A Classic Southern Recipe

Pies are one of my absolute favorite things to eat and I especially like simple, old-fashioned pies like this Chocolate Chess Pie. Chess pies are so quick and easy to make and only require a few basic ingredients. Typically chess pies contain flour, sugar, butter and eggs.

This Chocolate Chess Pie is wonderfully sweet and full of chocolate flavor. It has a custard filling that is rich, but not too heavy and I like to serve it either at room temperature or chilled.

Bake in Advance

For best results, bake a day in advance and chill overnight. If you try and slice it right after baking, the filling will be runny. I love to refrigerate Chess Pie, but it will be fine left on the counter at room temperature for a few days.

Quick and Easy Pie Recipe

This Chocolate Chess Pie is such an easy pie to make and only a few ingredients are needed. It’s super sweet, creamy, and delicious with plenty of chocolate flavor. I usually use a store bought pie crust and then it only takes a few minutes to prep this pie. Forty-Five minutes later you have a wonderful homemade dessert to serve with supper. I like to serve it with whipped cream that’s barely been sweetened to cut the sweetness of the pie some.

Next to Chocolate Meringue Pie, this is probably my favorite chocolate pie to make. The top develops a thin, crackly layer and the filling underneath is so smooth and creamy. It’s truly a decadent treat that will transport you back in time to your grandmother’s kitchen. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can also make a homemade pie crust for this recipe.

Why Do They Call It Chess Pie?

The origin of the name is debated. One theory is that it comes from the term “cheese pie” since the filling of the pie resembles the texture and color of a creamy cheese (not the chocolate version when it comes to color of course). Another theory is the name evolved from “chess pie” which was a term used for pies stored in a pie chest.

If you’d like to make a homemade pie crust for this recipe watch the video below. Linda Carman, the head of the test kitchen at Martha White, shows me how to make an easy, flaky pie crust.

Have a wonderful week full of pie!