Old Fashioned Chocolate Pie Recipe (Easy & Homemade)

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This old fashioned homemade chocolate pie recipe is about to become a classic at your family gatherings. Why do I say that?

Well, itโ€™s a no-bake chocolate pie that serves as a beautiful reminder of the chocolate pudding we used to enjoy as kids. Itโ€™ll bring back a touch of nostalgia. 

You see, itโ€™s always been a family favorite in our home, and I can’t wait to share the creamy chocolate goodness with you. 

So, what’s unique about this no-bake recipe? Well, like many no-bake pies โ€“ the filling is cooked on the stovetop and poured into a ready-made crust. No oven time is needed! 

It’s truly an amazing pie and a simple recipe perfect for beginners. If you’re new to pie-making, we’ve got your back โ€“ with pie crust videos, and also how to make the chocolate pie filling.

close up image of chocolate pie and whipped cream on a white china plate teal green napkin in background

Reasons to Love This Recipe

  • Simple โ€“ This is a no-bake pie recipe. It’s super easy, using a pre-baked pie shell and simple ingredients.
  • Chocotastic โ€“ The filling is silky smooth with a rich chocolate flavor, and the homemade whipped cream adds an extra touch of sweetness.
  • Egg-Free – There are no eggs or egg yolks in this pie. This might help you make up your mind if you have dietary restrictions.
  • Perfect Dessert – A great recipe for those chocolate lovers who canโ€™t resist that rich chocolate flavor.

The creamy chocolatey taste is out of this world, and I promise this pie will disappear in minutes!

Ingredients

Youโ€™ll find all the ingredients to make this Chocolate Pie recipe in your local grocery store:

  • Pie shell: The base for our pie can be bought pre-made, or you can try making a homemade pie crust.
  • Chocolate chips: Melt into the warm mixture, making it even richer. Use milk chocolate chips or dark chocolate. 
  • Cocoa Powder: The backbone of our rich chocolate filling. I prefer unsweetened cocoa powder, but you can use whatever types of cocoa powder you have at hand. 
  • Sugar: Adds sweetness to balance the bittersweet chocolate cocoa. Use white or brown sugar. 
  • Whole Milk: Gives the pie a luscious, creamy texture. Use heavy cream or whipping cream for a richer taste.
  • Unsalted Butter: Adds a velvety texture and flavor. Use melted butter.
  • Cornstarch: Helps the filling thicken just right โ€“ so it has a creamy texture.
  • Vanilla: The finishing touch. Try to use pure vanilla extract.  

You May Also Needโ€ฆ

So you’ve made this no-bake chocolate pie recipe to take over for a potluck, or maybe to your girlfriend’s for coffee and dessert.

The problem is carrying a pie can be a bit of a hassle. How do you get it there in one piece?

Well, I have the solution! Everyone needs a pie carrier just like this one. I love mine and use it over and over, not just for pies but cakes, too!

This high-quality Pyrex Portables Pie Carrier (now I dare you to say that fast!) even has a pie plate included! Your pie recipes will never be safer!

chocolate pudding pie mounded with whipped cream and multi coloured sprinkles with half of the pie already removed, shows bottom of glass pie plate

How to Make Chocolate Pie

Follow these step-by-step instructions to make this easy old-fashioned Chocolate Pie. See the recipe card below if you need more help.

  1. Mix the sugar, cornstarch, and cocoa powder in a large saucepan. 
  2. Gradually add the milk and stir until well blended. 
  3. Cook the pie mixture over medium heat, stirring constantly, until it boils. When it starts to thicken, remove from the heat immediately.
  4. Stir in the butter, vanilla extract, and chocolate chips.
  5. Let the mixture cool slightly, then pour into the pre-baked pie shell.
  6. Let the pie cool to room temperature, then seal with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 8 hours.
  7. Before serving, whip together cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla with a hand mixer or electric mixer. Spread on top of the pie. Add other garnish as desired.
overhead image of chocolate cream pie with plastic film on top of the pie filling

Expert Chocolate Pie Tips

Follow these expert tips to make the best Chocolate Pie:

  • Whole Milk: Use whole milk (3%) for the filling โ€“ for the perfect creaminess that takes the pie from good to great.
  • Be Careful: Stay by your pot and keep stirring while the pudding thickens โ€“ milk burns easily!
  • Stick to the Script: Follow the recipe instructions exactly. It’s been tested to give you the best results.
  • Air? No Way!: When you’re wrapping your pie in plastic, make sure it’s touching the pudding. You want zero air sneaking in there.
  • No-Fail Crust: Opt for Judy’s No-Fail Pie Crust and bake it ahead. It’s super simple and provides a stellar base for your filling.
  • Smooth Filling: When making the filling, aim for a smooth texture without lumps. It’s the difference between a good pie and a great one.
text homemade chocolate pie on a brown background with closeup of chocolate cream pie with whipped cream in background image for pinterest

How to Serve

When it comes to serving your homemade chocolate pudding pie, thereโ€™s lot you can do. 

I like to sprinkle with a little Funfetti sprinkles or chocolate shavings โ€“ or both!

You can also garnish with chocolate curls, crushed Oreo cookies, or even a few lashings of melted chocolate!

How to Store

Now youโ€™ve got your creamy chocolate pie โ€“ you need to keep it fresh. Just follow this guide:

  • Fridge: The best way is to wrap the pie securely in plastic wrap and place it in an airtight container. This will stop it from absorbing any fridge odors.
  • Freezer: If you’re looking for longer storage, again, use plastic wrap to seal the pie tightly and place it inside an airtight container. This will help retain its flavor and prevent freezer burn. When ready to enjoy, thaw in the fridge.

Chocolate Pie FAQs

Here are some of the questions people have asked me about this easy homemade Chocolate Pie:

Why do you cover the hot chocolate pie filling with plastic wrap?

Covering your chocolate mousse pie before you put it in the refrigerator. This keeps the air away from it, and prevents a thick skin from forming on top. You want your pie filling to be super creamy, not chunky!

What makes the chocolate pie filling thicken?

The thickener is corn starch thatโ€™s been well blended with sugar. That’s why it’s so important to keep stirring the pie filling while it is cooking on the stove โ€“ the thickened mixture burns easily!

partly eaten chocolate pie with lots of whipped cream shows coloured sprinkles and whipped cream dripping down onto the pie plate

Why do some recipes for chocolate pie use eggs?

There are many pudding pie-filling recipes that use eggs, but I think youโ€™ll prefer this one, as it still holds its shape well. 

What other kinds of pie crust could I use?

We really love our shortcrust pastry pie crust thatโ€™s made with half butter and half lard.

If you are short on time, you could buy a frozen pie shell and pre-bake it โ€“ just be sure to follow the instructions for blind baking a pie crust.

Even a Graham Cracker Crust that’s pre-made is a delicious base for this yummy chocolate pie!

I’ve never baked before โ€“ Is this an easy recipe?

It really is!  We love easy recipes, and try to stick to the classics, and recipes that use ingredients that are usually in your kitchen cupboard, or at your favorite grocery store.

My goal is always to give you delicious recipes, that are easy to make and that your family and friends will love.

Iโ€™ve even got a Bakerโ€™s Pantry Guide thatโ€™ll show you what to keep stocked!

side view of finished chocolate pie with a baked butter pie crust, chocolate shavings and sprinkles on top with a pottery vase and blue napkins in background

Where did I get my inspiration for this recipe?

As a child, I loved chocolate pudding. Mom would make the cooked version of jello chocolate pudding on the stove with lots of milk.

She would pour it into these cute little glass dishes and then put them in the fridge. A thick skin would develop on top of the pudding as it chilled โ€“ we just thought this was the best part!

As kids, my brother and sister, and I knew we could always look forward to a chocolate pie at any special family gathering.

This was usually Easter, Christmas, and sometimes Thanksgiving. But Easter and Christmas holidays were a given.

And if we were really, really lucky, a delicious chocolate pudding pie would show up just because โ€“ Grandma knew how much her grandchildren loved this pie!

So here it is, grandma’s chocolate pie. So make this family recipe a part of your family’s story!

You might also likeโ€ฆ

This chocolate mouse pie is very similar to cream pies, such as coconut cream pies or ones that use lemon pie filling.

Weโ€™ve also got the perfect Chocolate Pie Recipe for those with a real chocolate craving.

Weโ€™ve got lots more no-bake recipes that are family classics. Check out these:

We also have a great collection of articles about Hygge, the Danish concept of happiness.

this is the best homemade chocolate cream pie written in white text on brown background with two images first has a whole chocolate pie with a plastic film on top of it bottom image is a slice of chocolate pie with whipped cream and sprinkles on a white plate

Final Thoughts

Could this be the best chocolate pie recipe? Well, I can guarantee that your friends and family will rave about the flavor and want seconds โ€“ so you might want to make two pies! Just double the recipe ๐Ÿ™‚

THANKS SO MUCH for following and being part of the Pie Lady Bakes community! We’re all about sharing easy-to-make vintage recipes that remind us of the ones our moms and grandmas used to make.

If you havenโ€™t already, you can sign up for my weekly email newsletter using this link. It’s absolutely free, and you’ll never miss out on any of my new recipes.

See you soon!

Judy

โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜… 

If youโ€™ve made this delicious Chocolate Pie, Iโ€™d love to hear about it in the comments below. Be sure to give us a 5-star rating!

โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…โ˜…

slice of chocolate pudding pie on a white china plate topped with whipping cream and multi coloured sprinkles. shows two blue coffee mugs and blue napkins in background

Old Fashioned Chocolate Pie Recipe

4.45 from 9 votes

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Judy
This old fashioned homemade chocolate pie recipe is one of my Grandma’s and it’s a family favourite! A creamy pudding pie filling, topped with mile high whipped cream, it’s sure to be a crowd pleaser! 
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Additional Time 8 hours
Total Time 8 hours 35 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine North American
Servings 6

Ingredients
  

Chocolate Pie Filling

  • 1 9 ” pie shell - pre-baked
  • 3 tbsp cornstarch
  • 1 1/2 cups white sugar
  • 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 3 cups whole milk - 3% milk fat
  • 1 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract - pure
  • 1/2 cup chocolate chips - semi sweetened

Whipped Cream Topping

  • 2 cups whipping cream - 35% milk fat
  • 2 tbsps powdered sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions
 

  • In a large saucepan mix sugar. cornstarch, cocoa powder.
  • Gradually add milk and stir until well blended.ย 
  • Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly,until boiling, and it starts to thicken. Remove from heat.
  • Immediately Stir in butter and vanilla extract, and chocolate chips.ย 
  • Cool slightly, then pour mixture into pastry shell.ย 
  • Cover the pie with plastic wrap so that the wrap seals the pie.ย 
  • Refrigerate for 8 hours.
  • Just before serving, beat your whipping cream, powdered sugar & vanilla extract and spread on top of pie.ย  Sprinkle with funfetti or chocolate shavings – or both!ย ย 

These are estimated values generated from a nutritional database using unbranded products. Please do your own research with the products you’re using if you have a serious health issue or are following a specific diet.

Did you make this recipe? Please leave a comment, star rating or post your photo on Instagram and tag @pieladybakes
white text chocolate cream pie on a teal blue background top image is a slice of chocolate pie with whipped cream and bottom image is a side view of the finished pie with chocolate shavings and sprinkles on top of whipped cream
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Judy Kahansky is an experienced writer and baker, creating delicious desserts (including pie!) for over 40 years. She loves to take classic and vintage recipes and update them to fit the busy lives of her readers. When not baking, Judy and her husband Mark are passionate golfers, travelers and dog lovers, spending as much time as they can with their sweet pup Millie.

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4.45 from 9 votes (9 ratings without comment)

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