yourself, available in 6” and 9” sizes year round. You can either stop into one of their 8 Cincinnati locations or order pies online from the comfort of your own home. For more information about Busken’s full-line of fresh baked goods, call (513) 871-5330. You can also find the bakery on FacebookTwitter and at www.busken.com.

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