Homemade Chocolate Cream Pie Recipe
Homemade chocolate cream pie recipe is truly a chocolate lover’s dream come true.
During the holiday season, I have to make this at least once for all the chocolate lovers in my family.
Incidentally, that includes me, too, for I simply can’t resist the rich chocolate flavor in this classic pie.
The Perfect Dessert

This is the perfect dessert, so don’t wait for holidays or even pie week. If you want to dazzle friends and family that drop in for dinner or just surprise your own little family, make this chocolate dessert tonight!
The creamy filling tucked into a graham cracker crust or flaky pastry crust is absolutely heavenly, making this one of the best chocolate cream pie recipes you’ll ever have.
Some people make theirs with instant chocolate pudding, and while that will work, it’s just as simple to make your chocolate pie filling from scratch.

I would eagerly watch my grandma make chocolate cream pie as a child. I remember asking her constantly if it was ready.
Now that I have kids of my own, I realize I was probably nagging her, but she was good-natured about it and would laugh each time, telling me it needed to chill in the fridge for a lot longer.
Still, I’d persist and beg for a slice. Eventually, my grandpa would take me outside to play, and I’d forget all about my favorite pie for a short while at least.
Then grandma would serve dinner, and I’d eat with proper southern table manners to ensure I’d get the best slice for dessert.

Ingredients For Homemade Chocolate Cream Pie
To make this chocolate cream pie, you only need a few simple ingredients to get that decadent chocolate taste.
You can use a regular crust or make an Oreo cookie crust for this chocolate pudding pie. For this recipe, I bought a ready-made crust. If you want to save time, you can get one from the store.
- Premade pie crust, baked
- White sugar
- Egg yolks, beaten
- Unsweetened cocoa powder
- Cornstarch
- Salt
- Milk
- Butter
- Vanilla extract
- Whipped topping
Full printable recipe with measurements and instructions listed at the bottom of the post in the recipe card.

How To Make Homemade Chocolate Cream Pie
- Bake a premade or homemade pie crust per the directions.
- Start by adding the egg yolks to a large bowl and beating them.
- Next, add to the sugar and beat until combined.
- Add the unsweetened cocoa, cornstarch, and salt, and mix well.
- Pour the milk into the bowl and mix well.
- Add the butter to a medium saucepan on medium heat.
- Pour the chocolate pudding filling into the saucepan and cook on medium heat until it boils, stirring often with a whisk. It should start to thicken before it boils.
- Once it boils and it is thick, remove it from the heat and add the vanilla extract and mix. Let the pie cool for a few minutes. It will continue to thicken a little bit as it cools.
- Pour the chocolate pie mixture into the baked pie shell.
- Allow the pie to cool in the refrigerator and top with whipped topping AFTER it cools.

Step-By-Step Instructions

Add the sugar to a large bowl.

Add the beaten egg yolks to the sugar and mix the two ingredients together.

Add the unsweetened cocoa.

Next, add the cornstarch and salt to the bowl.
The cornstarch is going to help thicken the chocolate while cooking.

Pour the milk into the bowl and mix well.
This is an important step because if you don’t mix it well, you will have lumps from the cocoa and cornstarch. I used an electric mixer to get all the lumps out.

Add your butter to a medium saucepan and melt it on medium heat.

Add the ingredients to the saucepan and cook on medium until the mixture starts to boil. Stir often because once it starts to thicken, it thickens fast.
If you have lumps; that’s ok, you can mix it again with a hand mixer when it’s done cooking.

Once the pie filling is thick, add the vanilla extract and mix well. Let the pie filling cool a little before adding it to the crust.

Pour the pie filling into the crust and place it in the refrigerator to cool.

After the pie cools, you’ll need to top it with whipped cream.
I make mine homemade, which you can see in my pineapple pie recipe.
Alternatively, you can also use Cool Whip. Feel free to add chocolate chips, chocolate shavings, or chocolate curls on top too.
TIP: Whatever you do, do not put the whipped topping on top of the pie unless it’s cool. I have added it to warm pie, and I ended up with runny whipped topping all over creation.

For the crust, I like to use refrigerated rolled pie crusts. They make a delicious flaky pie crust, and you can crimp the ends.
More Delicious Desserts
- Slow cooker peanut clusters are a great dessert to share around the holidays. Melted chocolate and peanuts are always a good thing.
- Fruit salad with condensed milk is a refreshing and sweet treat.
- If you love cream pies, you will love this homemade coconut cream pie. The recipe features toasted coconut over a creamy and sweet pie.
- Chocolate no bake pie is not only easy but just as delicious as the homemade version.
- French silk pie from Pillsbury is a great addition to any dessert table.

Homemade Chocolate Cream Pie
The perfect dessert doesn’t get much better than this homemade chocolate cream pie recipe. It’s creamy, dreamy and full of luscious chocolate flavors.
Good luck occupying yourself while this incredible recipe cools in the fridge. You’re going to be swooning over it and drooling until it’s finally time to serve!