A true favorite, Gluten Free Chocolate Chess Pie is like a brownie and fudge had a baby in a flaky pie crust. It'll leave you speechless!
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Gluten Free Chocolate Chess Pie was originally posted on November 7, 2019 and has been updated with an entirely new recipe, new pictures, tons of new information, and a full-length video!
I might have already mentioned that when I was growing up, we would spend almost all our Thanksgivings with our neighbors. Our extended family was always so far away that we rarely saw them on holidays, but we were pretty close with our neighbors so it was all good.
The Hons (our neighbors across the street) would always bring a chocolate chess pie. There's chocolate pie, and then there's chocolate chess pie y'all. If chocolate chess pie was on the dessert table, forget about all the others.
What is chocolate chess pie?
Chess pie in general is a Southern staple. It's a type of custard pie that's often made with some type of thickener (usually cornmeal, but sometimes flour). It has this crunchy top crust that's kinda like the top of a brownie. The traditional chess pie flavor is either vanilla or lemon, but chocolate is the king of all chess pies, in my humble opinion.
Imagine something like a combination of brownie and fudge. It's one of the most amazing textures in a pie I've ever had. Most chess pie fillings aren't super deep either. That's probably because they're so rich, a shallow bite is all we need!
Simple ingredients for this decadent pie
- Gluten free pie dough - you'll need a gluten-free pie crust that's parbaked (more on that below). You can either take the ultra easy way out and buy a frozen one OR make my Easy Gluten Free Pie Crust that is so easy and sooooooooo flaky and delicious, once you try it, you'll never go back to the store bought stuff.
- Unsweetened cocoa powder - for this pie, I'd suggest using natural cocoa powder (not Dutch processed).
- Eggs - the eggs are what set the custard.
- Melted butter - you can sub this with a dairy-free butter alternative (and make the crust dairy free as well).
The easiest chocolate pie you'll ever make!
- Step 1: Line pie crust with parchment paper or foil and fill with pie weights (beans, rice, etc).
- Step 2: Bake at 375 F for 15-20 minutes, just until pie crust is set and lightly golden brown around the edges.
- Step 3: Whisk sugar, cocoa powder, and salt in a large bowl.
- Step 4: Add eggs, evaporated milk, melted butter, and vanilla and whisk until smooth.
- Step 5: Pour into parbaked pie crust.
- Step 6: Bake at 350 F for 45-55 minutes, or until set with a slight jiggle in the very center.
Chocolate chess pie FAQs
My favorite way to serve this pie is with freshly whipped cream. But a big ole' scoop of vanilla ice cream is also fabulous. Or a simple sprinkle of powdered sugar if you're a simple kind of person.
When we ate chocolate chess pie in my younger years, it was always served room temperature. But it's also just as tasty when it's warm or straight out of the fridge. You really can't go wrong with chess pie.
Yes! It can be stored in the fridge for up to 4 days. You can also store it in the freezer (well wrapped) for up to 2 months! It's a great make-ahead pie for the holidays.
More gluten free pie recipes
- Gluten free apple crumb pie
- Gluten free French silk pie
- Gluten free chocolate chip pie
- The BEST gluten free sweet potato pie
- Best ever gluten free pecan pie
- Gluten free cream cheese pumpkin pie
- Gluten free chocolate pecan pie
- Classic gluten free pumpkin pie recipe
- The BEST gluten free apple pie
Consider adding this wonderfully rich fudgy Gluten Free Chocolate Chess Pie to your Thanksgiving dessert table. It's sure to please all the chocolate lovers in your family!!
Gluten Free Chocolate Chess Pie
Ingredients
- 1 Easy Gluten Free Pie Crust (or your favorite gf pie crust)
- 1½ cups (300g) granulated sugar
- ¼ cup (24g) unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 large eggs
- 1 5oz (142g) can evaporated milk
- ¼ cup (56g) butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- pinch kosher salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375° F. Prepare pie crust for parbaking. Line crust with parchment paper or foil and fill with pie weights (ceramic pie weights or beans, rice, sugar, etc). Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until edges are lightly golden brown; set aside.
- In a large bowl, whisk together sugar and cocoa. Add eggs, whisking well until thick and mostly smooth. Whisk in evaporated milk, melted butter, vanilla, and salt.
- Pour into parbaked pie shell and bake for 45-55 minutes, or until the top crust is set and the pie barely jiggles in the very center when shaken.
- Allow to cool before refrigerating for 3-4 hours to set.
- Pie may be served cold, at room temperature, or slightly warm with freshly whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.
Notes
Adapted from House of Nash Eats chocolate chess pie.
Leveda Yost says
Love the pie recipe would you have a chocolate cake recipe? I could use for a birthday cake you make it very easy to bake for my daughter bless you
Kim says
Yes, I do!! Check out my cakes category, where you'll find several recipes for chocolate cakes https://www.letthemeatgfcake.com/category/cakes/ The cakes can be mismatched with other frostings to suit your needs 🙂
Sadie says
So easy and delicious!!
Kim says
I know, right?!?! Thank you so much!
Wendy Jensen says
The best pie in the whole world!! So rich and delicious! I could eat the whole pie
Kim says
I know, me too!! I had one piece and told Scott he better eat the rest, and soon before I give in. Lol!!
Barb says
I can’t tell you how much I’d love a bite of that right now!
Kim says
I just did, Barb, and it was WONDERFUL!!!