Chocolate chess pie is extra dark and chocolaty thanks to the cocoa powder in the filling! This iconic Southern dessert recipe is ridiculously easy to make. Served warm with a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream it’s … well, try it and come up with your own adjectives. I’m fresh out.
Shopping list
- All-purpose flour for the flaky butter crust. If you’ve never had good luck with pie crusts before definitely try this one!
- Butter is essential for the flakiness and buttery-rich flavor of this pie crust. Unsalted is best but salted is fine.
- Sugar for the filling. This pie crust 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 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.
The MOST chocolate of chocolate desserts
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 that doesn’t need baking the German Chocolate Pie is very close to this in “wow” factor.
While there are many varieties of this pie, and probably as many recipes for this as there are Southern cooks, this particular heirloom dessert is a favorite at our house.
Make it once and it will be a favorite at your house, too!
Remember Minnie’s chocolate chess pie? This ain’t it.
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.
Tips & tricks
This is such an easy pie 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 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 chocolate chess pie. 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.
FAQs
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?”
Can I use chocolate instead of cocoa powder?
I don’t recommend it. It will change the texture and flavor of the pie.
What constitutes a chess 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!
Do you need to refrigerate chess pie?
Yes. Since eggs and milk are included in the creamy filling it needs to be refrigerated or frozen within 4 hours of baking.
Can chess pie be frozen?
No – it doesn’t freeze well at all.
Can I substitute milk for evaporated milk?
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.
Can I substitute margarine for butter?
No.
How do I know when chess pie is done?
Insert a knife about an inch from the center of the pie. If it comes out clean it’s done.
More Southern pie 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.
You may also need…
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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.
It’s like eating gooey brownie batter in a butter crust. My version is sinfully dark and rich – don’t overbake it or it will be a brownie in a butter crust.
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.
If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📖 Recipe
Chocolate Chess Pie
Print Add to CollectionEquipment Needed
Ingredients
- 1 9-inch pie crust, unbaked
Chocolate Chess Pie Filling
- 1-1/4 cups sugar
- 1/4 cup brown sugar, dark
- ¼ cup salted butter, melted
- 1/4 unsweetened cocoa powder, extra dark
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- ½ cup evaporated milk
- Confectioner’s sugar or whipped cream or vanilla ice cream to top the pie with
Instructions
Chocolate Chess Pie
- Preheat the oven to 350F.
- 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 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 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 chocolate chess pie. 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.
Nutrition
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