• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Restless Chipotle

  • Home
  • Recipe Index
  • Start Here
    • Ingredients Substitutions
    • Tips for Measuring Ingredients Accurately
  • About
  • Shop
  • Your Recipe Box
  • Meal Plans
menu icon
go to homepage
  • About
  • Recipes
  • My Recipes
  • Meal Plans
  • Start Here!
  • Videos
  • Blog
  • Shop
  • Recipe Box
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • About
  • Recipes
  • My Recipes
  • Meal Plans
  • Start Here!
  • Videos
  • Blog
  • Shop
  • Recipe Box
×

Home » Recipes » Pie Recipes

Homemade Chocolate Pie Recipe From Scratch

Published: Nov 18, 2021 Last Updated: Mar 1, 2021 by Marye 1343 words. | About 7 minutes to read this article.

Easy, homemade chocolate pie recipe has a "from scratch" pudding filling that's rich and creamy. Lots of old fashioned flavor! Use a prebaked pastry crust or a crumb crust of your choosing.
Total time 20 minutes
Jump to Recipe
Slice of pie on a plate with text overlay for Pinterest.

You can use a homemade pastry crust, purchased crust, or an easy crumb crust for a no bake pie that's just like grandma's!

Thick slice of chocolate cream pie with whipped cream and a cherry on top. The pie is on a red transferware plate. Title image.

Just like Grandma used to make! This easy chocolate pie recipe will be a family favorite!
Jump to:
  • ❤️ Why you'll love this recipe
  • 🧾 Ingredients
  • 🥫 Storage
  • 💭 Things to know
  • 👩🏻‍🍳 Frequently asked questions
  • 🎥 Video
  • 📚 Related recipes
  • 📞 The last word
  • 📖 Recipe
  • Who doesn't love chocolate?
  • 💬 Comments

❤️ Why you'll love this recipe

Once you learn how to make a homemade chocolate pie, especially this homemade chocolate pie, you might as well prepare yourself to make it for every event you're invited to.

It's just that good.

This recipe is one of my favorites. Creamy and rich, chocolate pie just is the best make ahead dessert for summer, ever.

🧾 Ingredients

The following are affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

  • evaporated milk
  • sugar
  • eggs
  • dark cocoa powder
  • flour
  • salt
  • vanilla extract
  • butter
  • 9-inch pie crust 

🥫 Storage

You can make this easy no bake pie up to 3 days ahead of time, cover it tightly and keep refrigerated. Leftovers will be fine for a day or two after that.

This recipe does not do well in the freezer.

Close up of chocolate pie showing the creamy texture.

💭 Things to know

You'll love this homemade chocolate pie recipe! It's luxuriously rich and creamy with a dark, fudgy flavor.

The filling can be made with heavy cream, half and half, or whole milk if you don't want to use evaporated milk.

It can even be made with a combination of them but do not make it with skim milk. You will lose the texture completely.

I think that the evaporated milk works the best and results in the creamiest, chocolatiest texture so please try that at least once.

  • Be sure to bring the eggs up to the same temperature as the milk mixture by mixing in the hot mixture a little at a time. This will keep them from curdling and turning into scrambled eggs.
  • If you do curdle the eggs slightly you can push the pudding through a strainer to get the lumps out.
  • If you are making this on the stovetop take your time and be patient. Cook over medium heat or you run the risk of scorching the bottom.
  • This is delicious with either a traditional crust, a graham cracker crust, or a chocolate cookie crust.
  • Use a homemade pie crust or make it quick and easy with one from the store.

👩🏻‍🍳 Frequently asked questions

Here are the questions I am most frequently asked about this recipe.

Why is my chocolate pie runny?

  • The pie filling can become runny for several reasons:-You didn't use enough flour/cornstarch.-You used cornstarch and cooked it too long so the cornstarch broke down.-You didn't cook it long enough.-You didn't chill it long enough. When your pie filling is done you'll be able to stick a spoon in it and it will cling to the spoon. If you run your finger down the back fo the spoon it will leave a clean "trail".
  • Can you freeze homemade chocolate pie?

    Nope. I don't recommend freezing a homemade cream pie of any kind. The filling is likely to separate and get watery.

    Do you need to refrigerate chocolate cream pie?

    Yes. Let the pie cool on the counter for about 30 minutes then refrigerate promptly.

    🎥 Video

    Slice of chocolate pie with a title text overlay. Image links to YouTube.
    Click here to watch the full video on YouTube.

    📚 Related recipes

    In the South pastry is just about it's own food group. There's nothing like a good one! Here are some of my favorites...

    • Millionaire - so rich and creamy! You'll love this easy, no bake summer pie!
    • Chocolate Chess - this is a southern classic. Kind of like a custard pie, kind of like brownie batter, kind of like nothing you've ever tasted!
    • Chocolate French Silk - melts in your mouth! This is a classic, y'all!
    • Dutch Apple - ok, I know it's not a cream pie but y'all. It's SO good. That crumble, though!
    • Coconut - I found this in an old, and I mean OLD cookbook. I've never had anything like it before. It's kind of like pecan pie but with coconut!
    • Peanut Butter Pie with Pretzel Crust - this is for all you fans of salty-sweet combinations.
    • Texas Flood - ok this chocolate masterpiece is my take on a Mississippi Mud Pie - and you know how competitive we Texans can get!
    • Lemon Ice Box - the real deal! This is the old fashioned recipe that you remember made with Eagle Brand just like Grandmas!
    • Grandma's Dutch Apple Pie with Crumble Topping
    • Cinnamon Candy Apple Pie
    • Blueberry Peach Cobbler
    • Crock Pot Caramel Apple Dump Cake
    Slice of chocolate pie topped with whipped cream and a cherry, on a red transferware plate - feature image

    Homemade chocolate cream pie is a favorite for most people.

    📞 The last word

    This easy, no bake chocolate pie whips up quick and easy so it's perfect for potlucks and summer picnics.

    The dark cocoa makes it the best, most chocolatey chocolate cream pie you've ever had, I promise!

    Top it with whipped cream or serve it next to some ice cream - it's bound to be a hit!

    It's for sure one of my favorite desserts!

    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 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

    📖 Recipe

    Closeup of a slice of chocolate cream pie.
    4.6 from 55 votes

    Old Fashioned Chocolate Cream Pie

    Print Pin Recipe Save Go to Collections
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Easy, homemade chocolate pie recipe has a "from scratch" pudding filling that's rich and creamy. Lots of old fashioned flavor! Use a prebaked pastry crust or a crumb crust of your choosing.
    Course Dessert- Pie
    Cuisine American - Vintage
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes
    Chilling Time: 4 hours
    Total Time: 20 minutes
    Servings:8
    Calories:256
    Author:Marye Audet-White
    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Equipment Needed

    • Whisk
    • 4 quart mixing bowl

    Ingredients

    • 3 cups evaporated milk, , about 1-½ 14.5-ounce cans
    • 1 cup sugar
    • 4 egg yolks, beaten
    • ⅓ cup dark cocoa powder, the darker the better
    • ¼ cup flour
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • ¼ cup unsalted butter
    • 1 9-inch pie crust , baked - or use or favorite crumb crust
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    Stove top instructions

    • Combine sugar and milk in a large bowl; whisk until smooth.
    • Mix the flour, salt, and cocoa in a small mixing bowl and then carefully whisk into the milk mixture.
    • Cook, stirring constantly until mixture thickens.
    • Add some of the hot mixture to the egg yolks and then quickly stir the egg yolks into the pudding mixture.
    • Heat for approximately one more minute.  Mixture will be quite thick.
    • Remove from heat and add the butter.
    • Stir until melted and add the vanilla.

    Microwave instructions

    • Mix all of the ingredients together except the egg yolks, butter, and vanilla.
    • Microwave on 100%  for 3 minutes.
    • Stir.
    • Microwave on 50% until the mixture thickens.
    • Whisk some of the hot mixture into the egg yolks then whisk the egg yolks back into the pudding.
    • Microwave on 50% for 2 minutes.
    • Stir in the vanilla and butter.

    Assembling the pie

    • Pour the hot filling into baked pie shell.
    • Spray plastic wrap with no stick cooking spray and put it carefully, spray side down, over the surface of the filling while it's warm.
    • Chill several hours or overnight.

    Notes

    The filling can be made with heavy cream, half and half, or whole milk if you don't want to use evaporated milk.
    It can even be made with a combination of them but do not make it with skim milk. You will lose the texture completely.
    I think that the evaporated milk works the best and results in the creamiest, chocolatiest texture so please try that at least once.
    • Be sure to bring the eggs up to the same temperature as the milk mixture by mixing in the hot mixture a little at a time. This will keep them from curdling and turning into scrambled eggs.
    • If you do curdle the eggs slightly you can push the pudding through a strainer to get the lumps out.
    • If you are making this on the stovetop take your time and be patient. Cook over medium heat or you run the risk of scorching the bottom.

    Nutrition Facts

    Calories: 256kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 122mg | Sodium: 118mg | Potassium: 185mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 29g | Vitamin A: 455IU | Calcium: 121mg | Iron: 1mg

    Sign up for the emails and never miss another recipe!!

      We'll never share your email or send you spam. Pinkie swear.

      Who doesn't love chocolate?

      I think I inherited a passion for chocolate from my dad. He was a chocolate freak. His favorite besides chocolate cake was Hershey's with Almonds. Oddly, he disliked chocolate ice cream and chocolate pudding. Go figure!

      He was such a chocolate fan that when we lived in Pennsylvania he used to buy cocoa hulls (that came from Hershey, I think) to use as mulch in his garden. The entire yard smelled like Willy Wonka's place.

      I don't know if you can still do that but if you can...you should! It is amazing.

      Enjoy this pie - and take it from a fellow chocolaholic - it's a chocolate lover's dream!

      First published June 2008. Last updated November 17, 2021 for more tips and FAQs, clickable grocery list, and better instructions.

      « Bourbon Sweet Potato Crunch Casserole
      Maple Roasted Carrots »
      • Facebook
      • Twitter

      About Marye

      With a 40 year focus on the importance of family and a passion for southern comfort food, Marye Audet-White is an expert in melding the two together effortlessly. Marye's a NY Times Bestselling author with 10 cookbooks under her belt and her recipes have been featured in Good Housekeeping, Country Living, Today, House Beautiful, Texas Living, Food & Wine, and many more.

      Reader Interactions

      Comments

      1. Patty

        June 05, 2022 at 8:53 pm

        I made this pie exactly as the receipt states on stovetop . My pie never thickened, so disappointed, had company coming for dinner. Made another pie, thought I must have done something incorrectly, same thing terrible!! Ended up using chocolate pudding as I had no more time left. Unbelievable

        Reply
        • Marye

          June 05, 2022 at 10:18 pm

          I can't imagine a pudding with 4 egg yolks and 1/4 cup flour not thickening properly. It's a standard ratio - I'm sorry it didn't work for you.

      2. Janet Holste

        July 26, 2021 at 10:52 pm

        5 stars
        I have been looking for an old fashion Chocolate Cream Pie. This is it.....a wonderful recipe, my go too....thank you!

        Reply
      3. Julie Biller

        December 26, 2018 at 11:46 pm

        5 stars
        Best chocolate pie ever! This is a keeper. Everybody at my Christmas dinner loved it. Thanks!

        Reply
      4. Kjasko

        November 22, 2018 at 1:14 pm

        High hopes for this pie
        Will let you know how it goes

        Reply

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Love it? Give it 5 stars!




      Primary Sidebar

      Marye Audet-White, founder of Restless Chipotle Media

      Hey Y'all, I'm Marye.

      NY Times bestselling author. Written over 10 cookbooks. Mom of 8 kids. Homeschooling mom for 22 years. Army veteran. Nothing fazes me & together we're going to get the kind of meals on your table that you (and your family) have been dreaming of. 

      More about me →

      Summer Fun

      • Patriotic Fruit Salad
      • Patriotic Jello Poke Cake
      • Plain Cheesecake Recipe- No Fail NY Style
      • How to Make a Watermelon Basket

      Newest Meal Plan

      • Meal Plan 30: July 16 - 22

      Popular Recipes

      • Crockpot Ranch Chicken (Easy Weeknight Recipe)
      • Southern Chicken Spaghetti with RoTel
      • Crispy Fried Potatoes
      • Sex in the Driveway: Bright Blue Cocktail
      • Saltine Cracker Recipe (Soda Crackers)
      • Copycat Red Robin Campfire Sauce Recipe
      • Chicken Casserole with Stovetop Stuffing
      • No Bake Lemon Icebox Pie: Grandma's Favorite

      Easy Breakfast Ideas for the 4th of July

      Easy 4th of July Breakfast Ideas

      Footer

      ^ back to top

      About

      • About Marye Audet-White
      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms & Conditions
      • Accessibility Policy
      MaryeAudet Whiteandherchildren Dec

      Featured in:

      Companies that Marye Audet-White and Restless Chipotle have been affiliated with.

      Contact Marye

      • Contact
      Marye Audet-White, founder of Restless Chipotle Media

      Copyright ©2021 Restless Chipotle Media, LLC