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Enjoy the simple pleasure of making a Mini Chocolate Pie, a perfect dessert for chocolate lovers. This recipe features a rich, creamy homemade chocolate filling that’s quick to cook on the stove and full of deep chocolate flavor. The cookie crust adds a delightful crunch to the smooth chocolate, and it all comes together in a small baking dish, making it just the right size for a sweet treat.
Searching for more single serving and small batch chocolate recipes? Try our rich Chocolate Lava Cake, indulgent Texas Sheet Cake, luscious Oreo Brownie, and sumptuous Devil’s Food Cake.
Why You’ll Love This Chocolate Pie Recipe
- Perfect Make-Ahead Dessert: This small pie is quick to assemble, but the chocolate pudding filling needs a few hours in the fridge to set properly. As it chills, the filling thickens to the perfect consistency, making it an ideal dessert to prepare in advance.
- Homemade with a Touch of Convenience: The chocolate filling is made from scratch using simple, easily accessible ingredients. While we use store-bought cookies for the crust for convenience, you can use our homemade small batch shortbread cookies, butter cookies, or peanut butter cookies instead for a fully homemade experience. You can also use our mini shortbread pie crust.
- Extra Chocolatey and Rich: Made with semi-sweet chocolate chips and vanilla extract, the filling has a deep chocolate flavor. A touch of butter added at the end gives it a smooth, silky texture that sets perfectly over the cookie crust.
- Ideal for Small Servings: Designed for one or two, this mini pie fits neatly in a 5×5 inch baking dish. Alternatively, you can split it between two 10-ounce ramekins, perfect for individual chocolate pies.
Check out our other Mini Pie Recipes for more wonderful small pie ideas!
Ingredients
- Cookies: For the crust, choose store-bought cookies that you enjoy. Shortbread cookies or shortbread bites are a great option, but feel free to select your favorite variety. Alternatively, bake one of our small batch cookie recipes. You can use a few for the crust and have some left over to enjoy separately. If you prefer, try our mini graham cracker cookie crust recipe as an excellent substitution.
- Sugar: Sugar is essential in our recipe as it not only sweetens the pudding but also enhances the vanilla and chocolate flavors and contributes to the pudding’s thickness.
- Cornstarch: Cornstarch plays a key role in thickening the pudding, ensuring it achieves the perfect consistency.
- Cocoa powder: Use unsweetened cocoa powder to get the ideal balance of chocolate flavor.
- Egg yolk: A single egg yolk is crucial for adding structure, stability, and a rich depth to the filling. Don’t toss the egg white, though. Save it and use it in any of our egg white recipes like a mini Flourless Chocolate Cake or a mini Pavlova.
- Milk: Whole milk is recommended for the filling to achieve a rich, thick texture. Skim or reduced-fat milk is not advisable as it may result in a less creamy filling. Half and half (a mix of whole milk and heavy cream) is a suitable alternative.
- Vanilla: The inclusion of pure vanilla extract significantly enhances the flavor profile of the pie.
- Butter: A small amount of butter added at the end enriches the pudding with a smooth texture, glossy finish, and a deeper flavor.
- Chocolate: Incorporating a handful of chocolate chips or chunks takes the richness of the pudding to the next level. This recipe works beautifully with semi-sweet, dark, or bittersweet chocolate, allowing you to adjust it according to your taste preference. If you’ve got leftover chocolate, consider using it in a Brookie or Chocolate Chip Cookies.
If you have any ingredients leftover from this mini chocolate pie recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder.
Recipe Variations
Get creative with these versatile recipe variations, allowing you to personalize your mini chocolate pie:
- Nutty Addition: Stir in 2 tablespoons of chopped nuts like hazelnuts or almonds for added texture.
- Chocolate Spice Pie: Add a pinch of cinnamon or chili powder for a warming spice kick.
- Chocolate Mint Pie: Incorporate a few drops of mint extract to the pudding for a refreshing mint chocolate variation.
- Fruit-Infused Pie: Mix in a teaspoon of orange zest for a fruity undertone.
How To Make A Mini Chocolate Pie
These step-by-step photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to make a chocolate pie. See the recipe box below for ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions.
- Mix the sugar, cocoa powder, and cornstarch in a 1-quart saucepan.
- Add 1/2 cup of milk and whisk until the mixture is smooth.
- Slowly whisk in the remaining milk and the egg yolk.
- Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat, stirring frequently. This process takes me about 5 minutes.
- Once the mixture starts to simmer, stir constantly until it begins to thicken, about 2 minutes.
- Once the mixture starts to thicken, lower the heat to low and cook, stirring constantly for 2 minutes.
- Remove from the heat and stir in the butter, vanilla, and chocolate chips.
- Line the bottom of your baking dish with cookies.
Pro Tip: For best results use either a 5×5-inch baking dish or two 10-ounce ramekins.
- Pour the chocolate filling over the cookies in the baking dish.
- Refrigerate, covered or uncovered, for at least 4 hours or overnight.
- Enjoy with whipped cream, if desired.
Expert Tips
- Preparation is Key: Before you begin, read the entire recipe and the detailed Ingredient Notes. Check out the process photos provided and assemble all your ingredients. This preparation ensures a smooth and efficient baking experience.
- Patience with Pudding: When cooking the chocolate pudding, patience is crucial. Pay attention to the texture; you’ll notice the pudding thickening gradually. This step is essential for achieving the perfect consistency.
- Decorative Touches: Enhance the visual appeal of your pie with shaved chocolate atop the whipped cream. Use a vegetable peeler to create elegant chocolate curls or shavings for a professional finish.
Serving Suggestions
Discover a variety of delightful ways to serve your small chocolate pie, elevating it from a simple dessert to a culinary treat.
- With Whipped Cream: Top your Mini Chocolate Pie with a dollop of whipped cream for an extra indulgent treat.
- Berry Accompaniment: Serve with fresh berries for a refreshing contrast to the rich chocolate.
- Dust with Cocoa: A light dusting of cocoa powder or grated chocolate can add an elegant touch.
- Coffee Pairing: Enjoy your pie with a cup of hot coffee to complement the chocolate flavors.
- Ice Cream Side: Serve alongside a scoop of vanilla ice cream for a classic combination.
How To Store Chocolate Pie
To preserve any leftover chocolate pie, ensure it is securely covered with plastic wrap and store it in the refrigerator. It will remain fresh and delicious for up to 5 days.
Freezing this pie is not advised, as the filling is prone to weeping or separating when thawed, affecting its quality and texture.
Frequently Asked Questions
A runny chocolate pie usually indicates that the filling wasn’t cooked long enough. Ensure that when the pudding starts thickening, you lower the heat and stir continuously for 2 minutes. Another factor might be insufficient chilling time in the refrigerator. Our tests showed that 4 hours is ideal for the pie to set properly, though it might vary based on your fridge’s temperature.
Absolutely! For a gluten-free version of this chocolate pie, simply use gluten-free cookies for the crust. The rest of the ingredients in this recipe are naturally gluten-free, making it an easy adaptation.
The size of the baking dish is crucial for the success of this recipe. We recommend using either a single 5×5-inch baking dish or dividing the mixture into two 10-ounce ramekins. You can find these specific dishes on our Store page, ensuring you get the perfect size for this delightful dessert.
Ways To Use Leftover Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder or you might like to consider using them in any of these single serving and small batch recipes:
For more information on the cooking and baking dishes I use in our “recipes for one”, please visit our FAQ page.
For examples of the dishes used at One Dish Kitchen, please visit our Store page.
If you’ve tried this mini chocolate pie recipe or any recipe on One Dish Kitchen please let me know how you liked it by rating the recipe and telling me about it in the comment section below.
Also, if you take a picture please tag us on Instagram (@onedishkitchen) we’d love to see it!
Mini Chocolate Pie
Equipment
Ingredients
- ¼ cup sugar
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 ½ cups whole milk -divided
- 1 large egg yolk
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 4 shortbread cookies * See notes
- Optional: whipped cream for topping
Instructions
- Mix the sugar, cocoa powder, and cornstarch in a 1-quart saucepan.
- Add ½ cup of milk and whisk until the mixture is smooth.
- Slowly whisk in the remaining milk and the egg yolk.
- Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat, stirring frequently. (This process takes me about 5 minutes.)
- Once the mixture starts to simmer, stir constantly until it begins to thicken, about 2 minutes.
- Once the mixture starts to thicken, lower the heat to low and cook, stirring constantly for 2 minutes.
- Remove from the heat and stir in the butter, vanilla, and chocolate chips.
- Line the bottom of a small baking dish with cookies.Pro Tip: For best results use either a 5×5-inch baking dish or two 10-ounce ramekins.
- Pour the chocolate filling over the cookies in the baking dish.
- Refrigerate, covered or uncovered, for at least 4 hours or overnight.
- Enjoy with whipped cream, if desired.
Notes
-
- Preparation is Key: Before you begin, read the entire recipe and the detailed Ingredient Notes. Check out the process photos provided and assemble all your ingredients. This preparation ensures a smooth and efficient baking experience.
-
- Patience with Pudding: When cooking the chocolate pudding, patience is crucial. Pay attention to the texture; you’ll notice the pudding thickening gradually. This step is essential for achieving the perfect consistency.
-
- Decorative Touches: Enhance the visual appeal of your pie with shaved chocolate atop the whipped cream. Use a vegetable peeler to create elegant chocolate curls or shavings for a professional finish.
-
- Homemade Whipped Cream Layer: Elevate your chocolate pie by adding a layer of homemade whipped cream. Follow our small batch whipped cream recipe for a fluffy and light topping that complements the rich chocolate filling
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
How is this considered a pie? No pie crust in there just cake & pudding.
Thank you for your comment! The base of this chocolate pie is actually lined with cookies, which adds a fun twist. However, as mentioned in the recipe, you can definitely use our shortbread pie crust recipe if you prefer a more traditional crust. The filling, while creamy like pudding, is actually a rich chocolate custard that sets perfectly for that classic pie experience. I hope this clears things up!
Thanks you for this great recipe! Easy to make and tastes decadent. You always come through with wonderful tips to make it work every time!
Thank you so much!
Wow, just made the chocolate pie and it’s amazing, perfect.
I’m so happy you enjoyed the pie.
Terrific recipe.