Chocolate Cream Pie
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With an Oreo crust and creamy chocolate filling, this chocolate cream pie recipe is tried and true—a longtime family favorite.
There aren’t many recipes in my family that are more of a tradition than this chocolate cream pie. My son, Zach—who’s now 22—has asked for it on his birthday every year since he was little, and at this point, we don’t even bother with cake—this pie is the main event. You can spot it in more family photos than I can count! With its Oreo cookie crust, silky chocolate pudding filling, and cloud of whipped cream on top, it’s the kind of dessert everyone looks forward to. Just be sure to plan ahead; the filling needs at least 8 hours in the fridge to set before serving.
“This was far and away the best chocolate pie that I’ve ever tasted (much less made).”
What You’ll Need To Make Chocolate Cream Pie
- Oreo cookies – Crushed to form the crust, they provide a rich, chocolatey base.
- Butter – Binds the crust and adds richness to both the crust and the filling.
- Sugar – Sweetens the filling and the whipped cream topping.
- Cornstarch – Thickens the filling and gives it a silky, pudding-like texture.
- Egg yolks & Whole Milk – The creamy, rich base of the chocolate filling.
- Bittersweet & unsweetened chocolate – For deep, complex chocolate flavor. Use good-quality chocolate (like Ghirardelli) for best results.
- Vanilla extract – Rounds out and enhances the chocolate flavor.
- Heavy whipping cream – Whips into a light, fluffy topping. Be sure it’s very cold for best volume.
- Jump to the printable recipe for precise measurements
Step-By-Step Instructions
Step1: Make the crust. In a food processor, pulse the Oreos and melted butter until the mixture is finely ground and evenly moistened. Press the crumbs into a deep 9-inch pie pan—start with the sides so you get a nice, even edge (about ¼ inch thick), then press the rest into the bottom. Bake at 350°F for 5 to 6 minutes, just until the crust is slightly crisp. Let it cool completely before adding the filling.
Step 2: Make the chocolate filling. In a medium saucepan, whisk together the sugar, cornstarch, and salt. In a separate bowl or large measuring cup, whisk the egg yolks and milk, then slowly pour it into the saucepan while whisking. Cook over medium-high heat, whisking often (and scraping the bottom and sides), until it starts to bubble and thicken, 6 to 8 minutes. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook 1 minute more. Off the heat, whisk in the chopped chocolate, butter, and vanilla until smooth.
Step 3: Fill and chill. Pour the filling into the cooled crust and smooth the top. Press plastic wrap directly onto the surface to prevent a skin from forming, then refrigerate for at least 8 hours or overnight.
Step 4: Finish the pie. Using an electric mixer, whip the cream on medium-low until it starts to thicken and the beaters leave tracks. Add the sugar and continue whipping until soft, silky peaks form. Spread the whipped cream over the chilled filling, leaving a bit of the chocolate showing around the edges. Sprinkle with grated chocolate and refrigerate until ready to serve. You can make the pie (without the whipped cream) up to a day ahead. Just wait until a few hours before serving to whip and top. Store covered in the fridge.
Video Tutorial
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Chocolate Cream Pie
Ingredients
For the Crust
- 24 Oreo cookies
- 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
For the Filling
- ⅔ cup sugar
- ¼ cup cornstarch
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 4 large egg yolks
- 3 cups whole milk
- 5 ounces bittersweet chocolate, best quality such as Ghirardelli
- 2 ounces unsweetened chocolate, best quality such as Ghirardelli
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the Topping
- 1 cup chilled heavy whipping cream
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 ounce bittersweet chocolate, grated or shaved
Instructions
For the Crust
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and set an oven rack in the middle position.
- In the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade, blend the Oreos and butter until the mixture is finely chopped and evenly moistened. Firmly press the crumbs into a deep-dish 9-in (23-cm) pie pan, starting by lining the sides to create a crust about ¼-in (6-mm) thick, then press the remaining mixture onto the bottom to form the base. Use the bottom of a measuring cup or glass not only to flatten and even out the surface of the base but also to press against the sides, ensuring they are compact and uniform. To refine the top edge of your crust, position the side of your thumb or the edge of a measuring cup inside the crust's side wall, and with the index finger of your other hand, gently press down on the top edge. Gradually rotate the pie pan, maintaining this motion, to ensure a consistently neat and smooth edge around the entire perimeter. Bake the crust for 5 to 6 minutes, or until slightly crisp, then allow it to cool completely before filling.
For the Filling
- Combine the sugar, cornstarch, and salt in a heavy medium saucepan. Whisk gently until combined.
- In a bowl or large measuring cup, whisk together the egg yolks and milk. Add the milk mixture to the saucepan in a slow and steady stream, whisking until the mixture is smooth. Cook over medium-high heat, whisking frequently, until the mixture starts to bubble and thicken, 6 to 8 minutes. Immediately turn the heat down to a simmer and cook -- whisking constantly, especially around the edges -- for one minute more, until thick. (The constant stirring and low heat prevent the eggs from scrambling. Be sure to scrape the whisk against the bottom and edges of the pan where the mixture is more likely to overheat.) Off the heat, immediately add the chopped chocolate, butter, and vanilla extract; whisk until the chocolate is completely melted and the mixture is evenly combined.
- Pour the filling into the crust and smooth the top. Press a piece of saran wrap directly over the surface of the filling to prevent a film from forming; chill in the refrigerator for at least 8 hours or overnight.
For the Topping
- Up to 3 hours before serving, place the heavy cream in a mixing bowl. Using an electric mixer, whip on medium-low speed until the whisk or beaters begin to leave tracks in the cream. Add the sugar and whip until the cream holds medium, silky peaks. Go slowly towards the end; if it gets grainy or curdled, you’ve gone too far. Spread the whipped cream over the filling, leaving some of the chocolate filling showing around the edges. Sprinkle with the grated chocolate and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Notes
Nutrition Information
This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.
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We made this for St Valentine’s Day! It looked just like your picture, Jenn! I was so relieved and impressed! My family LOVED it and my husband said it was my best dessert ever! Wow! I still can’t believe you have taught me how to make choc “custard” from scratch, Jenn! I’ve never in my life been able to do it! This will be a repeat!
I halved this recipe and filled 6 mini graham cracker pie crusts. Halving the chocolate was easy with a digital kitchen scale, the pudding thickened in about 6 minutes and the hardest part is waiting the 8 hours/overnight for it to set. I’ve always been hesitant to use cornstarch, afraid of picking up the taste in the final product but it worked out great, no trace of chalkiness which just means I used it incorrectly in the past. The good part was licking the pot and the spoon – using good quality chocolate really takes this up a notch giving the pudding a deep chocolaty flavor without being overly sweet. No doubt this will be most excellent with fresh whipped cream and shaved chocolate but on its own it is pretty awesome.
This looks incredible but I need to make it 100% gluten-free. Do you have a substitute cookie I can use for the crust that will taste as good?
Hi Stefany, I’m not familiar with these cookies, but another reader commented “I used one box of Trader Joe’s Gluten-Free Jo Jo’s chocolate sandwich cookies. Since they tend to be crispier and more dry, I used two tablespoons more of butter when I made the crust.” Hope that helps!
Jenn, I’ve made your pie a few times now but I’ve always used Graham crackers for the crust. Today I plan to make it but I only have Oreo cookies. I plan to add just a bit of peppermint extract to the crust (over the holidays I found a premade crust with peppermint and nuts and used this pie filling. It was to die for, lol). If I use oreos can I leave the filling in and just omit the sugar? I would hate to waste all of that oreo filling. Please reply as soon as possible as I plan to get started in about 2 hrs time. Thanks!
Hi Tammie, Oreos would be fine here, but for the most predictable results, I’d remove the filling and use the sugar called for in the recipe. Hope that helps and that you enjoy!
Thanks so much for replying so quickly. Okay I’ll put in the extra work and save the filling for a side treat for my son, lol. All the best to you and yours….
Absolutely love this recipe so decadent and delicious!! This is my go to recipe for holiday dessert! My family and I love chocolate and this recipe!! 5 stars perfection!!
This recipe was intimidating to me the first time I made it, but I followed the recipe exactly and it was actually easy to do! The step by step photos are really helpful. Even the stated timing on cooking the milk and egg mixture was spot on. This pie is a family favorite now!
THE BEST! This is our favorite summer potluck dessert and it’s always a big hit. I cheat and use the Oreo crust that’s already done and it’s still amazing.
I have become a pie baker over the last ten years or so and have tried lots of recipes for various pies. This is my go to chocolate cream pie. On more than one occasion, I have received the response that it was the “best custard pie I have ever eaten”. The photo of your Dad accompanying the recipe is a very nice touch and adds flavor to the pie even before it is made.
Ron
I have never liked chocolate pie until I tried this recipe. It is delicious. The chocolate is very rich and not too sweet. I use a traditional pie crust instead of the chocolate crust. (Just personal preference.) So good!
This chocolate cream pie is probably one of the best desserts I’ve ever made. It has become a family tradition for Thanksgiving & Christmas for my family. The chocolate pudding filling is so decadent and delicious.
Followed recipe exactly and read reviews prior to making. Thought 1/2 tsp salt used in filling gave finished pie an overly salty taste. I used regular iodized table salt. Would omit or use 1/8 tsp next time.