Chocolate Cream Pie is an especially good idea.
And it’s an especially good idea for a number of reasons:
- #1: Chocolate Cream Pie is an incredibly easy pie to make, even if you’re not the best pie baker.
- #2: It’s a good recipe to cross off the ‘ol bucket list.
- #3: Adults love it as much as kids do.
- #4: It’s chocolate (duh).
- #5: It’s impressive. It looks like you did something amazing.
- #6: People will think you bought it at a bakery (or one of those pie restaurants).
How to make Chocolate Cream Pie:
The sweet, creamy base is heated in a saucepan until the mixture begins to thicken.
It should look a little something like this.
Unsweetened chocolate is stirred in, where it will melt quickly.
And then you’ve got this! At this point, you must try with all of your might not to taste a spoonful. I’m warning you now… your chocolate filling may not make it into the pie pan. It’s totally addicting.
That creamy chocolate filling- so warm and wonderful just lures you in and is willing you to take a bite! Don’t do it! You won’t be able to stop!
Scrape that delicious chocolate mess into a baked pie crust. You can get all fancy here and use your great grandmother’s best pie crust recipe, or you can use the store bought stuff and just bake it. It really doesn’t matter all that much since the chocolate is the star of the show in this pie.
I’m not afraid to buy the store-bought crust, by the way. I certainly take the time to make homemade pie crust once in a while, but in a pinch I will buy the store-bought stuff. It’s decent enough to use sometimes.
Spread it out evenly in the crust and set the pie aside to cool completely.
Add a layer of whipped cream on top (I whip heavy whipping cream with a small amount of added powdered sugar), then shave some chocolate on top (how to do that is in the tips in the recipe below). Refrigerate it for several hours or overnight, then slice and eat.
It’s a delicious Chocolate Cream Pie! Enjoy!
Here are a few final reasons why Chocolate Cream Pie is an especially good idea:
- #7: You don’t even have to bother with a homemade crust if you don’t want to.
- #8: See number 4 again.
- #9: Because everyone you serve this to will love you forever.
- And finally Number Ten: You can’t stop eating it (wait… maybe that’s not such an incredibly good idea, after all)!
Chocolate Cream Pie
Recipe Details
Ingredients
- One 9-inch pie crust, baked
- 1¼ cups granulated white sugar
- 2 tablespoons all purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons + 2 teaspoons cornstarch
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups whole milk
- 4 large egg yolks
- 4 ounces unsweetened chocolate
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1¼ cups heavy whipping cream
- 1 tablespoon powdered sugar
- 1 chocolate bar (such as Hersheys)
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, whisk together the sugar, flour, cornstarch and salt.
- In a medium bowl, use an electric mixer to combine the milk and egg yolks. Gradually whisk the milk/eggs into the saucepan to combine with the sugar mixture. Turn heat to medium and continue to whisk the mixture until the mixture thickens. This is the bummer part because it will take about 15 minutes. Just keep stirring gently (or put a kid on the task to stir for you), until the mixture comes to a full boil and has thickened to the consistency in the photo shown (pudding-like). Remove the pan from heat and stir in the chocolate, butter and vanilla. Whisk until the chocolate is fully incorporated.
- Pour the chocolate custard into the baked pie shell. Set it aside to cool completely. If serving same day, whip the cream with the powdered sugar and spread it on top of the chocolate layer. Shave curls of chocolate onto the whipped cream. Refrigerate for several hours until ready to serve. If serving tomorrow, place plastic wrap over the pie, then add the whipped cream and shaved chocolate the next day, at least an hour before serving.
Video
Notes
- To shave the chocolate bar: I like to soften up the chocolate a little bit before shaving. I just place it on a paper towel and microwave it for about 5 seconds. Then take a potato peeler and shave the edges of the bar to gather some shavings onto the top of the whipped cream.
Does it have to be whole milk?
Yes, to thicken up properly it should be whole milk.
Lori,
This is the best chocolate cream pie I’ve ever had! I used 1/2 unsweetened and 1/2 semisweet Baker’s chocolate. It was so delicious and I can’t stop thinking about it. I’m going to make it again next weekend for a dinner party.
Cheryl
This looks wonderful, but I would definitely use a Meringue topping instead of a Cream topping!
Could use Hershey semi sweet chocolate chips for this pie also???
Apologies if this question has been asked previously, but would it adversely affect the end result if a tot or two of cream liqueur was added at some point…and, if not, could you suggest when to add it? Gorgeous recipe…Thanks so much for sharing it.
I’ve not tried that, so I’m not sure!
Chocolate meringue pies are generally a chocolate custard, which for some reason I can instruct how to make perfectly, but cannot make myself. Will this cream pie take the additional heat of browning the meringue without damaging the pie?
I don’t really know anything about meringue, so I’m afraid I can’t answer that question!
wonderful recipe and delicious pie! i made this for PiDay and everyone loved it.
I used graham cracker crust.
Can’t you just use chocolate pudding?
Not the same.
Made the pumpkin cheesecake with the gingersnap crust……..It was sooo good.
Now husband says make one like that with chocolate!!!!!
Any ideas. The pumpkin one was so light and fluffy!!!!!
Andrea
Hi – is there any substitution for flour for the glutton free crowd? Have made this many times and it’s fab! But now need flour free
Use a gluten-free flour blend, and a GF pie crust!
My favorite pie my mom made when I was growing up was chocolate pie. Only she topped it with meringue. That and cake with peanut butter frosting. Hmmm.
Easy to make and super delicious! Thanks so much 🙂
I make a banana cream pie and vanilla cream pie similar to this only the recipe calls to bring the sauce to a boil for a few minutes and then whisk a little into the egg yolks and then whisk it back in to the pan. What’s the difference?
i made this for christmas dessert at my dads house and he loved it so much i left for my moms weekend and i only got one peice my step mom and him ate the rest we really like it and im definetly gonna make this again
My grandmother used to make an awesome pie similar to this, but we used the egg whites for a meringue topping.
I have made this pie three times in the last week. Once with an Oreo crust, which was too sweet for me, but my husband loved it! Once with 1/2 semi-sweet chocolate and 1/2 unsweetened chocolate and pastry crust, and once as written with the addition of 1 tsp of espresso powder. I much prefer the pie as written with espresso powder. The espresso powder brings out the chocolate flavor, and makes it that much more divine, though it is pretty spectacular to begin! Kudos on the magnificent recipe! =)
I made this yesterday for Christmas and it was absolutely delicious! Thank you!
Holy ****! This tasted amazing, great instructions, omg!!! Oh, and the boyfriend loved it too, hahaha!!!
I wondered if you’ve made a French Silk pie? I’ve tried it several times and haven’t been able to get a creamy pie. It’s always a odd consistency and breaks apart when I cut it and last time, it came right out of the shell! Any tips?
I’ve always wanted to, but I never have.
I made this for Thanksgiving and it got rave reviews! I’ve been asked to make two for every family gathering from now on! Thank you so much for this amazing recipe!
You’re welcome!
I made this today and I have to say it was so simple and looks just exactly like your picture. Now I cant wait to eat it
I have made plenty of pie’s and without question this is the most perfect pie filling and rich taste I have ever come across….easy instructions very happy
How wonderful to hear! Glad you liked it so much.
sublime. thanks.
This was fabulous!! I have never made a chocolate creme pie and I was amazed at how quickly it came together.
Another winner! My mom said it was the best cream pie she’s ever had…I love impressing her! 😉 The only tweak I made was using 1/2 unsweetened / 1/2 semi-sweet chocolate, so I could save myself a trip to the store. So good and I’ve eaten too much of it myself!
I do cakes, not pies. But I tried this and it was amazing. Good tips and easy to follow directions, thank you.
I’ve been looking for a chocolate cream pie recipe like this one! I used to work at a pie shop (with nazi-like, aggressively abusive owners) and their cream pies were the one thing that was actually okay. My mom loves chocolate cream pie so Im excited to make this recipe this weekend! Also making vanilla ice cream and coffee ice cream to go with it. Thanks for the recipe! This recipe reminds me of my old C.I.A days.
This looked amazing. But as I was making the custard it thickend up really quickly and then I added the chocolate and butter but it just turned into this big gloopy mess. Very disappointing.
I just made this pie. It is the best chocolate pie I have ever made! It tastes just like my grandma’s pie (that I’ve never figured out how to duplicate). Thanks for the recipe!
That’s great to hear!
Looks like an amazing pie and you have a lovely blog!
I am dying to know what the pie in the background of the first pic is. Yum!!
It’s a pumpkin pie!
Wow! I made this pie the other night, not only is it easy, it looks heavenly and tastes just as divine! I will be making this again, and soon!
Looks divine! I was wondering if I could substitute all the egg yolks for corn starch? Same effect, no?
no- not the same.
Thanks for the great recipe!! I have never seem a chocolate pie made this way and it was good!! I think I may try half semi-sweet or milk chocolate. Hubby liked it but he wants to try milk chocolate since he loves it. Thanks for the great recipe. I will definitely be making it again and again….. 🙂
Love this recipe! I made it for my husband he loved it! I will be making this again soon! thanks!
I must say that in England pies just aren’t as bit as America. We might try an apple, rhubarb or lemon meringue but reading your amazing and easy pie recipes I think we should get our fingers out over here and make more pies!
Claire x
I absolutely adore chocolate cream pie! This looks so dreamy, Lori… totally craving a slice (or 2) now.
This pie looks like a dream to me, chocolate is the most delicious product ever!
Woah…this looks so rich and decadent (and easy, woo!). Such a great party dessert!
Chocolate cream pie is my favorite, favorite pie in the entire world…and I like a LOT of different pies! Can’t wait to try your version. 🙂 Happy New Year!
I just saw this link on Twitter and I’m craving not just a slice but the whole darned pie!
This looks amazing! Definitely going to be on my list of recipes to try
This looks sooo yummy. I’m hungry just looking at your photos!
This looks so simple but so delicious!
This will be dessert tomorrow night. Chocolate cream pie is one o those desserts that I have always wanted to try but thought it would be hard to make. It looks delicious and seems pretty simple. Looking forward to making this.
YES, PLEASE! Wow… I need this for dessert right now!
O.M.G. I thought I was craving banana cream pie, but I was terribly wrong. I NEED this chocolate cream pie. Stat. Thank you for the inspiration and guidance. I think I’m going to need it, since I think I need to make this NOW.
This looks great–so creamy and elegant with the shavings on top.
I bet I could put it in a graham cracker crust in the summertime, and not have to turn on the oven at all. You think?
Thanks!
Of course! Or an Oreo crust too!
Haha, love this! Chocolate cream pie is seriously amazing!
I just celebrated my bd so i’m going to make this for myself (and fam) this weekend 🙂 Your pic is beautiful–please tell me how to get my pie crust to end up like yours. Mine always shrinks down & I end up with no or little crimped edge 🙁
I’m sort-of crust-challenged. That happens to me sometimes too. The best advice I can give it to roll out your crust and let it rest slightly- and don’t stretch it when you place it in your pie pan. Always poke holes over the bottom of the crust too!
This pie does look dangerous! A graham cracker crust would be yummy too.
That chocolate cream looks good enough to eat without adding it to a pie crust! lol! I think both of my boys would love it!
This was always my favorite as a kid, and today it’s still my husbands favorite. I really need to make him one soon!
Yum!!!!!!!!! This is my Husbands favorite pie! Your recipe looks good!!
I love chocolate pie….well ok anything chocolate! It looks delicious! I know what I am making for dessert this weekend!
Oh that looks soooo good. I sure will be making that soon.
This looks amazing! I’m going to pin it for later. After the new year’s diet 🙂
If you are not serving the same day and don’t want a “crust” to form on your pie filling, I have a tip for you. Sprinkle the pie filling with a tiny amount of sugar. Sprinkle it like you would salt on your food, very sparingly. The sugar dissolves slowly and prevents the crust from forming. I much prefer this to sticking the plastic wrap directly on the pie filling. Works with puddings too.
Thanks for the tip!
This looks really good! I LOVE chocolate! Happy New Year, I hope it’s a great one for you! Najwa
This looks SO delicious – just fantastic! I love chocolate cream pie…total comfort food.
Oh, my! Now I want this!!!
I want to stick my face in that.
I love the thickness of that filling and that it’s nobake after that! And yes, it does look like a pie-shop pie. Impressive, Lori!
Wow, Lori! My kind of pie! 🙂 Thanks for sharing! Bet it feels good to mark off something in your bucket list as early as January 🙂
Yummmm – that looks so divine and creamy. I can’t wait to taste it. Sooo so scrumptious!
My hubby loves chocolate cream pie, so rich and creamy. This looks incredible!
I will be making this, but in an Oreo crust. Yum!
Sounds good to me!
Yup I would have to say chocolate is my favorite ingredient for pie! Yours looks amazing…drool, slurp, bib please.
Oh my word. I need this in my life right now! Pinned. 🙂
Looks amazing and I bet you could spice it up as well! Thanks for sharing Lori!
My grandmother always had a chocolate cream pie when we came for a visit! This brings back such sweet memories. And, it’s 8am and I already need chocolate. 😉
yum!! I absolutely love chocolate cream pie. I made one once and I’ve thought about it ever since – thanks for the reminder of how good it is!!
Oh my word, Lori. I’m wanting a slice of this pie for breakfast. So beautiful and scrumptious!
Good stuff!! Yummy.
Chocolate cream pies are always one of the first things to disappear at any potluck. These look wonderful, Lori!
where’s the recipe?
It’s there now!
My family loves chocolate cream pie! This looks delicious 🙂
Me too, where Is the recipe?
It’s there now- sorry about that!
This looks easy and delicious. I can’t seem to see the recipe though. Is there a link to it that I’m missing?
That’s what happens when you blog late at night.. forgot the itty bitty piece of code, but it’s added now! Sorry about that!