Description
Creamy chocolate fills this classic old-fashioned chocolate pie with rich, silky indulgence. Southern kitchens love this nostalgic dessert that delivers pure comfort with each luxurious chocolate-laden slice you’ll savor.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 cups milk
- 1/2 cup cocoa powder
- 3 egg yolks
- 3 egg whites
Filling Ingredients:
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1/4 cup flour
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Topping Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup sugar (for meringue)
- 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
- 1 pre-baked pie crust
Instructions
- Warm the oven to 350F (175C) to prepare for baking.
- Melt butter gently in a medium saucepan over low heat until completely liquefied.
- Combine sugar, flour, and cocoa powder in a separate mixing bowl, creating a uniform dry mixture.
- Gradually incorporate the dry ingredients into the melted butter, whisking continuously to eliminate potential lumps.
- Stream milk slowly into the saucepan while stirring, ensuring a smooth, consistent texture develops.
- Simmer the chocolate mixture for 5-7 minutes, stirring constantly until the consistency thickens significantly.
- Separate egg yolks into a clean bowl and carefully temper them by adding a small amount of hot chocolate mixture, whisking thoroughly.
- Gently reintroduce the tempered egg yolks back into the saucepan, stirring to integrate completely.
- Return the saucepan to heat, cooking for an additional 2-3 minutes while maintaining constant movement.
- Remove from heat and fold in vanilla extract, creating a rich, glossy filling.
- Transfer the silky chocolate mixture into a pre-baked pie crust, spreading evenly to the edges.
- Whip egg whites and cream of tartar until soft peaks form, gradually adding sugar to create a glossy meringue.
- Delicately spread meringue across the chocolate surface, ensuring complete coverage and sealed edges.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes until meringue turns a beautiful golden brown.
- Allow pie to cool completely at room temperature, permitting the filling to set perfectly before serving.
Notes
- Select high-quality cocoa powder for richer chocolate flavor and deeper color.
- Temper egg yolks carefully to prevent scrambling and ensure smooth, silky filling texture.
- Use room temperature ingredients to help create consistent mixture without lumps.
- For gluten-free version, replace wheat flour with cornstarch or gluten-free flour blend.
- Create stable meringue by ensuring mixing bowl is completely grease-free and egg whites are at room temperature.
- Check pie doneness by watching meringue color – golden brown indicates perfect caramelization.
- Add pinch of salt to chocolate filling to enhance overall chocolate depth and balance sweetness.
- Consider chilling pie for 2-3 hours before serving to help filling set more firmly.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 272 kcal
- Sugar: 22 g
- Sodium: 80 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 29 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg