Rich and delicious chocolate cream pie is perfect for special occasions or as an everyday dessert. This is a scrumptious chocolate pie topped with whipped cream, chocolate shavings all on a chocolate graham cracker crust. Get ready to impress your friends and family with this amazing dessert!
I have a confession to make. I've made this pie eight times in the past two and a half months! I'm not kidding! That's about a pie every week. It started with Christmas and I made this pie for dessert. It disappeared before I even got a taste. Full disclosure, I ate apple and pumpkin pie instead! I really wanted to know if this was as good as it looked, so I made it again. And can I just say DELICIOUS!!!
Then I had to photograph the pie so I made it again. I needed a few more pictures and made it again. By this time, my family kept saying, "You made another pie!" It became a bit of obsession. This past weekend I decided to make just it one more time, to make certain I had the best possible pictures.
This time I sent half the pie home with my sister because I was certain my kids had reached their full saturation of chocolate pie. I left two small slices out for my boys and wouldn't you know it when they got home they asked where was the rest of the pie!
I'm glad I sent the pie on to be consumed by another family. Really, we've had more than our fair share, but the best part was when my nephews called me with their pie reviews. One stated it was the absolute best ever and the other said on a scale of 1-10 he'd give it a 500! He also thought I should open a dessert shop and sell pie. You just can't beat reviews like that!
What type of chocolate do I need?
For this recipe you use unsweetened cocoa powder. For the topping you use a milk chocolate candy bar!
Chocolate Graham Cracker Crust
I made a chocolate graham cracker crust for this pie. I didn't even know you could buy chocolate graham crackers until I made this pie! Chocolate graham crackers are pretty yummy all by themselves and are really yummy as a crust.
To make the crust -
- Place the crackers into a food processor and process until fine crumbs. If you don't have a food processor, place crackers in a zip top bag and crush graham crackers with a rolling pin.
- Place crumbs in a bowl and add sugar and butter. Mix until combined
- Pour mixture into a pie dish and push down so crumbs are distributed evenly across pie plate
- Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 8 minutes
Chocolate Filling
This filling is a rich chocolate pudding that could be eaten all by itself, but it's absolutely amazing in the pie!
- Place sugar, cocoa powder, corn starch, egg yolks, salt and milk in a sauce pan. Stir all ingredients together heat over medium heat.
- Stir mixture often until it comes to a light boil.
- Cook for one minute and remove from heat.
- Stir in butter and vanilla
- Place mixture in prepared crust
- Place a piece of plastic wrap directly on top of filing
- Refrigerate for at least three hours until fully chilled
Whipped Cream Topping
All you need to finish this pie is a slightly sweetened whipped cream.
- Place heavy cream in a bowl and whip until stiff peaks.
- Stir in sugar.
- Place whipped cream on top of chocolate filling
- Add chocolate shavings or sifted cocoa powder
Chocolate Shavings
The chocolate shavings add a fun touch to this pie. To make the shavings, I took a milk chocolate bar and shaved the side of the bar with a vegetable peeler! That's it!
Tips for making Chocolate Cream Pie
- Sift cocoa powder if there are lumps
- To make certain filing has fully set, check temperature on an instant thermometer. The mixture should be heated to 180 degrees.
- Make certain filing is fully chilled before add whipped cream
- Keep pie refrigerated until ready to serve
- Refrigerate any leftovers
Time saving tips
If you're looking for a few shortcuts, you can purchase a ready made crust and buy whipping cream.
Other great chocolate desserts
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If you make this recipe, I’d love to hear about it! Leave a comment below and snap a picture and tag me on Instagram @beyondthechickencoop
Check out all my dessert recipes!
This chocolate cream pie recipe has been adapted slightly from Fine Cooking Magazine.
Chocolate Cream Pie
Equipment
- Measuring Cups
- Measuring Spoons
- Pie Plate
Ingredients
Crust
- 9 chocolate graham crackers
- ¼ cup sugar
- 6 Tablespoons butter (melted)
Filling
- ⅔ cup sugar
- ⅓ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- ¼ cup corn starch
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 ⅔ cups milk
- 3 egg yolks
- 2 Tablespoons butter
- 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla
Topping
- 1 ¼ cups heavy cream
- 3 Tablespoons sugar
- 1 milk chocolate candy bar (optional)
Instructions
Crust
- Place the crackers into a food processor and process until fine crumbs. If you don’t have a food processor, place crackers in a zip top bag and crush graham crackers with a rolling pin.9 chocolate graham crackers
- Place crumbs in a bowl and add sugar and butter. Mix until combined¼ cup sugar, 6 Tablespoons butter
- Pour mixture into a pie dish and push down so crumbs are distributed evenly across pie plate
- Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 8 minutes
Filling
- Place sugar, cocoa powder, corn starch, egg yolks and milk in a sauce pan.⅔ cup sugar, ⅓ cup unsweetened cocoa powder, ¼ cup corn starch, ¼ teaspoon salt, 2 ⅔ cups milk, 3 egg yolks
- Stir all ingredients together heat over medium heat. Stir mixture often until it comes to a light boil. Cook for one minute and remove from heat.
- Stir in butter and vanilla2 Tablespoons butter, 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla
- Place mixture in prepared crust. Place a piece of plastic wrap directly on top of filing.
- Refrigerate for at least three hours until fully chilled
Topping
- Whip heavy cream together until soft peaks are formed. Stir in sugar.1 ¼ cups heavy cream, 3 Tablespoons sugar
- Shave chocolate curls using a vegetable peeler along the long side of the candy bar.1 milk chocolate candy bar
Notes
- Sift cocoa powder if there are lumps
- To make certain filing has fully set, check temperature on an instant thermometer. The mixture should be heated to 180 degrees.
- Make certain filing is fully chilled before add whipped cream
- Keep pie refrigerated until ready to serve
- Refrigerate any leftovers
Nutritional Disclaimer:
Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and should only be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. To obtain the most precise nutritional information in a provided recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the exact ingredients you are using when preparing the recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.
Kim says
When do you put the egg yolks in?
Kathy says
Hi Kim,
The egg yolks are added in the first step when making the filling! It looks like I left in out in the recipe card! I'll update that right away. Thanks and enjoy! 🙂
Sarah says
I love chocolate cream pie. I have made it several times but never with a chocolate graham cracker crust. I will have to give this recipe a try as a chocolate crust sounds even better than a plain pie crust.
Kathy says
Hi Sarah,
The chocolate graham crackers do add an extra layer of flavor! They are quite delicious all by themselves too!
Enjoy - Kathy 🙂
Valentina says
Why have I never made a CHOCOLATE graham cracker crust!? This entire pie is calling for me. 🙂 ~Valentina
Dawn - Girl Heart Food says
I mean, if you want to send me this pie, I'd be quite happy - just saying.... 😉 Love any type of cream pie and especially this one with chocolate. Those chocolate shavings on top are just perfect too!
David @ Spiced says
I can totally see why you've made this pie 8 times in 10 weeks. In fact, I think you should make it again today...you know, in honor of Valentine's Day and all. (And if your family is sick of it, then I'll be glad to pick up where they left off.) This is such an easy and delicious recipe! 🙂
Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen says
This happens to be one of my husband's favorites Kathy! And I haven't made one in quite a while. You're inspiring me!