• Home
  • About
  • Recipe Index

Cookie Madness

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Home
  • About
  • Recipe Index
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • About
  • Recipe Index
×
Home » All-Time Favorites

Michele's Pies Perfect Chocolate Cream Pie

Modified: Mar 25, 2025 · Published: Nov 15, 2011 by Anna · This post may contain affiliate links · 19 Comments

Jump to Recipe

Perfect Chocolate Cream Pie is adapted from an outstanding cookbook -- Perfect Pies: The Best Sweet and Savory Recipes from America's Pie-Baking Champion. The "pie baking champion" being Michele Stuart, National Pie Festival champ, Bobby Flay's Throw-Down contestant, and owner of Michele's Pies in Norwalk, CT.

perfect chocolate cream pie

Favorite Chocolate Pie From The Michele's Pies Book

One of these days I'll try the Chocolate-Pecan-Bourbon Pie, the Maple Walnut Pie, Coconut Custard Pie, Lemon Chiffon Pie and maybe the Candyland Pie; but naturally, the first one on the docket was Michele's Chocolate Cream.  This may be my favorite chocolate cream pie yet.

Michele took a basic chocolate pie filling and perfected the amount of egg yolks, cornstarch and chocolate for a harmonious balance of smoothness, sturdiness and chocolate flavor. I did add a little chocolate extract since I have a bottle and am experimenting with it, but it's really not necessary for a perfect chocolate cream pie.

perfect chocolate cream pie

Also, the pie slices beautifully.  This is important when you're trying to make a great presentation at Thanksgiving or any event where you need to impress people.

chocolate cream pie texture

Here's my adapted version of the recipe, but do yourself a favor and buy the book!

Also, if you are looking for a good crust recipe, here's a link to Baked All Butter Pie Crust.  This one's reliable and doesn't call for shortening.

The Crisco Single Baked Pie Crust is always good if you are okay with shortening.

  • Perfectly Chocolate Bundt Cake
  • Hershey's Perfectly Chocolate Cake
  • Favorite Pies for Thanksgiving
  • Chocolate Pies
  • Perfect Sugar Cookies

Recipe

perfect chocolate cream pie

Perfect Chocolate Cream Pie

Anna
An easy and delicious chocolate cream pie based on a recipe from Michele's Pies in Norwalk, CT. Cook time listed actually represents chill time.
5 from 1 vote
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 3 hours hrs
Total Time 3 hours hrs 10 minutes mins
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 8

Ingredients
 

Crust

  • 1 prebaked 9-inch pie shell

Filling

  • ¾ cup granulated sugar (150 grams)
  • 3 ½ tablespoons cornstarch
  • ⅛ teaspoon salt
  • 2 ½ cups whole milk 560 ml
  • 4 large egg yolks
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter at room temperature 28 grams
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract 10 ml
  • ¾ teaspoon chocolate extract optional, but good!
  • 3 oz unsweetened chocolate chopped (84 grams)

Topping

  • 2 cups heavy whipping cream Can use 1 cup for less topping
  • 4 tablespoons powdered sugar Can use 2 T.
  • Chocolate chips or chocolate shavings for garnish

Instructions
 

  • Off heat, whisk the sugar, cornstarch, and salt together in a medium size saucepan.
  • Whisk in the milk and egg yolks. Place the mixture over medium heat, constantly whisking and scraping the sides of the pan until the mixture begins to bubble and thicken.
  • Add the butter 1 tablespoon at a time. When all of the butter is mixed in, add the vanilla and chocolate extract (if using). Add the chocolate a little at a time, giving each addition of chocolate the chance to melt into the filling before adding more. Keep the mixture over the heat until the chocolate is smoothly melted and the cream thickens.
  • Pour the chocolate filling into the pie shell OR strain into a bowl I've always just poured it directly into the pie shell, but I recently tried straining it into a bowl and then transferring it to the shell and the filling was a little smoother.
  • Cover the pie with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator to cool and chill (Note: I like to let it cool at room temperature for about 40 minutes, first). When ready to serve, remove the pie from the refrigerator and remove the plastic wrap.
  • Whip the cream and sweeten it with the powdered sugar. Stir in some vanilla. Spread or pipe whipped cream over the top.

Notes

  • Crust Normally I’d make chocolate cream pie with graham or chocolate crumbs, but in this case a basic pastry crust worked perfectly because it made the pie easy to slice and was a nice savory relief from the filling.
  • Filling The change I made to the filling was to add about ¾ teaspoon of chocolate extract. You could definitely taste it in the pie, so make sure to use a good chocolate extract. The only one I’ve tried is Nielsen Massey’s and I’d say it’s good. 
  • Topping If you want less whipped cream, use only 1 cup cream and 2 tablespoons sugar. I like more cream so I whipped 2 cups of heavy cream and added ¼ cup powdered sugar and 1 teaspoon of vanilla then piped it on with a large French star tip. 
  • Smaller Pie Measurements: ½ cup sugar, 2 tablespoons (generous) cornstarch, pinch of salt, 2 cups (16 oz) whole milk, 3 egg yolks, 1 ½ tablespoons of butter, 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla, 2 oz unsweetened chocolate. Use a slightly smaller saucepan.
Keyword chocolate cream pie
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

More All-Time Favorites

  • Martha Stewart Fired Me Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe by Sarah Gormley, author of The Order of Things.
    Martha Stewart Fired Me Cookies
  • Travis Kelce's Mom's Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe
    Donna Kelce's Chocolate Chip Cookies
  • Brownie Mix Caramel Brownies
    Brownie Mix Caramel Brownies
  • Whole Cottage Cheese Muffin
    Easy Cottage Cheese Muffins

Comments

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *






  1. Anna says

    November 24, 2016 at 7:07 am

    Glad you enjoyed it. Hooray!

  2. Patty says

    November 24, 2016 at 12:43 am

    5 stars
    Loved this recipe. Thank you. Have made it twice now and very yummy.
    Lots of of comments on how delicious it is.
    My comment on how easy it is! Yay

  3. Anna says

    November 23, 2015 at 8:57 pm

    Unsweetened chocolate really packs a punch since it's all chocolate and no sugar. 3 ounces was definitely enough. That being said, I have a new favorite since trying this one. Check out King Arthur's latest chocolate cream pie recipe. This one is good, but I like KA's better. Here's a link to where I reviewed it along with links to the recipe.

    https://www.cookiemadness.net/2015/10/diner-style-chocolate-cream-pie/

  4. S. Lynn says

    November 23, 2015 at 7:39 pm

    This recipe only calls for 3oz of unsweetened chocolate. Is this nough chocolate? Other recipes call for more or adding some bittersweet. Thoughts?

    Thank you.

  5. Anna says

    April 04, 2015 at 11:12 am

    Happy Easter to you, too! I hope you like the pie. It's been a while since I made this one but it was really good.

  6. kelley says

    April 04, 2015 at 11:10 am

    THANK YOU very much! Happy Easter!!

  7. Anna says

    April 04, 2015 at 10:02 am

    Hi Kelley,

    I've never had a problem with cream getting droopy, but I usually buy heavy whipping cream as opposed to heavy cream which tends to hold up better. So when you're shopping for the creamy, look for heavy "whipping" cream.

  8. kelley says

    April 04, 2015 at 8:13 am

    Looks amazing and will be trying this for easter. One question, I wanted to make it ahead of time and then bring with me later to a party. Will the whipped topping be OK if I keep it in the fridge before the party?

  9. Katrina says

    November 19, 2014 at 9:23 pm

    I just put this on the to-make this Thanksgiving list. Had a request for a good chocolate pie and I always just make French silk, but want to try something else.

  10. Sheri says

    November 28, 2011 at 11:37 pm

    I've got this book checked out from the library right now, and was looking at the chocolate cream pie recipe tonight! I went with something different, but I'd like to try this one too. The book looks great.

  11. shelly (cookies and cups) says

    November 18, 2011 at 7:14 am

    I can't wait to try out a pie in that book! I already have my eye on one 🙂

  12. Sue says

    November 16, 2011 at 2:19 pm

    This looks so delicious! It will make which pies to make for Thanksgiving dilemma even more difficult.

  13. melissa says

    November 16, 2011 at 12:49 pm

    Beautiful pie!
    I was recently thinking of making a chocolate cream pie, but I didn't want to go through the trouble of buying chocolate cookies for the crust. Next time I'll do what you do -- it does cut so nicely!

  14. Darlene says

    November 16, 2011 at 6:58 am

    Anna, you did a beautiful job decorating the pie, and I'm sure it tastes delicious. It looks like it has a perfect consistency and balance of flavors. Wow!

  15. Gloria says

    November 15, 2011 at 11:05 pm

    I love pies with semi savory crusts!! Is this a bit like french silk? It looks delicious! What do you do with all the desserts you make? You don't look like you eat much of them!! I used to bring everything to work...now that I'm not working, I'm less motivated due to the evil nature of desserts!!!

  16. Barbara @ Barbara Bakes says

    November 15, 2011 at 6:34 pm

    I does look like the perfect chocolate pie to me!

  17. Cindy says

    November 15, 2011 at 4:44 pm

    Thanks for the recommendation. I started reading your site years ago because I've always loved making cookies. But I've made this year all about pies. I'm putting that book on my Christmas wish list for Santa!

  18. Mackenzie@The Caramel Cookie says

    November 15, 2011 at 4:01 pm

    Ooooo this looks so rich and delicious! I may have to try this one as my boss is always asking me to make chocolate pie :).

  19. Karen says

    November 15, 2011 at 2:55 pm

    This pie sounds heavenly and will be made for our Thanksgiving feast. DH loves chocolate and I think this pie will fit the bill nicely. Thanks!

Peanut Butter Fudge Jumbles recipe baked in a 9-inch square Pampered Chef stoneware pan.

Hello!

I'm Anna, and welcome to Cookie Madness. To learn more about me, check the About page.

About

Footer

About

Privacy

Contact

    Cookie Madness is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.

    © All rights reserved. Do not copy, distribute, or reproduce without permission.