Perfectly rich, custardy chess pie bars portion the classic pie into bars – perfect for serving just two people!
I am highly overdue with this post.
I took these photos weeks – nay, months – ago when I made this recipe, yet I have failed to share it with you. Perhaps I was waiting for juuuust the right moment.
You see, this recipe comes from my friend Christina’s cookbook – the aptly named Dessert For Two: Small Batch Cookies, Brownies, Pies, and Cakes. Christina was one of the very first “established” bloggers to befriend me when I started this site, and she remains a dear friend several years later. I was thrilled when she first told me that she had landed her first book deal – I knew that it would be positively amazing, because every recipe she cranks out is nothing short of mouthwatering.
As for my timing in telling you about this book, Christina just gave birth to her and her husband’s first little girl (joining their two babies of the four-legged variety) five days ago, so it seems only fitting that I should post this recipe now. (Make sure to pop over to Christina’s Instagram to check out some cutie-pie pictures of her newest addition – she’s a cutie for sure.)
This cookbook makes me happy because it contains all of the home-spun recipes you could want, sized down to serve just two people. I love chess pie, but that stuff is rich – there’s no way I could ingest an entire full-size pie and survive to tell the tale. So instead, I turned to Christina’s Chess Pie Bars recipe – Christina makes them in a loaf pan, with a shortbread crust like lemon bars. They’re easy to cut into 2 large or 4 smaller bars, and don’t leave the leftovers calling to you from the fridge every time you go to get a drink of water. (Don’t tell me I’m the only person who can hear her dessert taunting her from the other room.)
In short, you need to buy this cookbook. I would tell you more, but I’m too busy plotting what recipe I want to make next.
Chess Pie Bars
Ingredients
For the crust:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 4 tablespoons cold unsalted butter diced
- 1/2 teaspoon cider vinegar
- 3 to 5 tablespoons water
For the filling:
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon yellow cornmeal
- 1 1/2 teaspoons all-purpose flour
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 1 1/2 teaspoons cider vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs beaten
Instructions
Make the crust:
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- Combine the flour, sugar, and salt in a medium bowl. Add the butter, and kit it into the flour using a pastry blender or two knives until evenly incorporated. Add the vinegar and 3 tablespoons of water, and stir with a fork until a shaggy dough forms. If the dough doesn't clump together nicely and there are dry bits at the bottom of the bowl, add up to 2 more tablespoons of water.
- Press the crust into the bottom of an ungreased 9x5-inch loaf pan. Bake for 10 minutes and remove the pan from the oven. Then, turn the oven temperature down to 350 degrees.
Make the filling:
- Sir together all the filling ingredients. Pour over the parbaked crust. Bake for 40 minutes. The pie bars are done when the top is nicely browned and dry.
- Let cool completely in the pan, and chill overnight for the prettiest slices. Serve chilled or warm, whichever you like.
Notes
Nutrition
I have always wanted to try chess pie. It sounds so good. But these bars. They look much simpler and no way could I eat the whole thing if it is for two. Love!
I love Christina! And I think these chess pie bars are so genius–your photos are gorgeous and are making my mouth water <3
You’re so sweet. But really, isn’t Tina the best?
I love her book and have been debating which recipe to make next, you just sold me 🙂
The proper answer is: All of her recipes. Make them all! 😀
I can’t believe this only makes two! Such a great idea for baking.
Right? Girlfriend is genius.