20 Classic Pies Grandma Loves To Bake

Sweet treats just taste better coming from her kitchen.

Blueberry Pie
Photo:

FRED HARDY, FOOD STYLIST: MARGARET MONROE DICKEY, PROP STYLIST: CALEB CLARKE

If there's one thing Grandma is better at than everyone else in the family, it's baking. And in her house, there's no such thing as having too many sweets at the ready—especially an irresistible pie. And we're not sure how, but it seems like any dessert, especially pies, that come from Grandma's kitchen always taste like a slice of heaven.

No matter the time of year, nothing says Grandma's like the smell of a freshly baked pie wafting from the kitchen. From Classic Chess Pie and Key Lime Pie to Old-Fashioned Apple Pie and Fudge Pie, these are pie recipes you'll always find at Grandma's house.

01 of 20

Cherry Pie

Cherry Pie with a slice taken out

Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey; Prop Stylist Christina Daley

Homemade cherry pie is a nostalgic summertime favorite. From backyard barbecues to church potlucks, you're bound to find Grandma carrying this treat into the party.

02 of 20

Classic Chess Pie

Classic Chess Pie

Jen Causey, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley, Food Stylist: Ana Kelly

Chess pie has been a Southern staple for as long as anyone can remember. Thanks to refrigerated pie crust and a short ingredient list, this classic is a cinch to make.

03 of 20

Old-Fashioned Chicken Pot Pie

Old-Fashioned Chicken Pot Pie

Stacy K. Allen; Food Stylist: Torie Cox; Prop Stylist: Shell Royster

Like a hug in a casserole dish, there's nothing more homey than walking into Grandma's house to the smell of a warm chicken pot pie coming out of the oven.

04 of 20

Lemon Icebox Pie

Southern Living Lemon Icebox Pie

Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Creamy and tangy, this simple pie is an impressive treat for summer gatherings and only requires 10 minutes of hands on time before it goes into the refrigerator to chill for at least 7 hours.

05 of 20

Old-Fashioned Apple Pie

Old-Fashioned Apple Pie

ANTONIS ACHILLEOS; PROP STYLING: MISSIE NEVILLE CRAWFORD; FOOD STYLING: TORIE COX

In Grandma's house, apple pie isn't just for the Thanksgiving table. In the summertime, serve it with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream and add in additional warm spices to make it more cozy for the fall.

06 of 20

Banana Cream Pie

Banana Cream Pie

Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox

This classic pie combines two favorite Southern desserts: banana pudding and cream pie. The only thing more magical than the combination of bananas, custard, and whipped cream is when it comes from Grandma's kitchen.

07 of 20

Blackberry Pie

Southern Living Blackberry Pie cut on a plate to serve

Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

A messy slice of summery fruit pies will always remind us days at Grandma's house. The simple and fresh filling highlights the berries with a little extra flavor from lemon, cinnamon, and vanilla.

08 of 20

Heavenly Key Lime Pie

Heavenly Key Lime Pie

Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox

There are few things better than going over to Grandma's house in the summertime and finding a homemade key lime pie in the fridge. And while she'll always look for fresh key limes, she's not afraid to use store-bought bottled juice.

09 of 20

Easy Peach Pie

peach pie on a table with a bowl of peach pie with an ice cream sccop
Ann Taylor Pittman/Southern Living

Whether from Grandma's backyard or the local famers' market, fresh peaches are the key to this simple pie.

10 of 20

Wilma Tidwell's Chocolate Chip Pie

Southern Living Wilma Tidwell's Chocolate Chip Pie sliced in the pie plate

Greg DuPree, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Christine Keely 

At Grandma's house chocolate chip cookies aren't confined to a few inches in scale. This recipe from reader Cassie Tidwell Tramel's grandmother, Wilma Tidwell, is a delicious example of a pie-sized cookie. Serve as is or with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

11 of 20

Coconut Cream Pie

Southern Living Coconut Cream Pie in the dish to serve with a slice cut out

Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless

A generous sprinkle of toasted coconut on top of the rich coconut custard and extra sweet whipped cream takes this delicacy from good to great.

12 of 20

Southern Buttermilk Pie

Southern Buttermilk Pie

Fred Hardy II; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Props Stylist: Christina Brockman

Grandma doesn't even need to look at a recipe when making this old-fashioned dessert. The humble pie only requires a few staple ingredients and is best when served with fresh summer berries and a dollop of homemade whipped cream.

13 of 20

Fudge Pie

Fudge Pie

Iain Bagwell

There's no such thing as too-sweet or too much sugar in Grandma's kitchen and this over-the-top chocolate pie is a prime example.

14 of 20

Blueberry Pie

Blueberry Pie

FRED HARDY, FOOD STYLIST: MARGARET MONROE DICKEY, PROP STYLIST: CALEB CLARKE

Grandma would never cut corners when it comes to a summertime blueberry pie—the fresher the berries, the better.

15 of 20

Pecan Pie

Pecan Pie - Southern Living

Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

There's a reason this traditional pie graces the Thanksgiving table year after year. You can't go wrong with a golden buttery crust, sweet and chewy nut filling, and crunchy top.

16 of 20

Macaroni Pie

Macaroni Pie
Antonis Achilleos

The only thing better than a casserole dish of baked mac and cheese is when it's served in a flakey, buttery pie crust. The best part about this recipe? The trifecta of cheese—gruyere, extra-sharp white cheddar, and fontina.

17 of 20

Georgia Peanut Pie with Peanut Butter Crust and Brown Sugar-Bourbon Whipped Cream

Georgia Peanut Pie with Peanut Butter Crust and Brown Sugar-Bourbon Whipped Cream

Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

No one can say no to a slice of this sweet and salty delicacy when it's coming from Grandma's pie dish. The cookie-like peanut butter crust is filled with a gooey peanut butter filling that gets topped with crunchy peanuts. After baking, finish it off with brown sugar bourbon whipped cream.

18 of 20

Chocolate-Pecan Chess Pie

Chocolate-Pecan Chess Pie
Photographer: James Ransom; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn

While you can't go wrong with a traditional chess pie, chocolate makes everything better right? This cocoa powder and semi-sweet chocolate chip version only requires 20 minutes of hands on time.

19 of 20

Over-The-Moon Chocolate Pie

Over the Moon Chocolate Pie

Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Inspired by MoonPies, which have been made in Chattanooga, Tennessee since 1917, this iconic Southern pie is a prized treat. The layers of graham cracker crust, rich chocolate filling, and marshmallowy meringue are a multi-generational favorite.

20 of 20

Mississippi Mud Pie

Mississippi Mud Pie

Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Caleb Clarke; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall

Chocolate lovers won't be able to resist a second slice of this three-layer (rich brownie, creamy chocolate pudding, and fluffy whipped cream) pie. Not to mention the Oreo cookie crust.

Was this page helpful?

Related Articles