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

Table of Contents
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
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
Heat cream and stir in chocolate until melted. Add butter and stir until smooth.
Pour chocolate mixture into crust and chill overnight.
Combine shredded coconut and other topping ingredients and simmer.
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!
- Preheat the oven to 350F
- 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.
- Toast pecans - Add the pecans to a cookie sheet and place in the oven.
- Stir the pecans well about halfway through. This allows all the surfaces to get toasted.
- Watch the pecans carefully. When they start to get aromatic remove them from the oven. It takes about 5 minutes.
📖 Recipe
German Chocolate Pie Recipe
Print Pin Recipe Save Recipe Rate RecipeIngredients
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
- Preheat the oven to 350F
- 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.
- Toast Pecans - Add the pecans to a cookie sheet and place in the oven.
- Stir the pecans well about halfway through. This allows all the surfaces to get toasted.
- Watch the pecans carefully. When they start to get aromatic remove them from the oven. It takes about 5 minutes.
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.
💭 Insider tips: things to know
- Make sure you choose a good quality chocolate - it will be creamier and more flavorful.
- Put the pie crust in the freezer while you are working on the filling - it just works better.
- 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.
- 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.
🤫 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
👩🍳 Let's answer those questions: FAQs
Have other questions? Ask me in the comments!
Not all homemade German chocolate pies can be frozen - this one has been developed so that it can be.
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
⏲️ 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.
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Margaret White says
This pie is very easy. Just be sure and follow the instructions.
Kim Smith says
I tried this and I don’t know what I did wrong… it’s been 2 hours and it’s still runny.😞
Marye says
I don't know Kim, I'd need more information.
Camden Rusincovitch says
I've been looking for an easy dessert recipe. German chocolate pie is going to be a new staple for my sweet tooth 🙂
Alyssa says
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.
Brittany says
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.
Cynthia Rusincovitch says
Wait! There is a German Chocolate Pie??!?!? What an outstanding idea! The cake is my favorite... but PIE!!
Kristen says
You already had me at chocolate, but you REALLY have me at no bake pie! LOL!
Frankie says
Sounds wonderful!!!
Marye says
It's so good! Jumped right to the top of my favorite.