Skip to Content

Old Fashioned Chocolate Pie Recipe (Easy & Homemade)

If you loved chocolate pudding as a kid, then I think this old fashioned homemade chocolate pie recipe will become a classic at your family gatherings. Why do I say that?

Well it has always been a family favorite in our home, and I want to share that goodness with you.

That’s always my goal here at Pie Lady Bakes.  To make life better for you, whether it’s sharing a family recipe, or talking about the benefits of hygge.

And I can’t think of a better way than with this amazing homemade chocolate pudding pie!

This is a no-bake pie, and by that I mean that you cook the chocolate pie filling on the stove.

Kind of like the way we cook our lemon pie filling, or coconut cream pies!  In fact most cream pies are cooked on the stove top, and poured into a pre-baked pie shell.

And this pie filling does not include eggs.  That might help you make up your mind!

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

I’ll show you step by step how to create this amazing pie. Even if you have never made a pie before this recipe is so easy, and we’ve got a video for you too!

You will need: whipping cream, 1 – 9” pre-baked pie shell,  white sugar, cornstarch,  unsweetened cocoa powder,  whole milk, unsalted butter, pure vanilla extract, milk chocolate chips.

Our Homemade Chocolate Pie

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 fridge.  A thick skin would develop on top of the pudding as it chilled, and we just thought that was the best part!

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

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 at Thanksgiving.  But Easter and Christmas holidays were a given.

And if we were really really lucky, a homemade chocolate pudding pie would show up just because.

Just because Grandma knew how much her grandchildren loved this pie!

TIPS TO MAKE THE BEST CHOCOLATE PIE

overhead image of chocolate cream pie with plastic film on top of the pie filling
  1. Use whole milk (3%) to make your Chocolate Pie Filling
  2. Stay with your pot and keep stirring while the pudding thickens  – milk will burn easily!
  3. Follow the recipe instructions exactly.
  4. Make sure the plastic film touches the pudding when you wrap the pie before putting it in the refrigerator
  5. Bake Judy’s No Fail Pie Crust ahead of time.  It’s so easy!

Chocolate Pie FAQs

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

Covering the hot pudding before you put the pie in the refrigerator 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! xo

       2.   What makes the chocolate pie filling thicken?

The thickener is corn starch, that has 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.

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

       3.  Why do some recipes for chocolate pie use eggs?

There are many pudding pie filling recipes that use eggs in the recipe, but I think you will prefer this one, since it really has a decadent chocolate flavour, and holds it shape once chilled as well.

       4.  What other kinds of pie crust could I use?

We really love our shortcrust pastry pie crust that is made with half butter and half lard.

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

Even a graham cracker crust that’s pre-made is a delicious base for this yummy chocolate pie!

       5.  I’ve never baked before, is this an easy recipe?

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

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

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

YOU MAY NEED

You’ve made this delicious pie for a potluck or maybe to take over to your girlfriend’s for coffee and dessert, so how do you get it there?

Everyone needs a ‘pie carrier’ just like this one (it works for cake too!) I just love mine and use it over and over…

This Pyrex Portables Pie Carrier (now I dare you to say that fast!) even has a pie plate inside!

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE…

In addition to this amazing homemade Chocolate Pie Recipe, we got lots of other no-bake recipes that are family classics.

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

At the moment I can’t think of anything that will make you happier than this Chocolate Pudding Pie!

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

Old Fashioned Chocolate Pie

Are you ready to make this easy Homemade Chocolate Pie part of your family’s story?

I can guarantee that your friends and family will rave about the flavour and want seconds, so you might want to make two pies.  (Just double the recipe 🙂 )

The chocolate pie filling is silky smooth, with rich chocolate flavour, and we get extra sweetness from making our own whipped cream!

Even if you have never baked a pie before, we’ve got your back with pie crust videos and also how to make the chocolate pie filling.

Can’t you just taste that creamy chocolate pie filling rolling off your tongue? And I can guarantee that this chocolate pie will disappear in minutes!

text homemade chocolate pie on a brown background with closeup of chocolate cream pie with whipped cream in background image for pinterest
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

Yield: 6
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Additional Time: 8 hours
Total Time: 8 hours 35 minutes

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! 

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

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

Like this recipe?

Be sure to follow us @pieladybakes for more recipes like this! xo

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

Thanks so much for stopping by to see this amazing recipe!

Chocolate Pie is an old fashioned classic, and conjures up all kinds of childhood memories. 

Food Nostalgia is a real thing and your chocolate pie may be the first in a long line of family favorite recipes.

Best, xo

Judy

field of wildflowers with a large white daisy and the words thank you in pink script

Have some more pie!

We all love EASY right?

These recipes will put a smile on everyone's faces!

Just click that big button to get our latest content by email.

We won't send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time. Powered by ConvertKit

Judy Kahansky is an experienced baker and writer. 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.

Lydia Muzzillo

Monday 6th of May 2019

Cannot wait to make this as even bakeries don’t make it like Mom!?

Judy

Monday 6th of May 2019

Hi Lydia! That's exactly right. It would be lovely to see your finished pie too!

Skip to Recipe