Associated with the cuisine of the Southern United States, it may be considered a desperation pie, made using simple, staple ingredients.

[1][2][3] It is similar to, and sometimes confused with, chess pie, but it does not include cornmeal.

[3] The basic filling consists of a mixture of sugar, butter, eggs, buttermilk, and wheat flour.

Variations on the recipe include vanilla, lemon zest, nutmeg, and coconut.

The filling is poured into the crust and baked until the mixture sets.