This favorite southern dessert is best served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. It's ... well, try it and come up with your own adjectives. I'm fresh out.
Next time try this classic pecan pie!
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❤️ Why you'll love this recipe
- for experienced chocolate lovers only
- one of those old-fashioned pies that is always a hit with everyone
- easy recipe
Chocolate chess pie is a Southern recipe that is undeniably the most chocolate of chocolate desserts.
It's like eating brownie batter in a butter crust - talk about decadent!
If you're looking for something even easier try this no-bake German Chocolate Pie recipe with pecan and coconut topping!
There are many variations on traditional chess pie and probably as many recipes for it as there are Southern cooks. This particular heirloom dessert is a favorite at our house. We like it so much better than regular chess pies
Make it once and it will be a favorite at your house, too!
🧾 Ingredients
- All-purpose flour for the flaky butter crust. If you've never had good luck with homemade pie dough before definitely try this one!
- Butter is essential for the flakiness and buttery-rich flavor of this pie crust. Unsalted butter is best but salted is fine in a pinch.
- Sugar for the filling. This pie uses both brown sugar and white sugar to give it the deepest flavor ever. You can use all white if you want but the flavor will have more of a "flat sweet" flavor instead of a layer of flavors.
- Salt balances the sugar and keeps it from being too sweet.
- Extra dark cocoa powder is what gives this pie all its dark chocolate flavor. Baking with chocolate just doesn't give it the same flavor because there are additional ingredients in the chocolate. I use Hershey's but you can use whatever you like. Just make sure it's DARK or BLACK unsweetened cocoa powder.
- Eggs used are large, pasture raised eggs. Essential since this is basically a custard type pie.
- Vanilla extract creates a delicate after-taste that adds more layers to the flavor.
- Evaporated milk from a can (Carnation or Pet) is the milk used. Mom knew what she was talking about when she said that evaporated milk made pies creamier!
- Confectioner's sugar for dusting the top. I just think it gives it a light frost and makes it look pretty.
🔪 Instructions
Note: This is an overview of the instructions. The full instructions are in the green recipe card below.
- Heat oven to 350F.
- Add all of the ingredients, except the crust and optional toppings, into a large bowl.
- Beat on medium speed for 2 to 3 minutes until very smooth.
- Pour into the unbaked pie shell.
- Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, or until the center of the pie is set.
- Remove from the oven and cool completely - it's best if you cover and refrigerate overnight.
One bite of this pie is like eating gooey brownie batter in a buttery homemade crust. My version is sinfully dark and rich - don't overbake it or it will be a brownie in a butter crust.
This is such an easy recipe to make -- I hope you'll try it. Here are some things I've learned along the way...
- I use cocoa powder instead of baking chocolate - it makes the pie have much more chocolate flavor.
- I find that I prefer extra dark cocoa to the regular cocoa that most recipes call for. It makes it more fudgy and decadent. If all you have is regular cocoa then use it.
- This is rich - a dusting of Confectioner's sugar is the perfect topping for this decadent chocolate dessert. If you're really into sweet + rich add a big spoonful of this homemade whipped topping!
- If you hate to make pie crust or don't have time don't sweat it. A purchased unbaked pie crust works just fine.
- This is not a creamy pie. It's not like a custard pie, either. It's really something in between - and hard to explain.
- Some people like to add pecans to this chocolate chess pie recipe. I love pecans but not in this recipe - I have texture issues. You can try adding some chopped pecans if you really think this chocolate pie needs something else to make it even better. Personally, I like it the way it is.
- This easy chocolate dessert will keep for several days tightly covered in the refrigerator.
- If the pie is being served out of the fridge warm it up for maybe 10 to 15 seconds in the microwave. YUM.
- I'd suggest cutting this chess pie in smaller pieces than normal. You can probably get 12 slices easily. If you're looking for a more traditional chocolate cream pie try this.
Are you the type of person that just wants to know everything possible about a recipe? Yep - me too. Here are some of the most frequent questions that I am asked... besides "will you make one for me?"
I don't recommend it. It will change the texture and flavor of the pie.
A basic chess pie recipe calls for eggs, sugar, butter, and cornmeal. Over the years there have been numerous variations including lemon and chocolate. Basically it's a chess pie if the filling is firmer than cream filling - almost like a batter. There should be a thin, crispy, crackly layer on top. This Southern specialty has so many variations that there is not an easy answer to this question!
Yes. Since eggs and milk are included in the creamy filling it needs to be refrigerated within 4 hours of baking.
No - it doesn't freeze well at all.
You can but, as I explained above, evaporated milk results in a richer, creamier pie. I don't recommend it but if you must use milk use whole milk and not 2%, low fat, or fat free. The texture will be different and the pie may be runny.
No.
Insert a knife about an inch from the center of the pie. If it comes out clean it's done.
📚 Related recipes
Honestly, there's nothing more welcoming and comforting than a good pie! Here are some of my favorite pie recipes here on Restless Chipotle.
- Pecan Pie is just as rich and gooey as a red crayon left in the back seat of the car in July. But I promise it tastes MUCH better.
- Coconut Pie is oddly similar to the pecan pie but uses sweetened, flaked coconut instead. I think it's addictive.
- Millionaire Pie is piled high with a creamy cloud of pineapple, coconut, and maraschino cherries. Best of all - it's no bake!
- Lemon Icebox Pie is just like the one your Memaw made and served sorta frozen but sorta not on the hottest afternoons.
- Old Fashioned Chocolate Pudding Pie is rich and creamy - just like Mom used to make!
What’s new? Check out my Restless Chipotle & Co. Store on Amazon where you'll find all kinds of nostalgic goodness! Thanks so much for being a part of Restless Chipotle!
🥄 Equipment
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I use this glass pie pan - it's deep enough that the filling shouldn't overflow. There's been some issues for some people because they use an 8-inch pie pan. Don't because it will make a mess.
Sometimes I wish our society could be swept back into the days before tons of technology. Days when people walked, burned fat to keep warm in drafty houses, and constantly moved - you know - back to the days when eating a slice of pie like this wouldn't cause a 40 pound weight gain.
Sometimes? Make that most of the time.
This chocolate pie, though. Although it's been popular in the South forever I think it got national renown when the movie, The Help, came out.
This is the pie that Minnie served to her former employer.
Well, not this pie. We definitely don't want her secret ingredient.
Ahem.
Looking for something that you don't have to bake? I've got you with this easy, no bake Hershey chocolate pie recipe!
If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need. Don't forget that you can click on "add to collection" to save it to your own, private recipe box!
If you love this recipe please give it a 5 star rating. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📖 Recipe
Chocolate Chess Pie
Print Pin Recipe SaveEquipment Needed
Ingredients
- 1 9-inch pie crust, unbaked
Chocolate Chess Pie Filling
- 1-¼ cups sugar
- ¼ cup brown sugar, dark
- ¼ cup salted butter, melted
- ¼ cup dark cocoa powder, extra dark
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- ½ cup evaporated milk
- Confectioner's sugar or whipped cream or vanilla ice cream to top the pie with
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Instructions
Chocolate Chess Pie
- Preheat the oven to 350F.
- Whisk the eggs together in a small bowl.
- Add all of the ingredients, except the crust and optional toppings, into a mixer bowl.
- Beat on medium speed for 2 to 3 minutes until very smooth.
- Pour the cocoa mixture into the crust.
- Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, or until the center of the pie is set.
- Remove from the oven and cool completely - it's best if you cover and refrigerate overnight.
- Just before serving dust with Confectioner's sugar or top with whipped cream or ice cream
Notes
- I use cocoa powder instead of baking chocolate - it makes the pie have much more chocolate flavor.
- I find that I prefer extra dark cocoa to the regular cocoa that most recipes call for. It makes it more fudgy and decadent. If all you have is regular cocoa then use it.
- This is rich - a dusting of Confectioner's sugar is the perfect topping for this decadent chocolate dessert. If you're really into sweet + rich add a big spoonful of this homemade whipped topping!
- If you hate to make pie crust or don't have time don't sweat it. A purchased crust works just fine.
- This easy chocolate dessert will keep for several days tightly covered in the refrigerator.
- I'd suggest cutting this chess pie in smaller pieces than normal. You can probably get 12 slices easily. If you're looking for a more traditional chocolate cream pie try this.
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition information is estimated as a courtesy. If using for medical purposes, please verify information using your own nutritional calculator. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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We'll never share your email or send you spam. Pinkie swear.First published February 23, 2018. Last updated July 3, 2021 for better instructions and minor edits to text.
Debra Baker
I’m excited to make this recipe! I’ve tasted this before on a Goodbar in another state. I’m hoping that this recipe tastes as good or even better than what I had before! Thanks for sharing your wonderful recipe! Debbe’ 💞💞😃
Margaret tidey
How about sharing the quantities of the ingredients??
Would love to make the pie crust …but without this info.!!
Marye
If you'll scroll to the actual recipe card you'll see the quantities and instructions. 🙂