Creamy, Rich, and Cheap: This Chocolate Cream Pie Is All That

There’s this thing that happens at our house when I say the word “pie.” Everyone starts hovering. Like, full-on circling the kitchen like vultures. And if I say chocolate cream pie, well, good luck keeping anyone out of the fridge.

This Chocolate Cream Pie Recipe is the one that gets requested over all the fancy desserts, and I’m not surprised. It’s easy to pull off, you can make it a day ahead, and it tastes like you bought it from a bakery – without paying $35 for a single pie.

It’s not fussy. It’s not show-offy. It’s just good.

And yeah, it only uses basic stuff like milk, cocoa, a bit of cornstarch, and chocolate chips. Nothing you couldn’t grab at No Frills or whatever store has the best deal that week.

Why This Chocolate Cream Pie Works (Even If You’re Tired)

I’ve messed this recipe up a couple times and it still came out good. That’s one of the reasons I keep it in rotation.

Let’s be real – some nights you want to make dessert but don’t want to think. Or measure perfectly. Or clean four mixing bowls. This pie is perfect for that. The stovetop pudding filling thickens up with just a bit of stirring, and you don’t need a candy thermometer or anything complicated.

A few tips that help:

• Stir constantly once it starts heating up or it can burn quick on the bottom.
• If you don’t have chocolate chips, just chop up a chocolate bar. Even the cheap kind works.
• Don’t skip pressing plastic wrap right on top of the filling; it stops that weird skin from forming.
• It must chill. Minimum four hours, but overnight is better. So yeah, it’s not instant, but it’s worth it.

Budget Notes

Yep, if you’ve got the staples at home, this one’s a win. Here’s how I cut the costs:

• Use store brand graham crackers or even crushed digestive biscuits for the crust.
• Buy chocolate chips in bulk when they go on sale and freeze ’em for longer storage.
• Milk powder mixed with water can sub in for fresh milk in a pinch.
• That whipped cream topping? You can use a tub of frozen whipped topping if real cream isn’t in the budget this week.

This isn’t just some rich people dessert. This is a pantry-staple, survive-til-payday kind of pie. And nobody eating it will ever guess.

What Crust to Use (And Why I Cheat Sometimes)

You’ve got two options here:

1. Graham cracker crust (my go-to, no baking, fast, foolproof).
2. Pastry crust (also good, but I usually only do this if I’ve got extra dough already made).

Graham cracker wins 90% of the time for me. You mix crumbs, sugar, and butter, mash it into a pie pan, and throw it in the fridge. That’s it. No oven. No stress.

If you’re using pastry crust, make sure it’s baked and cooled before you add the filling or it’ll melt weird. Been there. Regretted it.

Serving Tips (Aka How Not to Wreck It Last Minute)

A few things that make this look and taste extra good:

• Pipe or spoon the whipped cream right before serving so it looks fresh.
• A few chocolate shavings or sprinkles go a long way. I just run a veggie peeler along the side of a chocolate bar and toss ’em on top.
• Slice with a hot knife (run it under hot water and wipe dry) for cleaner slices.

Also: store leftovers covered in the fridge. It’s best within 2 days, but I’ve definitely eaten it on day 4 and lived to tell about it.

Why I Keep Making This Pie (Even When I’m Tired)

This Chocolate Cream Pie Recipe was actually part of a bigger shift I started making last year. My dad had a health scare and had to start eating lower cholesterol, but he still wanted dessert sometimes. This pie doesn’t use any heavy cream in the filling—just milk and a bit of butter. That made it one of the first things I figured out how to adapt so we could still all sit down for dessert without feeling like we were gambling with his health.

I still use whipped cream on top (let’s not get wild), but the pie itself? Light enough to not feel guilty, rich enough to feel indulgent. That’s what makes it perfect.

My Chocolate Cream Pie Recipe

Ingredients

For the Crust (Choose One):

Graham Cracker Crust (No Bake):

• 1 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs
• ⅓ cup granulated sugar
• 6 tbsp melted butter

OR Traditional Pie Crust:

• 1 9-inch pre-baked pie shell (homemade or store-bought)

For the Chocolate Filling:

• ⅔ cup granulated sugar
• ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• ¼ cup cornstarch
• ¼ tsp salt
• 2 ¾ cups whole milk
• 4 large egg yolks
• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips (or chopped chocolate bar)
• 2 tbsp butter
• 1 ½ tsp vanilla extract

For the Whipped Cream Topping:

• 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• 2 tbsp powdered sugar
• ½ tsp vanilla extract
• Optional: chocolate shavings or cocoa powder for garnish

Instructions

1. Prepare the Crust:

Graham Cracker Version:

1. Mix graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and melted butter in a bowl.
2. Press evenly into a 9-inch pie plate (bottom and sides).
3. Chill in the fridge while you make the filling.

Pastry Crust Version:

1. Bake your pie shell according to recipe or package instructions.
2. Cool completely.

2. Make the Chocolate Filling:

1. In a medium saucepan, whisk together sugar, cocoa powder, cornstarch, and salt.
2. Slowly whisk in the milk until smooth.
3. In a separate bowl, beat egg yolks.
4. Heat the cocoa mixture over medium heat, stirring constantly until it begins to thicken (about 5–7 minutes).
5. Temper the yolks: add a ladle of hot mixture into the yolks, whisk, then return all to the pan.
6. Cook for another 1–2 minutes, whisking, until thick and bubbly.
7. Remove from heat. Stir in chocolate chips, butter, and vanilla until smooth.
8. Pour into the prepared crust. Press plastic wrap directly onto the surface to prevent a skin from forming.
9. Refrigerate at least 6 hours, or overnight.

3. Make the Whipped Cream:

1. Whip the cream with powdered sugar and vanilla until soft peaks form.
2. Spread or pipe on top of chilled pie.

4. Garnish and Serve:

• Sprinkle with chocolate shavings, curls, or a dusting of cocoa powder.
• Slice and serve chilled!

Last Thought

You don’t need to be a pastry chef or own a fancy mixer to pull this off. This Chocolate Cream Pie Recipe is the kind of dessert that makes people say “You made this??” like it’s impossible. Let them think it is. You’ll know better.

Before you leave, make sure to check out this super easy to make no-bake cheesecake recipe. Your family will thank you for it!