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Dreamy Chocolate Cream Pie

Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Keyword Cream Pie, Pie
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Chilling Time 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 40 minutes
Servings 8 servings
Author Heather @ thecookstreat.com

Ingredients

Shortbread crust:

  • ½ cup butter, softened
  • 3 tablespoons (2.25 ounces) raw honey
  • ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 ⅓ cup (6.65 ounces) all-purpose flour

Chocolate pudding filling:

  • ¼ cup (3 ounces) raw honey
  • 1 ¼ cup heavy whipping cream
  • 1 ¼ cup milk
  • 6 large egg yolks
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 6 tablespoons salted butter, chopped into small pieces
  • 5 ounces semi-sweet or dark chocolate, chopped (see note)
  • 6 ounces milk chocolate, chopped (see note)
  • 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract

Whipped topping:

  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 2 tablespoons agave
  • 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract

Instructions

Shortbread crust:

  1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. In a food processor add softened butter and mix a few minutes until smooth. Then add raw honey and vanilla extract and mix until incorporated, scraping down sides of food processor as needed.

  2. Add half of the flour and mix. Then scrape down sides of bowl, add the remaining flour and mix until dough forms a ball. Press dough into 9-inch pie pan. 

  3. Bake in preheated 300 degree F oven for about 18-20 minutes or until edges start to turn golden brown. Let crust cool.

Chocolate pudding filling:

  1. To a medium sauce pan over medium heat, add the honey, cream, and milk and whisk well to combine. Bring mixture to a simmer, whisking frequently.

  2. Meanwhile, add the egg yolks and cornstarch to a medium bowl and whisk until smooth. 

  3. Once the saucepan mixture is simmering, add a few spoonfuls of the hot liquid into the egg yolks and whisk to temper the eggs. Add a few more spoonfuls of the hot liquid into the egg yolks. Then slowly whisk the egg yolk mixture back into the saucepan. Whisk constantly until the mixture begins to thicken and comes to a very gently boil (big bubbles begin to break the surface). 

  4. Whisk in the butter. Then remove pan from the heat and add both kinds of chopped chocolate, and vanilla extract. Give the mixture a good stir and then let the chocolate sit for 5 minutes without stirring. Whisk until completely mixed in.

  5. Pour filling into the semi-cooled cookie crust (it's okay if it's still slightly warm) and smooth into an even layer (see note). Place a piece of plastic wrap sprayed with cooking spray gently on top and refrigerate until filling is set, about 4–6 hours or overnight, if desired.

Whipped topping:

  1. Once pudding has set, make the topping by adding the cream to a mixing bowl. Mix with electric mixers on high speed for 1-2 minutes. 

  2. Add the agave and vanilla extract. Continue mixing until soft peaks form, about 2-3 minutes. 

  3. Spread whipped cream over pie and top with chocolate curls or shavings (see note).

Recipe Notes

1. If making more than an hour or two ahead of serving I suggest adapting the whipped topping to stabilize it:

  • First microwave 2 teaspoons water and ½ teaspoon unflavored gelatin (I use Knox brand) in a small bowl for 10 seconds or until. Stir and let cool briefly. Mixture should be clear and see through. Don’t overcook or it will get clumpy.
  • Next whip just the cream until soft peaks form. Then while the mixer is on, slowly pour in the cooled gelatin mixture in and continue mixing until stiff peaks form in the cream. When you stop the mixer, the peaks should hold their nice lovely shape.

2. You can use all dark chocolate but the milk chips add a depth and creaminess that's really good.

3. If you notice any unwanted lumps in the pie, you can strain it through a fine mesh strainer as you add it to the crust to remove any unwanted lumps.

4. To make the chocolate curls I followed these instructions from Pioneer Woman, using coconut oil instead of shortening.