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Overhead view of a chocolate cream pie with whipped cream on top and a slice removed.
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4.67 from 3 votes

Chocolate Cream Pie

This chocolate cream pie recipe features a silky chocolate cream filling, flaky pie crust, and a fluffy whipped cream topping. 
Prep Time30 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Chill Time4 hours
Total Time5 hours
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Total Cost: $11.72 recipe / $1.47 serving
Servings: 8 slices
Calories: 552kcal
Author: Monti Carlo

Equipment

  • 9-Inch Pie Pan (if needed)
  • Parchment Paper
  • Large Saucepan
  • Small Bowl
  • Fine Mesh Sieve
  • Plastic Wrap

Ingredients

  • 3 cups whole milk 24 oz., $0.54*
  • 1 cup granulated sugar 200g, $0.96**
  • 3 large eggs beaten, $0.57
  • 3 Tbsp cornstarch 30g, $0.15
  • ⅓ cup unsweetened cocoa powder 28g, $0.57
  • 3 Tbsp salted butter 42g, $0.30***
  • 8 oz. semi-sweet baking chocolate finely chopped, (two 4 oz. bars) $6.48
  • 1 pie crust 9-inches, $1.26
  • 2 cups whipped cream $0.89

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven according to the pie crust directions. Poke the bottom of your pie crust a few times with a fork to create steam vents. Add a sheet of parchment paper and weigh down the parchment with about 2 cups of dry beans or pie weights. Cover the edge of the pie crust with foil or pie ring so it doesn't scorch.
  • Follow package directions and bake until crispy and golden. Remove weights and allow the crust to cool.
  • While the crust blind bakes set a large saucepan over medium heat. Add 2 cups of the milk and the sugar to a saucepot and stir until combined. Bring this mixture slowly to a boil, stirring occasionally so none of the milk scalds.
  • In the meantime, in a small bowl, mix the remaining 1 cup of milk, the beaten eggs, cornstarch, and cocoa powder until smooth.
  • Once the milk boils, take it off the heat. Then add 1/4 cup of the milk mixture to the egg mixture and stir. Add another 1/4 cup of the milk mixture to the egg mixture and stir.
  • Put the milk back on medium heat and add the warm egg mixture to it, whisking non-stop until the mixture thickens into a pudding-like consistency.
  • Once the mixture thickens, take it off the heat and whisk in the finely chopped semi-sweet chocolate.
  • Add the butter and whisk until smooth. Pass the chocolate filling through a fine mesh sieve into a large bowl.
  • Spray a piece of plastic wrap large enough to cover the bowl with cooking spray, then top the surface of the chocolate filling with the plastic wrap and refrigerate for an hour or until cool.
  • Once the filling has cooled, remove the plastic wrap and reserve. Pour the chocolate filling into the baked pie shell. Reuse the plastic wrap and place it directly on the surface of the filling. Chill the pie for an additional 3 hours.
  • Top the chocolate cream pie with whipped cream topping, slice, serve, and enjoy.

See how we calculate recipe costs here.

Notes

*Whole milk helps thin out the chocolate and creates a pudding-like consistency. If you are plant-based, substitute with full-fat coconut milk.
**I use regular granulated sugar to sweeten the filling. You can substitute with brown sugar for deeper caramel notes.
***The salted butter adds a glossy finish to the filling. If you don’t have salted butter, use unsalted, and add 1/8 teaspoon salt to the filling mixture. If you're dairy-free, substitute with plant-based butter.

Nutrition

Serving: 1slice | Calories: 552kcal | Carbohydrates: 63g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 30g | Sodium: 203mg | Fiber: 4g