How to Make a Chocolate Pie

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Chocolate pie is a rich and fudgy dessert perfect for any occasion. Everyone will enjoy the smooth and pleasant chocolate texture if you’re whipping up an after-dinner treat or need a unique offering for a birthday party. Best of all, it’s easy to prepare in your kitchen! Discover how to make a chocolate pie at home with the help of plant-based ingredients and delicious baking chocolate. Then, learn about some of the most popular chocolate pie recipes and variations. Whatever way you create your chocolate pie, you’ll be impressed by how elevated and luscious you can make this tasty classic!

What Is Chocolate Pie?  

A chocolate pie is a delicious and delightfully straightforward dessert recipe. Traditional recipes for chocolate pie feature a butter pie crust or a graham cracker crust. You can also use a shortbread crust. Of course, you can buy store-bought pie crust to make the process faster. For the best taste, we recommend a homemade recipe. If you prefer, you can create a crushed cookie crust or a chocolate-flavored pie dough with the help of chocolate baking discs or unsweetened cocoa powder. 

A classic chocolate pie usually has a filling with the consistency of pudding. It’s made with ingredients like finely chopped bittersweet chocolate pieces or chopped chocolate discs for baking. You’ll also need plant-based milk or dairy milk, along with pure vanilla extract and your favorite brand of butter. For those looking for a vegan chocolate cream pie, you can make ingredient swaps like coconut milk and raw cashew or almond butter. For a twist on a chocolate pie that looks more like a tart, you can make a ganache for your filling. To finish your chocolate pie, add a dollop of dairy-based whipped cream or plant-based cream on top. 

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How Long Does It Take to Make? 

It’s possible to make a chocolate pie in minutes, especially if you’re using a store-bought crust. However, a homemade pie crust can take up to an hour to finish. Besides the time to make the crust and filling, you’ll need up to four hours to let the pie chill in the refrigerator before serving. 

Ingredients for Chocolate Pie Filling 

To make your chocolate pie, you’ll need baking essentials you can find at the grocery store. Some of the main ingredients for a classic chocolate pie filling include: 

• 1 ½ c. sugar  
• ¼ tsp. salt 
• ¼ c. cornstarch 
• 3 c. whole dairy milk (or a plant-based milk substitute)
• 4 egg yolks (or a vegan egg substitute) 
• 6 ½ oz. chopped bittersweet chocolate 
• 2 tsp. dairy butter (or a plant-based butter substitute) 
• 2 tsp. pure vanilla extract 

Remember, you can always add flavors to make your chocolate pie unique! Whatever final choices you make, this list will help you start and finish your filling. 

Steps to Make a Chocolate Pie 

Once you have your ingredients together, it’s time to make your chocolate pie. Follow these simple steps to create this delicious dessert in no time! 

Step 1: Prepare the Pie Crust 

Create your pie crust using the recipe of your choice. When it’s cooled and ready for your chocolate pie filling, set the crust aside. 

Step 2: Make the Chocolate Pie Filling 

Combine the sugar and salt with the cornstarch in a medium saucepan. Whisk the ingredients together until combined. Pour in the milk and egg yolks (or egg substitute), stirring the ingredients together over medium heat until the mixture gets thicker and comes to a boil, about 5-8 minutes. 

As soon as the mixture comes to a boil and turns thick like pudding, remove it from the heat. It’s unnecessary to know how to temper chocolate for this recipe, so simply add your chopped bittersweet chocolate pieces or chopped chocolate baking discs to the saucepan. Now, add the butter and vanilla extract. Finally, stir all ingredients together until combined. 

Step 3: Add the Filling to the Pie Crust  

Once the pie filling looks smooth and uniform, it’s time to pour it into the pie crust. Add the mixture carefully to keep it from splashing over. You may have extra filling. 

Step 4: Chill the Chocolate Pie 

Now it’s time to chill your pie in the refrigerator. Put it in the fridge uncovered. Allow at least 4-5 hours to get the perfect consistency for your filling. 

Step 5: Serve Your Pie (and Enjoy!) 

After letting the pie chill for 4-5 hours, it’s ready to serve. Cut it into slices and add whipped cream on top. Enjoy your tasty treat! 

Variations on Classic Chocolate Pie 

Create variations on your chocolate pie with ingredients like toasted hazelnuts or peppermint extract. Top with chocolate shavings or coconut shavings for a special treat. We have plenty of options if you’re searching for more of a chocolate tart than a chocolate pie recipe. Our TCHO pros have recipes for delicious desserts featuring TCHO baking chocolate, including our Olive Oil Ganache Tart and Chocolate Coffee Caramel Tart recipe. 

Making the Perfect Chocolate Pie 

Now you know how to make chocolate pie at home! You’ll be ready to please friends and family with its rich and decadent flavor! This recipe offers plenty of chocolate taste, but you won’t fill up too fast due to the light and airy consistency of the chocolate pudding filling. The cool, creamy texture makes it a crowd-pleaser for any time of year.