Chocolate Pudding Pie

A family favorite for generations, this homemade Chocolate Pudding Pie with a graham cracker crust is the perfect simple, rich, and easy dessert for any occasion!

Total Time: 25 minutes

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A family favorite for generations, this homemade Chocolate Pudding Pie with a graham cracker crust is the perfect simple, rich, and easy dessert recipe for any occasion!

As you know by now, I love a recipe with a story or personal connection. This particular recipe comes from my mom’s best friend, “Miss Joyce,” as my boys call her. My mom insisted that “Miss Joyce” send me her tried-and-true family recipe for chocolate pudding pie, knowing that it would be a big hit in our house. I love an easy dessert recipe, and as Miss Joyce says, “it’s literally easy as pie!”

This is the same recipe that Joyce’s grandmother made for her, and which she has been making for her friends and family for as long as she can remember. Joyce assured me that this Jell-O Cook and Serve Chocolate Pudding Pie recipe is always a guaranteed crowd-pleaser, and now I know why!

How do you make Chocolate Pie with pudding?

This easy chocolate pie comes together with just 5 ingredients (or a few more, if making your own graham cracker crust)!

You can start with a store-bought graham cracker crust, or for a real treat, prepare your own graham cracker crust. Trust me — it’s worth the extra step!

You only need 3 ingredients for a homemade crust: graham crackers, butter and sugar.

Start by processing or crushing the graham crackers into fine crumbs.

Combine the graham cracker crumbs with melted butter and sugar.

Press the graham cracker mixture into a pie plate. I like to use the flat bottom of a small measuring cup to help press down the crust and to push the crumbs up the side of the dish. This does not need to be perfect, either!

Bake the pie crust in a 375 degree F oven for 8-10 minutes, or just until it’s golden brown and firm. Then allow the crust to cool completely before preparing the filling.

For the easy chocolate pudding pie filling, simple whisk together dry pudding mix, milk and unsweetened Baker’s chocolate in a saucepan over medium heat until it comes to a boil.

The mixture should be perfectly smooth.

Allow the filling to cool and thicken for about 5 minutes, and then pour it into the prepared crust.

Sprinkle the top of the pie with reserved buttered graham cracker crumbs, and then refrigerate for at least 3 hours (or until the pudding sets).

Garnish with whipped cream or Cool Whip and serve!

Does Chocolate Pudding Pie need to be refrigerated?

Yes, this chocolate pudding pie needs to be stored in the refrigerator. It will keep for up to 2 days.

Can you freeze Chocolate Pudding Pie?

Yes! Allow the pie to cool completely. Wrap tightly and freeze for up to 1 month.

Can you make Chocolate Pudding Pie in advance?

Yes! This is a perfect make-ahead dessert. I usually prepare the pie the day before I plan to serve it so that I know it has plenty of time to chill and firm up.

The pie will keep in the refrigerator for at least 2 days.

What to serve with Chocolate Pudding Pie:

Serve this decadent chocolate pie with a dollop of whipped cream or Cool Whip for a light, fluffy, and creamy contrast to the rich, dark chocolate.

You can add the whipped cream on each individual slice just before serving, or you can spread Cool Whip over the entire pie once the pudding has cooled.

COOK’S TIPS AND RECIPE VARIATIONS:

• Make sure that you use a 5 ounce box of the Cook and Serve pudding. This is the larger box sold. The small boxes are only 3.4 ounces.
• Do NOT use instant pudding mix for this recipe. You want the “Cook and Serve” version.
• Try a Chocolate Pudding Pie with Oreo Crust instead of the graham cracker crust!
• Use other pudding flavors to create variations on this recipe. Try a White Chocolate Pudding Pie using the white chocolate pudding mix, try an Oreo Pudding Pie by adding crushed Oreo cookies to the pudding or by using the Oreo pudding mix. A Strawberry White Chocolate Pudding Pie using sliced fresh strawberries would be delicious, and so would an Oreo White Chocolate Pudding Pie! The options are endless when you mix up the pudding flavor and the crust flavor!
• Don’t forget the garnish! Make this Chocolate Pudding Pie with Graham Cracker Crust and Cool Whip (or whipped cream) for a special treat! You can serve a dollop of whipped cream on each slice, or you can spread Cool Whip over the top of the entire pie before slicing and serving.

Other easy dessert recipes that you might enjoy:

• Mom’s Easy Apple Pie
• Easy Pecan Pie Bars
• Claudia’s Easy Triple Chocolate Cake
• Aunt Bee’s 5-Minute, 5-Ingredient Cherry Dump Cake

Did you try this recipe? Don’t forget to rate it and leave me a comment below! You can follow me on Facebook, on Instagram, on Pinterest, and on Twitter!

5 from 4 votes

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Chocolate Pudding Pie

A family favorite for generations, this homemade Chocolate Pudding Pie with a graham cracker crust is the perfect simple, rich, and easy dessert for any occasion!

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Keyword chocolate pie recipe, chocolate pudding pie, chocolate pudding pie recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes

Cooling Time 4 hours

Total Time 25 minutes

Servings 8 people

Calories 320 kcal

Author Blair

Ingredients

• 1 (5 ounce) package Jell-O Cook & Serve Chocolate Pudding & Pie Filling
• 1 ounce unsweetened Baker’s Chocolate
• 3 cups milk (I used 1%, but 2% or whole milk will also work well)
• 1 prepared graham cracker crust (a store-bought crust is perfectly fine, but a homemade crust is easy and extra special!)
• Whipped cream or Cool Whip for serving

For a homemade Graham Cracker Crust:

• 12 full-size graham crackers crushed or processed into fine crumbs
• ¼ cup sugar
• 6 tablespoons butter melted

Instructions

For a Homemade Graham Cracker Crust:

1. If you’re making your crust from scratch, combine graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and melted butter in a large bowl. Toss until all of the crumbs are evenly coated in butter. Set aside about 1-2 tablespoons of crumbs to garnish the top of your pie, if desired.

2. Press crumbs into a pie dish and bake at 375 degrees for 8-10 minutes, or until golden brown.
3. Allow pie crust to cool.

For the Pie Filling:

1. Stir together dry chocolate pudding mix, milk, and Baker’s Chocolate in a medium saucepan.

2. Bring to a full boil on medium heat, stirring constantly with a whisk. Make sure that all of the chocolate is completely melted and incorporated into the pudding. The mixture should be completely smooth.

3. Remove the saucepan from the heat. The filling will thicken as it cools, so wait about 5 minutes, whisking regularly so that the filling stays nice and smooth.

4. After about 5 minutes, the filling should have thickened nicely. Pour the filling into the prepared crust. Sprinkle with reserved graham cracker crumbs, if desired.

5. Refrigerate the pie for at least 3 hours, or until set. Slice and serve with whipped cream or Cool Whip on top.

Recipe Notes

Nutrition information includes a homemade graham cracker crust and the pie filling. It does not include any additional whipped cream or Cool Whip garnish.

Does Chocolate Pudding Pie need to be refrigerated?

Yes, this chocolate pudding pie needs to be stored in the refrigerator. It will keep for up to 2 days.

Can you freeze Chocolate Pudding Pie?

Yes! Allow the pie to cool completely. Wrap tightly and freeze for up to 1 month.

Can you make Chocolate Pudding Pie in advance?

Yes! This is a perfect make-ahead dessert. I usually prepare the pie the day before I plan to serve it so that I know it has plenty of time to chill and firm up. 

The pie will keep in the refrigerator for at least 2 days.

COOK'S TIPS AND RECIPE VARIATIONS:

• Make sure that you use a 5 ounce box of the Cook and Serve pudding. This is the larger box sold. The small boxes are only 3.4 ounces.
• Do NOT use instant pudding mix for this recipe. You want the "Cook and Serve" version.
• Try a Chocolate Pudding Pie with Oreo Crust instead of the graham cracker crust!
• Use other pudding flavors to create variations on this recipe. Try a White Chocolate Pudding Pie using the white chocolate pudding mix, try an Oreo Pudding Pie by adding crushed Oreo cookies to the pudding or by using the Oreo pudding mix. A Strawberry White Chocolate Pudding Pie using sliced fresh strawberries would be delicious, and so would an Oreo White Chocolate Pudding Pie! The options are endless when you mix up the pudding flavor and the crust flavor!
• Don't forget the garnish! Make this Chocolate Pudding Pie with Graham Cracker Crust and Cool Whip (or whipped cream) for a special treat! You can serve a dollop of whipped cream on each slice, or you can spread Cool Whip over the top of the entire pie before slicing and serving.

Nutrition Facts

Chocolate Pudding Pie

Amount Per Serving (1 slice)

Calories 320 Calories from Fat 122

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 13.5g 21%

Saturated Fat 7.5g 38%

Polyunsaturated Fat 1.5g

Monounsaturated Fat 2.9g

Cholesterol 27.7mg 9%

Sodium 319.7mg 13%

Potassium 169.8mg 5%

Total Carbohydrates 45g 15%

Dietary Fiber 2.2g 9%

Sugars 27.3g

Protein 5.8g 12%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

This recipe was originally published in July, 2014. It was updated in February, 2019.