Chess Squares – Easy and Irresistible

Chess Squares are an easy variation of Chess Pie, with a buttery shortbread crust and a sweet chess pie filling. They’re made from just a few simple ingredients, so they’re easy to make and taste divine!

Here’s the thing about Chess Pie, which leads to this recipe for Chess Squares. The recipe comes from simple ingredients that you would typically have in your home—butter, eggs, flour, sugar, and the unique twist on Chess Pie: cornmeal and vinegar.

I’ve seen several recipes for Southern Chess Squares that call for a yellow cake mix and cream cheese, and I’m sure they are delicious! I wanted something a little more like chess pie but with a cookie crust.

This recipe is more traditional but still super easy!

Tools needed

There are no special tools needed for this recipe because it’s so simple! You just need a 9×13-inch baking pan like this one, or even your regular old Pyrex dish will do.

And maybe a pretty platter like this one to serve your chess squares on–don’t you love those gorgeous handpainted flowers? I do!

Ingredients

A lot of people use buttermilk in Chess Pie but I never have. I use an old recipe that just calls for melted butter, sugar—which I changed to brown sugar, and eggs.

Then you add just a tablespoon each of flour, cornmeal, vinegar, and vanilla, along with a pinch of salt.

How to make chess squares

Rather than a pie shell, the filling is poured over a buttery shortbread crust, giving these Chess Squares just the right texture for a great hand-held snack.

1. Make and bake the crust.
2. While crust is baking, make the filling.
3. Pour filling over warm shortbread crust.
4. Finish baking.
5. Rest for one hour or more and then cut into squares.

Tips for chess squares

• Make-ahead: You can make these chess bars a day or so before you need them. You could even make the shortbread crust a couple of days early and then bake the filling later. Lots of options!
• Storage: Store the bars in an airtight container on the counter. No need to store in the refrigerator.
• Serve: Chess squares are great for a bridal shower dessert or just an after school snack. Serve these with any easy weeknight dinner for a treat.

If you’ve tried this recipe, please rate the recipe and leave a comment below!

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Update Notes: This post was originally published April 18, 2017, and on May 16, 2019, was updated with one or more of the following: step-by-step photos, video, updated recipe, new tips.