Chocolate Pudding Pie - Handle the Heat
Filed Under: Chocolate | Dessert | Pie | Thanksgiving

Chocolate Pudding Pie

  |  
November 1st, 2022

One of my all-time favorites, this Chocolate Pudding Pie features a graham cracker crust, rich double chocolate pudding filling, and whipped cream on top!

Yield: 8 servings

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook: 20 minutes

Tessa's Recipe Rundown...

Taste: Just enough chocolate flavor to enjoy, but not so much that you can only take a couple bites.
Texture: The crust is buttery and crunchy, while the filling is creamy, thick, and firm enough to hold its shape. I just love the contrast between the two!
Ease: Easy enough; the pudding just needs 10 minutes of babysitting on the stovetop. The hardest part is waiting for the pie to chill and set before you can cut yourself a slice.
Pros: One of my favorite recipes.
Cons: None!!
Would I make this again? I’ve made this countless times!

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This Chocolate Pudding Pie is truly one of my all-time favorite desserts.

a whole chocolate pudding pie with a slice removed, with whipped cream on the side

I first tried this pie when I was about 10 years old, when a family member made a version for Thanksgiving.

Ever since then, it’s been something I crave again and again.

This was actually one of the first dessert recipesever published here on Handle the Heat, way back in June of 2009!

The slightly crunchy, buttery graham cracker crust is so delicious with the rich, creamy pudding filling. Add homemade whipped cream or even vanilla ice cream for the perfect dessert.

This pie is the perfect Thanksgiving dessert, but it’s also so crowd-pleasing that it’s perfect after any meal. 

Whether you grew up enjoying Chocolate Pudding Pie or not, I hope you’ll give this delicious pie recipe a try, and create fun new memories in doing so.

a slice of double chocolate pudding pie on a white plate, with a fork on the side

How to Make Chocolate Pudding Pie

How to Serve Chocolate Pudding Pie

I have included my recipe and instructions for making homemade whipped cream, which is the perfect topping for this pie, in my opinion! Feel free to instead serve with vanilla ice cream, caramel sauce, homemade chocolate sauce, or whatever else your heart desires. 

Can I Make This Pie Dairy-Free? 

Yes! I have successfully made this Chocolate Pudding Pie recipe dairy-free by substituting the butter with coconut oil, and replacing the cow’s milk with almond milk. The non-dairy version definitely wasn’t as rich and only lasted 1 day before it started weeping, but it was still delish!

Do I Have to Use Graham Crackers? Pudding Pie Recipe CRUST Variations

I love this pie with a graham cracker crust, but feel free to change it up and use:

How Long Does Chocolate Pudding Pie Last?

Without whipped cream, this pie will keep for 2 days. Avoid adding the whipped cream until shortly before serving, for best results.

How to Store Pudding Pie?

Once cooled and set, store the Chocolate Pudding Pie covered in the fridge for up to two days. We have not tried freezing this pie, but let us know if you give that a try!

chocolate pudding pie slices on plates, ready to serve

More Pie Recipes You’ll Love

How to make
Double Chocolate Pudding Pie

Yield: 8 servings
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
One of my all-time favorites, this Chocolate Pudding Pie features a graham cracker crust, rich double chocolate pudding filling, and whipped cream on top!

Ingredients

For the crust:

  • 9 (142 grams) full size graham crackers
  • 1/4 teaspoon fine salt
  • 5 tablespoons (71 grams) unsalted butter, melted

For the filling:

  • 1 tablespoon (1 envelope) unflavored gelatin
  • 1/3 cup boiling water
  • 2/3 cup (133 grams) sugar
  • 1/3 cup (28 grams) unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1/4 cup (35 grams) cornstarch
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 3 cups milk (whole milk or 2% work best)
  • 4 ounces (113 grams) bittersweet chocolate, chopped
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

For the whipped cream:

  • 1 cup chilled heavy cream
  • 1 tablespoon powdered sugar
  • Cocoa powder or chocolate shavings, for garnish

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a 9-inch pie plate with cooking spray.

Make the crust:

  1. In the bowl of a food processor, pulse the crackers and salt until finely ground. Pour in the butter and pulse until evenly moistened. Press the crumb mixture into bottom of pie plate and about 1-inch up the sides. Bake for 10 minutes, then set aside to cool.

Make the filling:

  1. In the meantime, make the pudding. Put the gelatin in a small bowl, add the boiling water and stir until dissolved. Set aside.

  2. In a medium saucepan, mix the 2/3 cup of sugar, cocoa, cornstarch and salt. Gradually add half of the milk, whisking until smooth. Whisk in the rest of the milk. Turn the heat on to medium and cook, whisking constantly, until the mixture thickens and comes to a boil, about 10 minutes.

  3. Remove from the heat. Add the chocolate and stir until melted. Stir in the vanilla and reserved gelatin. Pour the mixture into the pie crust and place in the refrigerator to set, at least 4 hours.

Make the whipped cream:

  1. Beat the cream and sugar in a medium deep bowl until soft peaks form. Spread over pie or pipe on using a piping bag fitted with a star tip. Garnish with cocoa or chocolate shavings.

  2. The pie can be covered and stored in the fridge for up to 2 days.

Recipe Notes

I've successfully made this recipe dairy free by subbing the butter with coconut oil, and the cow's milk with almond milk. The non-dairy version definitely wasn't as rich and only lasted 1 day before it started weeping, but it was still delish!
Adapted from Ellie Krieger
Course : Dessert
Cuisine : American
Keyword : chocolate pie, chocolate pudding pie, pudding, pudding pie, thanksgiving

Photos by Constance Higley.

Tessa Arias
Author: Tessa Arias

I share trusted baking recipes your friends will LOVE alongside insights into the science of sweets. I'm a professionally trained chef, cookbook author, and cookie queen. I love to write about all things sweet, carb-y, and homemade. I live in Phoenix, Arizona (hence the blog name!)

Tessa Arias

About Tessa...

I share trusted baking recipes your friends will LOVE alongside insights into the science of sweets. I'm a professionally trained chef, cookbook author, and cookie queen. I love to write about all things sweet, carb-y, and homemade. I live in Phoenix, Arizona (hence the blog name!)

Find Tessa on  

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Recipe Rating




  1. #
    Nada — July 29, 2020 at 7:15 am

    Hi chef,
    I want to follow this recipe to make vanilla pudding pie so I want to omit the cocoa and dark chocolate but do I need to use white chocolate instead of the dark chocolate? I mean to harden the pudding a little bit or should I totally skip the chocolate

  2. #
    Sarah — March 29, 2020 at 1:01 am

    Hi,

    What can I use instead of Graham Cracker?
    Will plain digestive biscuits work?

  3. #
    Barb — August 16, 2017 at 9:34 pm

    Loved this pie…chocolate-y but not too chocolate-y! Sweet, but not too sweet. Perfect! When I need a feel good chocolate fix, this will be my go-to recipe.

    • #
      Tessa — August 17, 2017 at 9:19 am

      I’m so happy to hear that, Barb!

  4. #
    Julia — August 7, 2017 at 2:39 am

    Wow! This chocolate pudding pie looks so rich and flavorful! Pudding desserts are so easy to make and always taste delicious, don’t they!

  5. #
    Debbie — August 6, 2017 at 7:10 am

    I can’t wait to try this, my Handsome Hubby always talks about the chocolate pudding pie his mom made. He always loved the “skin” on it?
    any way how much sugar and salt go in the crust?
    thank you☺

  6. #
    thenotsoskinnykitchen — June 12, 2009 at 2:57 pm

    Thanks for such a great choice! I'm not big on sweets, but this definitely hit the spot for that rare craving. Yours looks much creamier than mine; maybe that's due to the milk? I used fat free, and my filling turned out a little too gelatinous. The flavor was really good though once I got over the weird texture!

  7. #
    Anne — June 12, 2009 at 1:08 pm

    I am a bit late getting it made and posted, what with my family activities here in canada … but I finally had a chance to do it for dinner last night and Mom and I were both really impressed. I added extra graham crackers for the crust, then missed the instruction about baking it for 10 minutes :>( but it turned out fine anyway. And I also used the 2% because it was all we had here … and I would use it (or even whole milk for the right crowd) again. The taste was superb and I am thinking to add this dish to my Gringo Perdido menu. Thanks for choosing this great dessert, Tessa!!

  8. #
    Sara — June 12, 2009 at 2:55 am

    Super pick, this was really tasty. Your slice of pie looks really nice and creamy.

  9. #
    Amy I. — June 12, 2009 at 2:25 am

    Great pick, Tessa! The friend whose birthday party I brought it to even ate the leftovers for breakfast the next morning 🙂

  10. #
    Pamela — June 12, 2009 at 1:25 am

    It was a delicious pick, Tessa. Thanks for choosing it! And your pie does look luscious!

  11. #
    Tessa — June 11, 2009 at 6:24 pm

    Thanks Joanne! Yours looks delicious too 🙂

    Justin, I thought that too but then I remembered that graham crackers aren't all that bad for you! Regardless, I love crusts so I'm using more next time 🙂

  12. #
    Justin — June 11, 2009 at 5:39 pm

    extra crust sounds good. i assume ellie krieger didn't want to go to overboard.

  13. #
    applecrumbles — June 11, 2009 at 4:02 pm

    This was a great pick and your photo looks yummy.
    Yeah! Love making desserts.

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