Kentucky Transparent Pie

By
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
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Updated on 05/10/21
Transparent Pie With Part Brown Sugar
Diana Rattray
Prep: 25 mins
Cook: 55 mins
Total: 80 mins
Servings: 8 servings

This transparent pie is similar to a chess pie or sugar pie, and it is a Kentucky tradition. In this version of the pie, it is made with half brown sugar and half granulated sugar. Many of Kentucky's pies feature bourbon, one of their most famous exports. The bourbon pecan pie is always a hit! 

The simple combination of ingredients makes a filling to die for. Chill the pie and serve it with freshly whipped cream. If you choose to use a pre-made frozen crust or refrigerated pastry, follow the instructions for partially baking the pie shell. Even though you can bake the pie with an unbaked crust, a par-baked crust is recommended to avoid a soggy bottom.

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Ingredients

For the Pastry

  • 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

  • 1 teaspoon granulated sugar

  • 1/2 cup (4 ounces) frozen unsalted butter, cut into small pieces

  • 3 to 4 tablespoons ice water

For the Filling

Steps to Make It

  1. In a food processor pulse the flour, salt, and sugar until well blended. Add half of the butter and pulse about 6 times. Add the remaining butter and pulse 5 or 6 times. The mixture should look crumbly with pea-sized pieces here and there. Sprinkle a few tablespoons of ice water over the flour mixture and pulse a few times. Add more ice water, a teaspoon at a time, until the mixture begins to form small clumps.

  2. Dump the mixture out onto a floured surface and press and shape with your hands until the dough holds together. Don't overwork the dough. Shape it into a flat disc, wrap in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 30 to 45 minutes.

  3. Heat the oven to 450 F (230 C/Gas 8).

  4. Roll the chilled dough out about 2 inches bigger than the pie plate (upside-down). Fit it into the pie plate and crimp the edge as desired. Line the pie shell (do not prick the dough) with foil and fill with pie weights or dried beans. 

  5. Bake the pie shell for 8 minutes. Remove the foil and pie weights, return it to the oven, and bake for another 3 minutes. Remove the crust to a baking sheet and reduce the oven temperature to 350 F (180 C/Gas 4).

  6. In a medium mixing bowl, whisk the eggs. Add the sugars, flour, melted butter, cream, salt, and vanilla. Blend well. Pour the filling mixture into the crust. Place a pie shield over the crust edge to prevent excessive browning on the crust. Transfer the pie to the 350 F oven (baking sheet and all) and bake for 35 minutes. Remove the pie shield and continue baking for 10 to 15 minutes, or until set.

  7. Cool on a rack and then chill thoroughly before serving.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
605 Calories
36g Fat
65g Carbs
6g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8
Amount per serving
Calories 605
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 36g 46%
Saturated Fat 22g 111%
Cholesterol 187mg 62%
Sodium 431mg 19%
Total Carbohydrate 65g 24%
Dietary Fiber 1g 2%
Total Sugars 49g
Protein 6g
Vitamin C 0mg 1%
Calcium 63mg 5%
Iron 2mg 9%
Potassium 124mg 3%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)