Decadent Keto Buttermilk Pie Recipe: Indulge in Southern Comfort Without the Guilt!

Buttermilk pie is a classic Southern dessert, celebrated for its simplicity and delightful flavor. This article delves into the traditional buttermilk pie, while also exploring a keto-friendly alternative, ensuring everyone can enjoy this timeless treat.

What is Buttermilk Pie?

This Buttermilk Pie is a classic Southern dessert that’s both simple to make and incredibly delicious. It’s a custard-like pie with a creamy filling. This old-fashioned Southern dessert is perfect for any occasion. Some might even say it’s a cousin of the sugar cream pie or similar to a chess pie. What sets it apart is the distinct tangy flavor from the buttermilk, which beautifully balances the sweetness of the pie.

One of the great things about this pie is that it’s quick and easy to make, making it perfect for busy days. You don’t need any fancy ingredients or complicated techniques to whip up this pie. It’s also a great dessert for any season. While it’s a classic holiday dessert (serving it for Thanksgiving or Christmas), it’s also perfect for summer gatherings when served cold.

Key Ingredients in Traditional Buttermilk Pie

A buttermilk pie is made of a few simple, yet delicious ingredients. At its core, it’s a mixture of buttermilk, sugar, eggs, and butter, often flavored with vanilla and a bit of lemon zest. This delightful concoction is then poured into a pie crust and baked until it sets into a creamy, custard-like filling.

Buttermilk: The star ingredient, lending a subtle tanginess. The buttermilk keeps the filling moist and adds the most incredible flavor.
Sugar: Provides the necessary sweetness to balance the buttermilk's tang.
Eggs: Act as binders, creating the pie's custard-like texture. They help to set the pie and give it that beautiful custard-like texture.
Butter: Adds richness and creaminess. The butter plays a crucial role in adding that creamy, rich flavor that we all love.
Vanilla Extract: Enhances the overall flavor profile. A splash of vanilla enhances all the other flavors in the pie.
Lemon Zest and Lemon Juice: Nothing like a little zest to liven things up!
Flour: Flour helps to thicken the pie filling.
Salt: A pinch of salt is a secret weapon in desserts.
Nutmeg: A sprinkle of ground nutmeg can add a warm, earthy flavor to a buttermilk pie.
Pie Crust: A flaky pie crust is all nestled in.

Making a Traditional Buttermilk Pie: Step-by-Step

Here's how to create a classic buttermilk pie:

Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F.
Combine Sugar and Butter: Grab a medium mixing bowl and whisk together the granulated sugar and melted butter until well combined.
Add the Eggs: Now, whisk in the eggs one at a time until incorporated, then whisk in the flour.
Whisk in Buttermilk & Other Ingredients: Gradually pour in the buttermilk along with the lemon zest, lemon juice, vanilla, salt, and nutmeg (if using). Whisk to combine.
Pour the buttermilk pie filling mixture into the pie crust and bake in the preheated oven for 45-50 minutes. The pie is finished baking when the edges are set and the center of the pie has a very slight jiggle. You may need to cover the crust with a pie shield or tent the pie with aluminum foil after about 25 minutes if you notice that the pie or crust is getting dark too quickly.
Cool Before Serving: Once baked, remove the pie from the oven and allow it to cool to room temperature (this will take about 2 hours) before serving. If desired, garnish with a dusting of powdered sugar for an extra touch of sweetness.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Pie Not Setting: If you find that your buttermilk pie is not setting, it could be due to a few factors. It might not have been baked long enough, or the oven temperature could have been too low. Another possible reason could be the buttermilk itself. If it’s too thin, it might make the filling watery. Always use high-quality, thick buttermilk for the best results.
Crust Browning Too Quickly: If you notice the crust browning too quickly while baking, cover it with a pie shield or some aluminum foil.

Serving and Storing Buttermilk Pie

Allow the pie to cool completely before slicing it. A buttermilk pie has a unique taste that’s hard to describe. It’s sweet, tangy, and creamy with a hint of citrus flavor from the lemon zest and juice.

Buttermilk pie can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days. Yes, you can freeze buttermilk pies. Once the pie has completely cooled, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and then in aluminum foil. It can be stored in the freezer for up to two months.

Keto Buttermilk Pie: A Low-Carb Delight

For those following a ketogenic or low-carb lifestyle, adapting the classic buttermilk pie is entirely possible. The key lies in substituting high-carb ingredients with keto-friendly alternatives.

Key Ingredients in Keto Buttermilk Pie

Almond Flour: Replaces traditional wheat flour for a low-carb crust and filling. The list of ingredients for keto butter pie is short and simple. 1 1/4 cup almond flour.
Keto-Friendly Sweetener: Monk fruit or erythritol replace sugar without spiking blood sugar levels. Monk fruit, otherwise known in China as “luo han guo,” is a member of the gourd family. Simply put, this means ingesting monk fruit has no effect on your blood sugar whatsoever. No rise in blood sugar is exactly what you are aiming for on a ketogenic or low-carb diet. Without a rise in blood sugar, your body isn’t signaled to store the food you are eating as fat. Most sweetener brands use dextrose or another binding agent to attach the sweetener to. Because of this, these brands, though using approved sweeteners like monk fruit, are not fit for a keto/low-carb diet. Unlike a lot of monkfruit-based sweeteners you find in the store, Lakanto combines monk fruit with erythritol to form their sweetener. Because of this, Lakanto is the best solution to get a wonderful sweetness, all while ensuring blood sugar levels don’t spike or rise.
Heavy Whipping Cream: Provides the creamy texture, mimicking the richness of buttermilk. The sour milk that is typically used in buttermilk pies can be a little to high in carbs for my perference but I get the same effect here by using heavy whipping cream with a tablespoon of white vinegar. A kitchen hack I have seen used in regular milk many times around the internet. When you add the vinegar to your cup of whipping ream it basically sours and thickens the cream. Basically changing it into a lower carb ‘mock buttermilk” and thus becoming the key ingredient of this pie.
Butter: Adds flavor and richness.
Eggs: Act as binders.
Coconut Flakes or Chopped Nuts (Optional): For added texture and flavor. If you don’t like coconut either you can omit it totally or perhaps add chopped nuts instead.

Making a Keto Buttermilk Pie: Step-by-Step

Prepare the Crust: To prepare the crust add the dry ingredients to a bowl and slowing pour in the butter. Mix well until the crust is moist and will stay together when pinched between your fingers. If using just almond flour start with just 1/3 cup of butter as it is less absorbent than the baking blend. Add more as needed 1 Tbsp at a time.
Make the Filling: To make your filling combine all the ingredients except the coconut in a mixing bowl and mix on medium speed until all the ingredients are incorporated and smooth. There should be no lumps. It is important to have your butter very soft so that it mixes in but DO NOT melt the butter and add it to the pie as the heat from the butter will scramble your egg mixture. That is a mess, trust me. Once your filling is smooth you can stir in your coconut flakes and add the mixture to your crust.
Bake: Lastly add your filling to your pie crust and bake at 350 degrees for about 40-45 minutes or until the center is set with only a slight wiggle. The pie will need to cool completely before you cut into it.

Tips for the Perfect Keto Buttermilk Pie

Sweetness Adjustment: This is not an overly sweet pie so if you like really sweet you may want to adjust the amount of sweetener you use, but we thought it was just about right for our liking.
Vinegar for Tang: Since buttermilk is typically used in these pies can be too high in carbs, we can get the same effect here by using heavy whipping cream with a tablespoon of white vinegar. The vinegar helps sour the milk thus mimicking the buttermilk flavor and texture. Basically changing it into a lower carb option for many recipes and the key ingredient of this pie.
Baking Time: Do keep in mind, however, if using smaller dishes, make sure to check constantly while in the oven. The cooking time for smaller portions will take less time than what is listed below.

Serving and Storing Keto Buttermilk Pie

Storing butter pie is incredibly easy. Alternatively, you can slice the pie and store in air-tight containers instead of the pie plate. If you are planning to bake this pie in advance of a holiday or gathering, it would be best to only do so a day in advance if possible.

This delicious butter pie is a great end to an endless number of main courses. It’s creamy, sweet, and ultra-tasty, so it makes the perfect dessert for any meal. Really the only topping we would consider to be good to add would be a dollop of whipped cream. If you decide you’d like to do this, take a few moments while the pie is baking to whip up some Keto Whipped Cream.

Read also: Buttermilk Keto Pancakes

Buttermilk Pie vs. Chess Pie

While both buttermilk pie and chess pie are classic Southern desserts, they each have their unique characteristics. Buttermilk pie, as the name suggests, features buttermilk as a key ingredient, which gives the pie a slightly tangy flavor which is enhanced with the addition of lemon juice and zest. On the other hand, a chess pie typically includes cornmeal in its filling as the thickener, which gives it a different texture. The taste is often sweeter and richer in comparison.

They look very similar, both are classic Southern desserts and both look a bit “wet”. But buttermilk pie typically has zest and vanilla in the filling, while chess pie typically does not include those and has cornmeal in the filling.

Variations and Twists

Crustless Buttermilk Pie: For an even simpler version, try making a crustless buttermilk pie. This is particularly suitable for those looking for a gluten-free option. All you need to do to make this easy Buttermilk Pie is mix all the ingredients together in a bowl. You can use a hand mixer to mix everything on low speed until you end up with a smooth mixture. Once it’s smooth, you can pour the mixture into your pie plate or baking dish.
Flavor Enhancements: Experiment with different extracts like almond or maple for a unique twist.
Nutty Additions: Incorporate chopped pecans or walnuts into the filling for added texture and flavor.

Read also: Easy Low-Carb Cheese Crackers

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