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.
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.
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.
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
- Caramel Chess Pie
- Lemon Chess Pie
- Southern Chess Squares
- Blueberry Buttermilk Pie– very similar to chess pie.
Watch the short video below to see how easy this recipe is to make:
Chocolate Chess Pie
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.
- 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
Nutrition
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This recipe was delicious! 45 minutes was too long of a bake for my oven – 37 minutes worked for me. Quick and easy!
Delicious 😋 Our new family favorite 😍
Love it!
I would call this a chocolate pie or a chocolate cream pie as there is no cornmeal or vinegar which is necessary for the distinct texture/flavor of any chess pie be it buttermilk, lemon (my granddad’s favorite) or chocolate. The recipe looks yummy none-the-less. Yes, I’ve read articles stating that the cornmeal is unnecessary but to my Southern palate (and according to tradition), it’s a must to be called a chess pie.
One of Donald Trump’s favorite pies. Jet fuel can’t melt steel beams.
As Trumps fave, perhaps it should be called Traitor Pie. To all those families who lost lives in 9-11, I’d like to apologize for Ben.
So easy and taste so delicious!!! I could eat the whole pie!!
It’s my favorite pie. I craved it while pregnant with my twins then I decided to try to make it myself and we’ll it’s delicious.
Excellent recipe and so somple
I have made this pie twice now and it was delicious both times! First time I forgot the salt, so I sprinkled a pinch on top before I put It in the oven. I also Forgot the vanilla and instead of evaporated milk I used Heavy cream. 2nd time I remembered everything and still used the heavy cream since it turned out great the first time.
This was delicious and easy to make with ingredients I had on hand.
I wonder if my Utah elevation messed up this pie. The flavor is SO SO SO SO yummy, but 45 minutes wasn’t enough, and my pie was more like batter/pudding. Has this happened to you before? Also, do you par-bake your crust?
Im in montana and 45 min was definitely not enough time for me either. At 45 minutes its still very liquidy for me
INSTRUCTIONS
1.Preheat oven to 350 degree.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together sugar and cocoa powder until blended.
3.Add eggs, evaporated milk, vanilla extract, salt, and butter. Mix well and pour into prepared pie crust.
4.Bake for about 45 minutes. There will still be a little jiggle in the middle when you shake it.
5.Cool completely before slicing. I like to chill it in the refrigerator before serving.
6.Serve with whipped cream.
Here is this recipe. I just copied and pasted for those who couldn’t see. Will put the directions the same way in next comment 🙂
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
We were surprised at how rich and yummy this pie was! With the plain top, it looks very humble coming out of the oven. We topped with whipped cream, of course. I thought it could use a little crunchy/salty (like peanuts) – so it was suggested I try it with a pretzel/sugar/butter crust.
I followed the recipe for the chocolate Chess Pie but unfortunately, it didn’t turn out well. The filling was completely dry and I am wondering if 45 minutes was too long a time to bake a pie that has so little volume. Has anyone else mentioned baking it for a shorter time? If I try it again I’ll bake it for about 20 minutes and maybe that will work.
Just a question – will the pie rise? Filled it to recipe spec but it’s about 2/3 full of the storebought 9-inch pie plate. I’m sure I can remedy with whipped cream but just curious!
Very good and rich chocolate pie dessert. Ingredients are on hand mostly and I loved how creamy this pie is. Will make again.
This pie was so good, so rich, and so easy! Only make it if you really like chocolate.
Would have like the recipe for this pie, However I am not permitted to add Chrome to my computer so I backed out. Guess I’m out of luck with your recipe that was featured in 6 Old-Fashioned Pie Recipes Worth Bringing Back
Guess I will look for a recipe elsewhere. Where I don’t have to download a program to get it. Looked good though in the pics .
Um, where’s the recipe?
Thats what i want to know
Wheres the recipe
Recipe not found. I get that a lot on Pinterest. It’s annoying.