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

Also The Crumbs Please

  • Recipes
  • Cookbook
  • About
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Cookbook
  • Subscribe
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Cookbook
  • Subscribe
×

Home » Pies, Crisps, and Tarts

Chocolate Cream Pie

Last updated on August 20, 2022Originally published May 25, 2019Leave a CommentSabine

Jump to Recipe

This decadent chocolate cream pie is super easy to make. Just 12 no-fuss ingredients are needed to make this creamy, flaky, and chocolaty treat. This recipe is a crowd-pleaser and always highly requested by my friends and family. By the way, have you tried my banana cream pie?

chocolate cream pie topped with meringue and a quarter missing sitting on a wooden table
Jump to:
  • Why you will love this recipe
  • Photo tutorial
  • Expert tips for success
  • Can I make the filling with instant pudding?
  • Storing
  • Freezing
  • More pie recipes to try
  • Recipe

Why you will love this recipe

  • It's easy to make, and it doesn't matter if you are just starting out baking.
  • You only need 12 ingredients and you probably already have them at home.
  • The filling is rich, creamy and decadent.
  • It's perfect for barbecues, potlucks, and picnics.

Photo tutorial

Put flour, salt, sugar, and butter in the food processor and pulse a few times. Then add 1 tablespoon of water at a time, and pulse 1-2 times after each tablespoon. When the dough begins clumping and pea-sized butter flakes are still visible stop pulsing.

processed pie crust dough in food processor

Transfer the dough clumps to a piece of plastic wrap and form into a 1 - 1.5-inch thick disk without kneading. Wrap the dough tightly and refrigerate for 2 hours or up to 2 days.

pie crust in plastic wrap being shaped into a disc

Remove the crust from the fridge and place it on a lightly floured surface. Roll it out until you have an 11-12 inch circle. Then carefully transfer to a 9-inch pie pan.

transferring rolled out pie crust with a rolling pin to a pie dish

Gently press the crust against the bottom and the sides of the baking pan evenly. Shape the pie crust to form edges around the entire pie. I used my knuckle to create the design. Place the pie crust in the freezer for 30 minutes.

shaping the edges of the pie crust with knuckles

Remove the chilled crust from the freezer and line with parchment paper. It's essential to cover the edges with parchment paper as well, so the crust doesn't brown too quickly.

Fill with baking beans or uncooked rice evenly that it also pushes slightly against the sides of the crust to prevent the sides from shrinking too much. Bake for 25 minutes and remove the beans and parchment paper. Bake for an additional 5 minutes and allow it to cool on a wire rack for 30 minutes.

raw pie crust in baking dish filled with baking beans

Prepare the filling by whisking egg yolks and cornstarch in a heatproof bowl. Set aside.

whisking egg yolks and cornstarch in a small bowl

Over medium-high heat, bring milk and sugar to a simmer. After it begins to simmer, turn the heat down to low and simmer for an additional 2 minutes. Be sure to whisk continuously to prevent it from burning or sticking.

whisking simmering milk in a saucepan

Whisk about ¼ - Â½ cup of the hot milk into the egg yolks mixture so it can be slowly warmed. Then pour the egg mixture very slowly into the saucepan while whisking continuously. Cook for 1-2 minutes until the filling is thick. Stir constantly.

pouring mixed egg yolks slowly into simmering milk

Before you remove the saucepan from the heat it should look like in the picture below.

whisking egg custard in a saucepan while cooking

Place a mesh strainer on top of a large heat-proof mixing bowl, and carefully pour the filling into the strainer and into the bowl.

pouring cooked egg custard through a mesh strainer

Add and whisk in the chocolate and vanilla for approximately 1-2 minutes until it is smooth. Toss in the butter and whisk to combine.

whisking chocolate cream filling with a whisk in a large mixing bowl

Pour the filling into the baked crust and spread evenly. Place it into an airtight container and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or preferably overnight.

smoothing out chocolate cream pie filing into pie crust

Expert tips for success

  • Tempering the egg mixture slowly ensures that the eggs don't get too hot too quickly and you don't end up with a scrambled egg mixture.
  • Constantly whisking the filling as it cooks will ensure it doesn't burn.
  • Pour the cooked filling through a mesh strainer will remove small lumps and ensure your chocolate cream filling is smooth and creamy.
  • Let the filling set in the fridge overnight so you can easily slice the pie.

Can I make the filling with instant pudding?

While I prefer the richness and how easy it is to make the filling from scratch, you can certainly use instant pudding if you want to. Simply make the pudding as directed on the package and pour it into the baked crust. You will still need to refrigerate it for a few hours before serving to allow it to set up correctly.

sliced chocolate pie in a baking dish with meringue on top with a few slices missing

Storing

Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. I don't recommend storing it at room temperature as it would go bad quickly.

Freezing

After chilling in the fridge, cover it tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil and place in freezer bags or a freezer-safe storage container. It freezes well for up to 1 month. To thaw, remove it from the plastic wrap and place it in an airtight container in the fridge overnight.

More pie recipes to try

You love pie as much as we do? Then check out these delicious recipes as well.

  • Apple Pie
  • Pumpkin Pie
  • Custard Pie
  • Rhubarb Pie
  • Blueberry Pie
  • Strawberry Chocolate Pop Tarts (made with pie crust)

Recipe

chocolate cream pie topped with meringue and a quarter missing sitting on a wooden table

Chocolate Cream Pie

5 from 3 votes
Author Sabine Venier
Calories: 347kcal
Servings: 12 servings
Prep 30 minutes
Cook 30 minutes
Chill 4 hours
Total 5 hours
Print Pin Rate
This decadent pie is a dream to make because it's super easy. Just 12 no-fuss ingredients. It's a crowd-pleaser and always highly requested by everyone.

Ingredients
 
 

Crust

  • ½ cup unsalted butter, cold
  • 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon sugar
  • 4-6 tablespoon cold water

Filling

  • 6 large egg yolks
  • ¼ cup cornstarch
  • 2 ½ cups milk
  • ¾ cup granulated white sugar
  • 2 tablespoon unsalted butter
  • 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 7 oz semi-sweet or dark chocolate bars, finely chopped

Instructions

Crust

  • Make it with a food processor: Place flour, salt, sugar, and butter in a food processor and pulse 4-5 times. Pea-sized butter flakes should still be visible. Add one tablespoon water at the time and pulse 1-2 times after every tablespoon. Stop adding water when the dough starts to clump. Depending on the humidity and climate you will need 4-6 tbsp. Watch the video and photos to see the required consistency.
  • If you don't have a food processor, then make it with a pastry cutter or two forks instead: In this case mix together flour, salt, and sugar in a large mixing bowl. Then add butter and cut it into the mixture until it resembles coarse meal with pea-sized butter flakes. Then add water little by little until the texture starts to clump.
  • Transfer the dough to a plastic wrap and form a 1- 1.5-inch thick disk without kneading. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or up to 2 days. 
  • On a lightly floured surface, roll out the chilled dough disk into an 11 - 12-inch circle. Transfer to a 9-inch pie dish. 
  • Press the pie crust against the bottom and the sides of your baking dish evenly and flute the edges. Freeze for 30 minutes.
  • Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). 
  • Line the chilled crust with parchment paper and press it against the bottom and the sides of the crust. Make sure that the parchment paper covers the edges as well to prevent it from getting to brown. Then heavy it down with baking beans, uncooked rice, or uncooked beans evenly. Press the baking beans against the sides as well to prevent them from sinking down too much. Bake for 25 minutes. Remove weights and paper and bake another 5 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool for about 30 minutes.

Filling

  • Whisk egg yolks and cornstarch in a heatproof bowl until smooth and combined. Set aside.
  • In a heavy-bottomed pot, over medium-high heat, bring milk and sugar to a simmer. Once, it has reached a simmer, reduce heat to low and simmer for about 2 minutes. Whisk continuously.
  • Stir about ½ cup of the hot milk into the egg yolks to slowly warm it. Then pour warmed egg mixture slowly into the saucepan, whisking constantly. Cook until filling is thick, for about 1-2 minutes. Whisk continuously. 
  • Remove from heat and pour through a mesh strainer into a large heat-proof mixing bowl. Whisk in chocolate and vanilla until smooth and fully combined for about 1-2 minutes. Add butter and stir to combine. 
  • Pour the filling into the crust and spread evenly. Place it in an airtight container and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or preferably overnight. Before serving, top with meringue or whipped cream if desired. Leftovers will stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Freeze for up to 1 month.

Video

You can find the video in the post above. If you don't see a video, please check your browser settings.

Nutrition

Calories: 347kcalCarbohydrates: 35gProtein: 5gFat: 20gSaturated Fat: 11gCholesterol: 123mgSodium: 162mgPotassium: 207mgFiber: 2gSugar: 19gVitamin A: 505IUCalcium: 85mgIron: 2.8mg
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Keyword Chocolate Cream Pie Recipe, How to make Chocolate Cream Pie
Did you make this recipe?Leave a feedback and rate this recipe!
« Authentic Italian Tiramisu Recipe
No-Bake Strawberry Cheesecake (cream cheese pie) »

About Sabine

Sabine is a professional baker, cookbook author, and award-winning food photographer.

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

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

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Portrait photo of Sabine Venier

Hi, my name is Sabine Venier! I’m a cookbook author and food blogger. Here on Also The Crumbs Please you will find my collection of treasured family recipes.

More about me →


Currently trending

  • Cooked patty on a burger bun with lettuce
    How to Cook Air Fryer Hamburgers (Fresh and Frozen)
  • tiramisu cake decorated with whipped cream and cocoa powder on a cake plate
    Tiramisu Cake Recipe
  • A slice of Black Forest cake on a dessert plate
    Black Forest Cake (Traditional German Recipe)
  • Baked muffins in paper liners on a white serving plate
    How to Make Air Fryer Muffins
  • Stack of oatmeal cookies next to glass of milk
    Oatmeal Raisin Chocolate Chip Cookies
  • a dozen filled Linzer cookies in a wooden basket with powdered sugar on top
    Linzer Cookies (Original Austrian Family Recipe)
  • Stack of chocolate cookies on bright background
    Chocolate Cookies made with Cocoa
  • A slice of sacher torte with whipped cream on a dessert plate
    Sacher Torte Recipe

Favorites

  • Raw pizza dough on a pizza peel
    Cold fermented Pizza Dough
  • Fettuccine pasta covered in Alfredo sauce in a large pan
    Homemade Alfredo Sauce Recipe
  • A prepared cheeseburger on a serving board
    The Best Cheeseburger Recipe
  • Cut raspberry cake slices on a serving plate
    Easy Raspberry Cake Made From Scratch
  • Slices of blueberry bread on a white napkin
    Easy Blueberry Bread (fresh or frozen blueberries)
  • Burger sauce in a small bowl
    The Best Burger Sauce: 6 Ingredient Recipe

Footer


As seen on

collage of logos from brands which featured also the crumbs please

  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Statement

Copyright © 2023 Also The Crumbs Please

 

Loading Comments...