Old Fashioned Chocolate Pie -Food Meanderings

Name: 📋 Old Fashioned Chocolate Pie Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 18 min
Total time: 28 min
Ingredients: 9 inch -pie shell (blind baked) *See NOTES (*I used deep dish); ½ cup cocoa (unsweetened); ¼ cup cornstarch; 3 egg yolks; 1 ½ cup white granulated sugar + 2-4 tbsps for whipped cream topping; ¼ tsp salt; 2 cups milk (* I use 1% milk); 1 tsp vanilla extract; 2 cups whipping cream (heavy cream 33-35%); additional cocoa; chocolate shavings; chocolate pieces (* I used pieces of lindt dark chocolate bar)

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This old fashioned chocolate pie is a classic dessert that is perfect for holidays and special occasions. Featuring a rich and creamy chocolate pudding filling, it pairs perfectly with a flaky pie crust and a generous whipped cream topping (which adds a light and fluffy texture to balance out the richness of the chocolate). Made with simple ingredients you have on hand, and minimal effort, it's a quick and easy dessert to whip up.

a piece of old fashioned chocolate pie on a white plate with a fork and more pie in the backgroun

At every holiday gathering, my Grandma always had a buffet of pies to choose from and her scrumptious chocolate pie was highly coveted, along with her lemon pie, pumpkin pie, saskatoon berry pie, and apple pie! This Old-fashioned Chocolate Pie is popular all year 'round and pairs perfectly with any holiday or special occasion meal, such as my Picnic Ham with Orange Glaze and Old Fashioned Scalloped Potatoes.

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🥘Ingredients
🔪Instructions
📖Variations & Substitutions.
🥗 Main Dishes
🍽Equipment
🌡️Storage
👪 Serving Size
❔ Frequently Asked Questions
📋 Old Fashioned Chocolate Pie Recipe

My Grandma's chocolate pie was always one I looked forward to - it's a favorite dessert in our family! It's also an old fashioned recipe that's been around for generations and was popular during the 30's and 40's.

top view of old fashioned chocolate pie, with piece of white plate and pie pan with more pie

🥘Ingredients

You will likely have everything on hand for this homemade chocolate pie recipe (yay -no running to the grocery store!)

9-inch pie crust
½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
¼ cup cornstarch
3 egg yolks
1 ½ cups white granulated sugar
¼ tsp. salt
2 cups milk
1 tsp vanilla extract

*see recipe card for details

🔪Instructions

Prep: Blind bake a pie shell, as per directions until golden brown and cool. You can use a store-bought or homemade pie crust.

*I used a deep dish store-bought pie shell and pricked the bottom (or use pie weights), then bake for about 8-10 minutes on 400 degrees f (204 c)

Mix cocoa, cornstarch, beaten egg yolks; sugar, vanilla, and salt together in a medium saucepan.

Then add milk gradually, while stirring in a pot over medium heat.

thickened pudding filling in pot with whisk

Cook until very thick, beating it smooth with a whisk. *It won't really start to thicken until 14-15 minutes, then cook for 3-4 more minutes, stirring constantly, until it's thick like pudding. *Filling for cream pies takes a while to thicken

Cool for about 10 minutes.

Pour the chocolate pie filling into a prepared crust. Put in the fridge to chill for 1-2 hours before adding topping.

whipped cream being spread onto chocolate pie

Prior to serving, add a generous amount of whipped cream to the top of the pie.

**Or use the leftover egg whites for a fluffy meringue topping, then bake pie.

To make whipped cream:

On high speed, with an electric mixer, beat whipped cream to soft peaks, then add 2 tbsps of sugar and beat to stiff peaks.

whipped cream on a stand mixer whisk over a bowl of whipped cream

Garnish with cocoa sprinkles, chocolate shavings, and pieces of dark chocolate (I used pieces of lindt dark chocolate bar), as desired.

chocolate pie in a glass pie dish with red and white checkered towel in the background

📖Variations & Substitutions.

Cornstarch - You can use arrowroot powder instead or flour (but you may need to use extra flour -up to ½ a cup)
Milk - you could 1%, 2%, or whole milk
Whipped cream - you could use Cool Whip instead or make a meringue. *Do NOT use spray whipped cream from a can, unless you are just using it on each serving and serving immediately, as it will not hold.
Pie shell - You could use a store-bought pie shell or a homemade pie crust.
Lactose-free/Dairy-free - use lactose-free milk or dairy-free milk and non-dairy whipped topping.
Gluten-free - use a gluten-free pie crust

🥗 Main Dishes

If you're looking for main dishes to serve with this chocolate pie, here are some recommendations:

🍽Equipment

You will need a 9-inch pie pan, a pie lifter, whisk, a mixing bowl, an electric mixer,(affiliate links), and a pot for this homemade chocolate pie.

Old fashioned chocolate pie in glass pie pan, with 2 slices removed and a pie lifter sitting in empty space (and a red checkered tea towel in background)

🌡️Storage

Store leftover Old fashioned chocolate cream pie in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days. The pie will freeze well, but don't put any topping on it until it's fully thawed and just prior to serving. You can cover it in plastic wrap if you are only storing it overnight.

*If you are using meringue instead of whipped cream, see this post for directions on making meringue. *Do not freeze the pie with meringue on it.

👪 Serving Size

This recipe makes 6 servings. However, you can half, double, or triple the recipe by clicking on the blue serving number and selecting the number of servings you'd like. The ingredient quantities will automatically adjust. However, you will need additional pie pans if you increase the recipe.

a slice of chocolate pie on a white plate with a fork cutting into it and lifting a mouthful out

❔ Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make the chocolate pudding filling ahead of time?

Yes, you can make the chocolate pudding up to 3 days in advance. Keep it in a sealed container in the fridge until ready to use.

Should I let the pie cool completely before adding the whipped cream topping?

Yes, the pie filling needs to cool completely before adding whipped cream. Leave it in the fridge for at least 1-2 hours prior to adding the whipped cream.

This decadent pie is a chocolate lover's dream and one the whole family will love. So, if you're looking for a simple and delicious pie that's easy to make, you'll love this Old Fashioned Chocolate Pie!