Name: Chocolate Chess Pie
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 50 min
Total time: 1 h 10 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 unbaked pie crust (I used a store bought to make it easier homemade one!); 1 cup sugar; 1/2 cup brown sugar; 4 tbsp (1/2 stick) melted salted butter; 2 eggs; 3 tbsp cocoa powder; 1 tsp espresso powder (optional); 1 tsp vanilla extract; 1/4 cup evaporated milk

This Chocolate Chess Pie recipe is a rich and delicious twist on the classic chess pie. It is perfect to serve at the holidays!

Above view of chocolate chess pie cut into slices

Everyone will love this classic southern pie with a twist

If you haven’t tried a chess pie before, the holiday season is a great time to do so. It is very easy to make since it requires pretty standard pantry ingredients but it is so tasty that your guests will rave about it for gatherings to come.

Butter, eggs, and sugar combine to make this sweet and rich-flavored custard-like dessert. This chocolate chess pie recipe has cocoa added to it for a fun spin on this southern staple.

The recipe for this chocolate chess pie takes an hour and 10 minutes to prep and bake so your holiday dessert will be ready in no time. Let it cool in the fridge for a few hours and then serve it with whipped cream – yum!

Side view of a chocolate chess pie with a dollop of whipped cream on it

Kitchen tools

Cutting board and knife
Measuring cups, measuring spoons, liquid measuring cup
High speed blender
9 inch round pie plate
Whisk

what is a chess pie?

This chocolate chess pie recipe is inspired by the original chess pie, a southern dessert that originated in England. This recipe is similar but has cocoa added to it for a fun twist.

There are many stories as to how the chess pie got its name but no one seems to know for sure. One theory I’ve read is that a plantation cook made a pie similar to this and when she was asked what she had made, her response was “just pie” which in a thick southern accent may have sounded like “chess pie”.

Another theory is that the name comes from a pie chest which is how pies were stored prior to refrigerators being invented. Lastly, old cookbooks include chess pies in the cheesecake section so it is possible that this name is a derivative of cheese pie.

Regardless, no matter how the chess pie got its name, one thing we know for sure is that it is a delicious dessert!

Serving Suggestions

This rich chocolate chess pie recipe is the perfect dessert for your holiday gathering or celebration. It is best served cold and I highly recommend adding some whipped cream or powdered sugar on top.

Ingredients

Pie crust – you can use store bought crust or make your own!
Sugar and brown sugar
Salted butter
Eggs
Cocoa powder
Espresso powder (optional)
Vanilla extract
Evaporated milk

Ingredient substitutions

It is very easy to make this chocolate chess pie gluten-free. Just use a store-bought gluten-free crust.

To make this pie dairy free you can use some light coconut milk in place of the evaporated milk.

Make an Easy Homemade pie crust

The crust for this recipe is just a classic pie crust. If you want to simplify this chocolate pie recipe, use a store bought crust from the freezer or refrigerated section of the grocery store.

If you want to make the crust yourself, use this simple recipe:

1 1/4 cup all purpose flour
1/2 tbsp sugar
1/2 tbsp kosher salt
1 stick butter, diced and frozen
3 tbsp very cold water
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar

Pulse the dry ingredients in a food processor and then turn on and add in the butter. Once incorporated, add the water and apple cider vinegar and pulse until everything has come together.

Roll out on a floured surface and prepare it in a pie tin. Pop in the freezer until you’re ready for it.

Step by step assembly of a chocolate chess pie recipe

How to make A Chocolate Chess Pie

Step 1: Preheat Oven and Prep Pie Crust

To start making this chocolate chess pie, preheat your oven to 375F.

Then, prepare your pie crust in a pie tin and pinch the edges however you’d like. Place in the freezer while you prep the rest.

Step 2: Prepare Batter

To start making this chocolate chess pie batter, whisk together the sugars and melted butter.

After that, whisk the eggs in and really beat them for a minute or two so that the consistency is light and fluffy. Next, beat in the cocoa powder, espresso powder, and vanilla extract.

Lastly, fold in the evaporated milk. Once everything is mixed together, place the pie crust on a sheet pan, and pour in the batter.

Step 3: Bake, Cool and chill in the fridge

Next, bake at 375F for 45-50 minutes until it is jiggly like jello.

You don’t want the center solid, but you also don’t want it to be too wet. It will set further as it cools.

Then, remove it from the oven and allow it to cool COMPLETELY on a wire rack at room temperature before transferring it to the fridge for a few hours. This chocolate chess pie is best served cold and with some whipped cream on top.

Three quarter view of a slice of chocolate chess pie with whipped cream on top

Storage

Allow the chocolate chess pie to cool completely and then transfer it to the fridge in an airtight container. Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.

can I make this ahead of time?

Yes! It is important for this chocolate chess pie to chill in the fridge for at least 4 hours before it is sliced so it is a great dish to make ahead of time.

I like to make it the day before I want to serve it so that way it can chill in the fridge overnight before it is served. Make sure it is completely cool before you place it in the fridge.

Check out these other holiday dessert recipes

Recipe