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Home » Recipes » Easter Recipes

German Chocolate Pie

Published: Mar 10, 2025 · Updated: Apr 29, 2025 by Marye

This no-bake German chocolate pie is rich, fudgy, and not here to play nice. It’s got all the coconut-pecan goodness of the classic cake, but in a pie that takes zero effort and still gets all the applause. Warning: may cause sudden bouts of hoarding and recipe requests. Proceed with fork in hand and attitude fully loaded.
Total time for the recipe to be finished.Total Time 3 hours hours 30 minutes minutes
Jump to Recipe
A closeup of German chocolate pie for feature image.
Closeup of German chocolate pie with text overlay for Pinterest.
Slice of German Sweet chocolate pie with text overlay for Pinterest.

Originally published March 2019. Last updated April 29, 2025, for editorial improvements.

A slice of German chocolate pie with a bite removed.
Table of Contents
  • 🧾 Ingredients
  • 🔪 Step-by-step guide: How to Make German Chocolate Pie
  • 📖 Recipe
  • 💭 Insider tips: things to know
  • 👩‍🍳 Let's answer those questions: FAQs
  • 📚 More Southern comfort: related recipes you'll love
  • 💬 Comments
5 star rating
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Reader Review
This pie is very easy. Just be sure and follow the instructions.
Margaret White

Rich? Absolutely. Over-the-top? You bet your bundt it is. This no-bake German chocolate pie is what happens when the cake ditches the layers and gets a Southern upgrade. Fudgy filling, gooey coconut-pecan topping, chocolate crust... it’s a fork-flirting situationship.

Fancy enough for the holidays, easy enough for a Tuesday meltdown, and dangerous enough you’ll hide a slice in the back of the fridge like it’s your retirement fund. One bite and you’re the hero of the potluck—no sweat, no oven, no shame.

🧾 Ingredients

Labeled ingredients for German chocolate pie.

German sweet chocolate is available pretty much everywhere but if you can't find it go ahead and use real chocolate chips (semi-sweet or bittersweet).

Once I used chopped macadamia nuts instead of pecans and it was absolutely amazing - walnuts work, too. AND, don't forget, you can change the crumb crust to anything you prefer.

🔪 Step-by-step guide: How to Make German Chocolate Pie

Melting chocolate and butter together.

Heat cream and stir in chocolate until melted. Add butter and stir until smooth.

The chocolate mixture being poured into a chocolate crumb crust.

Pour chocolate mixture into crust and chill overnight.

The coconut, pecans, and milk mixture simmering.

Combine shredded coconut and other topping ingredients and simmer.

The coconut mixture being spooned on the top of the chocolate layer.

Spoon the topping over the chilled chocolate. Be sure to cover the entire pie. Top with chocolate curls.

🥥 How to toast coconut

You'll toast coconut basically the same way as the pecans above but preheat the oven to 325F. Coconut will go from golden brown to crispy black in seconds so you'll need to watch it very carefully.

🌰 How to toast pecans

Toasting the pecans (and coconut) for this German Chocolate pie topping makes ALL the difference. You can skip this step if you must but... it's SO much better with them toasted!

  1. Preheat the oven to 350F
  2. Chop pecans -You don't always have to chop the pecans before toasting, but for this recipe, it's necessary. Just chop them coarsely while the oven is preheating.
  3. Toast pecans - Add the pecans to a cookie sheet and place in the oven.
  4. Stir the pecans well about halfway through. This allows all the surfaces to get toasted.
  5. Watch the pecans carefully. When they start to get aromatic remove them from the oven. It takes about 5 minutes.

📖 Recipe

A closeup of German chocolate pie for feature image.

German Chocolate Pie Recipe

4.69 from 146 votes
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This no-bake German chocolate pie is rich, fudgy, and not here to play nice. It’s got all the coconut-pecan goodness of the classic cake, but in a pie that takes zero effort and still gets all the applause. Warning: may cause sudden bouts of hoarding and recipe requests. Proceed with fork in hand and attitude fully loaded.
Course Dessert
Cuisine American - Vintage
Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes
Chilling Time: 3 hours hours
Total Time: 3 hours hours 30 minutes minutes
Servings:8
Calories:890
Author:Marye Audet-White

Ingredients

  • 1 Crumb crust

German Chocolate Filling

  • 16 ounces German Sweet Chocolate , may substitute bittersweet chocolate
  • 2 ¼ cups heavy cream
  • ½ cup butter, room temperature, cut into pieces

Coconut Pecan Topping

  • ⅔ cup evaporated milk
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • ¼ cup light brown sugar
  • 1 egg
  • 1 ½ cups coconut, shredded sweetened - toasted
  • ⅔ cup pecans, chopped and toasted
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 6 tablespoons butter, cubed

Instructions

Chocolate Ganache Filling:

  • Heat cream in microwave (or on top of the stove) until it is steaming hot.
  • Add the chocolate (If the chocolate won't melt all the way you can add it to the microwave and heat it for 20 second increments, stirring in between - just until it is melted and blends with the cream)
  • Stir until smooth.
  • Add in the butter and stir until well blended.
  • Pour into the prepared crust, either cookie or chocolate (or even a traditional pastry that's been pre-baked!)
  • Cover and chill for at least 2-3 hours.

Coconut-Pecan Topping

  • Toast the coconut and pecans as directed in the notes below.
  • Set aside.
  • Whisk the egg in a small bowl until it's completely blended.
  • Set aside.
  • Combine the evaporated milk, sugars, and butter in a small heavy saucepan.
  • Cook, stirring continually, until butter is melted and mixture comes to a boil.
  • Remove from heat.
  • Whisk a little of the hot milk mixture into the egg then add it back to the pan, whisking continually so you don't end up with scrambled eggs.
  • Bring to a simmer and cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly.
  • Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla, coconut, and chopped pecans.
  • Spoon over the chilled filling .
  • Chill for at least 30 minutes before serving. Add chocolate shavings to top for garnish if desired.

Notes

Storage:
Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 4 days. Freeze for up to 3 months.
How to Toast Pecans
  1. Preheat the oven to 350F
  2. Chop Pecans -You don't have to always chop the pecans before toasting but for this recipe it's necessary. Just chop them coarsely while the oven is preheating.
  3. Toast Pecans - Add the pecans to a cookie sheet and place in the oven.
  4. Stir the pecans well about halfway through. This allows all the surfaces to get toasted.
  5. Watch the pecans carefully. When they start to get aromatic remove them from the oven. It takes about 5 minutes.
How to Toast Coconut
You'll toast coconut basically the same way as the pecans above but preheat the oven to 325F. Coconut will go from golden brown to crispy black in seconds so you'll need to watch it very carefully.
You'll find more helpful tips and variations in the body of the post.

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 1slice | Calories: 890kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 87g | Saturated Fat: 52g | Cholesterol: 171mg | Sodium: 251mg | Potassium: 689mg | Fiber: 11g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 1680IU | Vitamin C: 1.3mg | Calcium: 179mg | Iron: 10.6mg

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.

💭 Insider tips: things to know

  1. Make sure you choose a good quality chocolate - it will be creamier and more flavorful.
  2. Put the pie crust in the freezer while you are working on the filling - it just works better.
  3. Make sure the pie is well chilled before cutting, and dip your knife in boiling water before each cut. This will help it cut more evenly and smoothly.
  4. It's normal for a crumb crust to crumble a little during cutting and transferring to a plate but the more chilled the pie is the less likely it is to happen.

Marye's Tip o' the day

When you heat the cream for the ganache make sure you don't let it come to a boil. Just heat until bubbles start to pop around the edge.

Overhead view of a whole German Chocolate pie.

🤫 Marye's secret for zhuzhing it up

Stir one to two tablespoons of bourbon, dark rum, or coffee liqueur into the chocolate ganache before pouring it into the crust. It adds depth, richness, and a little “grown-up” flair that makes people wonder why your desserts always taste better than theirs.

zhuzh: verb. To make something more interesting or attractive

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👩‍🍳 Let's answer those questions: FAQs

Have other questions? Ask me in the comments!

Can I freeze German Chocolate Pie?

Not all homemade German chocolate pies can be frozen - this one has been developed so that it can be.

How can I make a chocolate crust?

If you want your pie to be extra chocolaty make it in a chocolate cookie crumb crust as I have in this recipe! Crumb crusts are super easy, no-bake, and take almost no time at all to makedx

A slice of German chocolate pie being served.

⏲️ Marye's time saving hacks -

I like to toast a bunch of coconut and a bunch of chopped pecans at one time and then keep them in the freezer in freezer bags so they stay fresh. Shaves about 5 - 10 minutes off of the prep time when a recipe calls for toasted pecans or coconut.

📚 More Southern comfort: related recipes you'll love

Here are more homemade pie recipes from our family favorite files!

  • Classic Southern Chocolate Chess Pie is so fudgy. It tastes like rich brownie batter in a crust... don't worry - mine is made without the ingredient made famous in "The Help".
  • Texas Flood Pie - Like Mississippi Mud Pie only BETTER with layers of rich chocolate ganache and peanut butter mousse. It's another one of my super easy recipes!!
  • Millionaire Pie is the same creamy, tropical pie that we used to get after church at Furr's! Full of Maraschino cherries and pineapple.
A closeup of German chocolate pie for feature image.

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About Marye

Meet Marye Audet, a wizard in the kitchen and a storyteller at heart. Marye is like your eccentric but fun aunt who knows all the secret recipes and isn't afraid to spill them.

Comments

    4.69 from 146 votes (144 ratings without comment)

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  1. Margaret White says

    June 16, 2024 at 5:30 am

    5 stars
    This pie is very easy. Just be sure and follow the instructions.

    Reply
  2. Kim Smith says

    June 02, 2024 at 3:45 pm

    I tried this and I don’t know what I did wrong… it’s been 2 hours and it’s still runny.😞

    Reply
    • Marye says

      June 03, 2024 at 1:22 pm

      I don't know Kim, I'd need more information.

      Reply
  3. Camden Rusincovitch says

    September 28, 2023 at 11:33 pm

    I've been looking for an easy dessert recipe. German chocolate pie is going to be a new staple for my sweet tooth 🙂

    Reply
  4. Alyssa says

    September 25, 2023 at 1:49 pm

    My husband's birthday is coming up, and I think this german chocolate pie would be the perfect treat for him! I love to bake, but this is something I haven't made yet. I can't wait to try it out.

    Reply
  5. Brittany says

    September 21, 2023 at 2:59 pm

    I love a good (and easy) no bake pie recipe! Interesting tip on putting the pie crust in the freezer while working on the filling, I'll be sure to do that.

    Reply
  6. Cynthia Rusincovitch says

    September 19, 2023 at 12:09 pm

    Wait! There is a German Chocolate Pie??!?!? What an outstanding idea! The cake is my favorite... but PIE!!

    Reply
  7. Kristen says

    September 19, 2023 at 9:30 am

    5 stars
    You already had me at chocolate, but you REALLY have me at no bake pie! LOL!

    Reply
  8. Frankie says

    March 02, 2019 at 10:51 am

    Sounds wonderful!!!

    Reply
    • Marye says

      March 02, 2019 at 10:58 am

      It's so good! Jumped right to the top of my favorite.

      Reply
Marye Audet-White, founder of Restless Chipotle Media

Hey Y'all, I'm Marye

Welcome to my kitchen! ☕

NY Times bestselling author. 10 cookbooks. Mom of 8 kids. Homeschooling mom for 22 years. Addicted to Hallmark Christmas Movies. Collector of old cookbooks.

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