If you love chocolate then this old fashioned recipe is about to become your favorite dessert.
Just like Grandma used to make! This easy chocolate pie recipe will be a family favorite!
Table of Contents
🗝️ Key takeaways
This is so good!
- The homemade chocolate custard filling is made in the microwave so it doesn't ever scorch. No need to even use and electric mixer!
- Make it with a crumb crust and it's a no bake recipe that takes just 15 minutes to prepare.
- Top with homemade whipped cream or Cool Whip.
Once you learn how to make a homemade chocolate pie from scratch, especially this homemade chocolate pie recipe, 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 ever.
🧾 Ingredients
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I like the Pyrex clear casserole dishes because they are easy to clean and cooks evenly
🥫 How to store
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.
📖 Variations
I think that the evaporated milk works the best and results in the creamiest, chocolatiest texture so please try that at least once.
- You can use a homemade pastry crust or a pre-made pie crust
- An Oreo crust makes it a chocolate lover's dream!
- Try this easy crumb crust for a no bake pie that's just like grandma's!
- 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 be made with a combination of milk and cream.
- Garnish with chocolate shavings if you have time. So pretty!
You'll love this old fashioned chocolate pie recipe! It's luxuriously rich and creamy with a dark, fudgy flavor.
Expert Tip: Spray a sheet of plastic wrap with no-stick cooking spray and lay over the top of the hot pie filling to keep it from forming a skin. The cooking spray keeps the plastic wrap from sticking.
- Do not make this pie with lowfat or skim milk. You'll lose the silky texture.
- 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 (tempering). 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 low heat in a heavy saucepan or you run the risk of scorching the bottom. Stir slowly and constantly.
- Use a homemade pie crust or make it quick and easy with one from the store.
- Some people use the leftover egg whites to make a fluffy meringue topping. I don't care for it that way but you sure can if you want to. You can use the meringue from this recipe.
Here are the questions I am most frequently asked about this recipe.
Nope. I don't recommend freezing a homemade cream pie of any kind. The filling is likely to separate and get watery.
Yes. Let the pie cool on the counter for about 30 minutes then cover and refrigerate promptly.
🎥 Video
Want even more tips? Click the image 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 Pie - 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!
Homemade chocolate cream pie is a favorite for most people - at least the ones I know.
🥄 Restless Chipotle recommends
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You'll need the following items to make this recipe successfully.
- evaporated milk
- sugar
- eggs
- dark cocoa powder
- flour
- salt
- vanilla extract
- butter
- 9-inch pie crust
- pie plate
- microwave safe bowl
- microwave
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 chocolate 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
Old Fashioned Chocolate Pie
Print Pin Recipe Save Recipe Rate RecipeIngredients
- 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 butter
- 1 9-inch pie crust , baked - or use or favorite crumb crust
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 over medium low heat stirring constantly until mixture thickens.
- Whisk 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 and will coat the back of the spoon.
- 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, or until the mixture is thick and creamy.
- 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 hot.
- Chill several hours or overnight.
Notes
- Do not make this pie with lowfat or skim milk. You'll lose the silky texture.
- 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 (tempering). 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 low heat in a heavy saucepan or you run the risk of scorching the bottom. Stir slowly and constantly.
- Use a homemade pie crust or make it quick and easy with one from the store.
- Some people use the leftover egg whites to make a fluffy meringue topping. I don't care for it that way but you sure can if you want to. You can use the meringue from this recipe.
- Spray a sheet of plastic wrap with no-stick cooking spray and lay over the top of the hot pie filling to keep it from forming a skin. The cooking spray keeps the plastic wrap from sticking.
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.
This recipe has been tested several times. If you choose to use other ingredients, or change the technique in some way, the results may not be the same.
First published June 2008. Last updated January 17, 2023 for more tips and FAQs.
Jackie Whitlock says
For those that said their pie didn’t thicken, same thing happened to me first time. I just didn’t cook long enough. For beginners it takes quite a bit of time stirring and cooking to get the pudding thickened. You want it thick not just starting to thicken. This is a great recipe, you just have to be patient and cook until thick.
STEPHANI L MARTINEZ says
Butter never melted in properly even though I followed directions. I chilled it and not only did it have a layer of butter on top when it was cold but I can taste bits of butter in it filling. Not sure why or if I can fix it.
Marye says
If your pudding was hot the butter would melt so not sure what happened there.
Brenda says
Made this pie twice in 2 days… that’s how much everyone liked it ! Today I made 1/2 inch brownie base chilled it, then crushed a 4 pck of Kit-Kat choc bars finally crushed with 4 TBSP Of commercial Carmel into it and spread it on top of the brownie base . I then added the cooked pie filling over it . I let it set & covered it with whipped cream … Awesome ! ❤️❤️❤️
Alison says
Sorry to say, but this did not set for me either. It’s like soup, sadly. I don’t know why either as I followed recipe to a T. 🙁
Patty says
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
Marye says
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.
Janet Holste says
I have been looking for an old fashion Chocolate Cream Pie. This is it.....a wonderful recipe, my go too....thank you!
Julie Biller says
Best chocolate pie ever! This is a keeper. Everybody at my Christmas dinner loved it. Thanks!
Kjasko says
High hopes for this pie
Will let you know how it goes