Chocolate Chess Pie is such a simple pie to make with so much chocolate flavor that requires minimal effort. One bowl and a few minutes of time are all you need to prepare this pie. Serve with fresh whipped cream and you have an amazing southern dessert.

Slice of Chocolate Chess Pie on a plate.

A Classic Southern Recipe

Pies are one of my absolute favorite things to eat and I especially like simple, old-fashioned pies like this Chocolate Chess Pie. Chess pies are so quick and easy to make and only require a few basic ingredients. Typically chess pies contain flour, sugar, butter and eggs.

This Chocolate Chess Pie is wonderfully sweet and full of chocolate flavor. It has a custard filling that is rich, but not too heavy and I like to serve it either at room temperature or chilled.

Chess Pie cut into slices.

Bake in Advance

For best results, bake a day in advance and chill overnight. If you try and slice it right after baking, the filling will be runny. I love to refrigerate Chess Pie, but it will be fine left on the counter at room temperature for a few days.

Quick and Easy Pie Recipe

This Chocolate Chess Pie is such an easy pie to make  and only a few ingredients are needed. It’s super sweet, creamy, and delicious with plenty of chocolate flavor. I usually use a store bought pie crust and then it only takes a few minutes to prep this pie. Forty-Five minutes later you have a wonderful homemade dessert to serve with supper. I like to serve it with whipped cream that’s barely been sweetened to cut the sweetness of the pie some.

Chocolate Chess Pie in metal pie tin.

Next to Chocolate Meringue Pie, this is probably my favorite chocolate pie to make. The top develops a thin, crackly layer and the filling underneath is so smooth and creamy. It’s truly a decadent treat that will transport you back in time to your grandmother’s kitchen. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can also make a homemade pie crust for this recipe.

Why Do They Call It Chess Pie?

The origin of the name is debated. One theory is that it comes from the term “cheese pie” since the filling of the pie resembles the texture and color of a creamy cheese (not the chocolate version when it comes to color of course). Another theory is the name evolved from “chess pie” which was a term used for pies stored in a pie chest.

If you’d like to make a homemade pie crust for this recipe watch the video below. Linda Carman, the head of the test kitchen at Martha White, shows me how to make an easy, flaky pie crust.

Have a wonderful week full of pie!

More Chess Pie Recipe To Try

Pie cut into slices.

Watch the short video below to see how easy this recipe is to make:


Chocolate Chess Pie

4.88 from 25 votes
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 45 minutes
Servings: 8
This Chocolate Chess Pie will make you feel like you are sitting in your grandmother's kitchen. It is rich creamy and so sweet and full of chocolate flavor! It's a classic southern dessert that has stood the test of time.
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Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 2 eggs,, lightly beaten
  • 2/3 cup evaporated milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • pinch of salt
  • 4 tablespoons butter,, melted
  • 1 (9-inch) uncooked pie crust,, store-bought or homemade
  • whipped cream for serving

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 350 degree.


  •  In a medium bowl, whisk together sugar and  cocoa powder until blended.

  • Add eggs, evaporated milk, vanilla extract, salt, and butter. Mix well and pour into prepared pie crust.
  • Bake for about 45 minutes. There will still be a little jiggle in the middle when you shake it. Cool completely before slicing. I like to chill it in the refrigerator before serving.

  • Serve with whipped cream.

Notes

Store pie in refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Nutritional info is an estimate only and will vary based on brands of products used.

Nutrition

Calories: 360kcal | Carbohydrates: 53g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 62mg | Sodium: 185mg | Potassium: 147mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 40g | Vitamin A: 285IU | Vitamin C: 0.4mg | Calcium: 71mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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Chocolate Chess Pie

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65 Comments

  1. Eva says:

    Just made the chocolate pie, it is wonderful ! I added walnuts that I tossed in black walnut flavoring for a few minutes . I even ate it warm & it was so good ! Quick & easy ! Delicious !

    1. Cynthia says:

      That was very rude. Some of us might be interested in her life. Put your big girl drawers on and just scroll on until you find what youโ€™re looking for. It wont cost you a red cent! She lovingly posted the recipe for FREE,

      1. Cynthia says:

        Sorry! I posted this on the wrong one!

  2. Anne says:

    As usual, a lot of blah blah before you can scroll to the recipe. Don’t need to hear about your life. Just want the recipe.

    1. Cynthia says:

      That was very rude! Some of us might be interested in what she is saying. If you donโ€™t want to read it, take your finger and scroll on by. It wonโ€™t cost you one red cent! She lovingly posted it for FREE!

      1. Cat Jenkins says:

        Its ok, she obviously is a skimmer… because the words, “share at this blog (blog name in red for goodness sakes)”, is as clear as day. (;
        May the skimmers of the world enjoy the pie and let some of the sweetness rub off on them. lol

        1. Sweet T Tedder says:

          Y’all are awesome!! It’s true – great recipe – free – this blogger – as all do – has a passion for cooking and pours her heart into it. Of course she’ll have things to say about her recipes, memories and experiences. I love reading about others – love story tellers. So keep blogging! Thank you for the time you put into your site.
          God Bless!
          Sweet T

          1. Christin Mahrlig says:

            Thanks so much for your sweet comment! ๐Ÿ™‚

  3. Laurie R Crowson says:

    WHERE is the actual recipe? I’ve been searching for the actual recipe & cannot find it!

    1. Michelle DuBose says:

      It is right there. Click on “Served up with love”/

  4. Carol says:

    Tried this pie a dis awesome but how does it work that the top turns like a crust and the pie itself stay soft.

  5. Andrea Ballard says:

    We made your delicious Chocolate Chess Pie and d reviewed it in Episode16 of our baking podcast, Preheated. Thanks for this amazing recipe – so easy and good!

  6. Lillian Davis says:

    I made this pie yesterday, added pecans and miniature chocolate chips and it was absolutely wonderful. Can’t wait to share it with my friends this week.

    1. Christin Mahrlig says:

      So glad you enjoyed it Lillian.

  7. Mary C says:

    My favorite restaurant when I lived in Alabama had a chocolate chess pie that was my favorite pie ever. But it had pecans in it. I have not found a recipe for chocolate chess pie with nuts. I wonder if it’s possible to do this but add nuts? It might be worth a try.

    1. Christin Mahrlig says:

      Yes, I think you could definitely add nuts to it Mary.

    2. MaryAnn says:

      Mary, I’ve made Chess Pie many times … don’t worry about a recipe just put a cup or 3/4 cup of Pecans in on the unbaked crust first then your 1/2 cup of chocolate chips then the “real” filling. You can do the chips separately or in the chess filling. This is my version of “derby pie” which I understand by law I cannot call it but I’m not selling it so poo … I’ll call it whatever or choc chess pie with pecans. I don’t like pecan, chess or other derby recipes that have flour in the filling. I’m a KY purist! My grann nor my momma put flour in the filling of any of the chess based pies. lol, I wish I had tried the “real derby pie” first instead of my mom’s version. I would have saved a lot of calories! Sometimes I add a little bourbon, sometimes just the vanilla.

    3. Rebecca says:

      MARY look up a derby pie recipe, it is just about the same with pecans.

  8. Carole Hutson says:

    Looks like my kind of food. Thanks

  9. Jess @ Flying on Jess Fuel says:

    I can’t believe I missed National Pie Day!! D’OH!!!! Yours looks amazing…. I may need to celebrate belatedly. ๐Ÿ˜‰

  10. Jessica @ Jessica in the Kitchen says:

    What a creamy and delicious looking chocolate pie! That flaky crust looks to die for!