You'll love this Brownie-Bottom Chocolate Pudding Pie! It features a delicious chocolate pudding recipe, but you can use instant pudding for convenience. Top it all with whipped cream and chocolate curls for a fabulous dessert!
That picture says it all. Amiright?!!
If you're already drooling, just wait until you taste this luscious dessert. It's one of my most popular pie recipes, eliciting mmmms and eye rolls with every bite.
I worked hard years ago to tweak and test this recipe to get it just right. I was so full of chocolate, I couldn't eat another thing...not even "one wafer-thin mint."
I really took one for the team!
Now, it's time for this to happen in your kitchen. Let me show you how! (Don't miss the video.)
It starts with a fudgy brownie pie crust. The base is similar to these Frosted Brownies.
If you've got a microwave and whisk, it's easy to make the brownie batter. Then you'll bake it for 20 minutes in a pie dish.
Then, you'll add a glorious layer of creamy chocolate pudding. I'll cover how to make it from scratch (to die for!) but also share how to cheat if you want to use a mix.
Then, you'll top it with a five-minute, homemade whipped cream. It's so worth it to make this yourself instead of using frozen whipped topping.
Sprinkle on some semisweet chocolate curls or flakes and let the pie chill to set. This might be the hardest part!!
Homemade chocolate pudding
Don't be intimidated by making pudding from scratch! Once you follow these steps and see how delicious the results are, you'll feel like a rock star.
- Start by whisking unsweetened cocoa, corn starch and salt together in a bowl, then slowly add heavy cream.
- Add egg yolks and whisk.
- Add milk and brown sugar to a saucepan.
- Heat to bring it to a simmer.
- Whisk most of the milk mixture into the bowl of cocoa mixture to temper the eggs so they don't scramble.
- Pour the contents of the bowl back into the saucepan while whisking.
- Bring the pot to a full boil, still whisking. Let the pudding boil for two minutes while whisking.
- Off the heat, stir in vanilla extract and chopped bittersweet chocolate.
The pudding is done! It just needs to be chilled.
Tip to chill pudding more quickly
It helps to spread the hot pudding into a sheet pan (affiliate link) to allow the pudding to cool faster. Press a layer of wax paper on top of it to prevent skin forming, then refrigerate for at least 90 minutes. I usually chill mine for three hours.
Using instant pudding
If you'd rather not use homemade pudding, you can make two (3.9-oz) boxes of instant chocolate pudding instead. I haven't tried using boxed brownie mix for the crust.
Storing the pie
Store this in the refrigerator for up to three days, covered with domed foil or a large bowl that's not touching the whipped cream topping. I don't recommend freezing it. Always serve the pie chilled.
Now, you can tell your family and friends you made them chocolate pie from scratch! Wink wink!
Enjoy!
P.S. If you love chocolate, check out my chocolate cheesecake, chocolate-almond cake, these raspberry brownies and this homemade chocolate liqueur! And, don't miss these coconut cream pie cups, which can be filled with chocolate pudding instead.
Brownie Bottom Chocolate Pudding Pie
Video
Ingredients
Chocolate Pudding from Scratch
- 4 ounces bittersweet chocolate
- 3 Tablespoons cocoa powder (unsweetened)
- 3 Tablespoons corn starch
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 3 egg yolks (I use extra large.)
- 2 ½ cups 2% milk (or whole milk)
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
Brownie Crust
- 4 ounces semi-sweet chocolate
- 4 Tablespoons salted butter
- ¾ cup sugar
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- 2 eggs (I use extra large.)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
Whipped Cream
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 Tablespoons confectioners sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Garnish
- 1 square of semi-sweet chocolate to make curls
Instructions
- Make the pudding first, since it will need to chill for up to three hours. Chop the bittersweet chocolate into fine flakes with a serrated knife.
- In a large, heat-proof bowl, whisk together the cocoa, corn starch and salt. Gradually add the cream, whisking as you go until it's smooth. Whisk in the egg yolks.
- In a 3-quart or larger saucepan, add the milk. Stir in the brown sugar and warm it over medium heat. Bring the pot to a simmer. You will see tiny bubbles covering the surface of the liquid.
- When it has reached a simmer, pour most of the hot liquid into your bowl with the cocoa and corn starch mixture. Whisk until it is blended well. This will temper the eggs, so they don't scramble.
- Pour everything from your bowl back into the pot and increase the heat to medium high. Whisk constantly as you bring the pot to a full boil. The pudding will be thicker.
- Cook the boiling pudding for two minutes, whisking constantly and vigorously, making sure to reach the corners of your pot.
- Remove the pudding from the heat and stir in the vanilla. Add the chopped chocolate and whisk the pudding well until the chocolate is blended.
- To chill the hot pudding more quickly, spread it evenly onto a sheet pan with sides. Cover the entire surface of the pudding with wax paper, pressing it onto the pudding to prevent skin from forming. Let the pudding cool off for a bit in the pan before refrigerating it for three hours. (You can check it after 1 ½ hours to see if it's ready.)
- While the pudding is chilling, make the brownie crust. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9-inch or 10-inch pie dish with cooking spray or butter. (The 9-inch pie dish will give you a taller pie, which looks nicer.)
- In a glass bowl or other microwaveable bowl, add the 4 ounces of semi-sweet chocolate and the butter. Heat this, covered, in the microwave for 1 minute and 50 seconds, or until the butter is melted. Stir to combine.
- Whisk in the sugar and salt. Then whisk in the eggs and vanilla. Finally, whisk in the flour.
- Transfer the brownie batter to your pie dish and bake it for 20 minutes, or until a cake tester or toothpick inserted in the center of the brownie comes out with fudgy crumbs. Don't over bake it. Let the brownie crust cool on a wire rack.
- To make the whipped cream, beat the whipping cream and confectioners sugar with a mixer in a clean, medium stainless steel or glass bowl, until the cream is about half way to being stiff. Add in the vanilla extract and continue beating until stiff peaks form. Refrigerate the whipped cream until the pudding is chilled enough to assemble the pie.
- To assemble the pie, make sure the brownie crust is at room temperature. Add the chilled pudding on top of the brownie crust. Top the pudding with the whipped cream.
- To make chocolate curls or flakes for the garnish, use a vegetable peeler to peel along a straight edge of your chocolate square. Make as many curls/flakes as you wish and scatter them on top of the pie.
- Refrigerate the pie for at least an hour before serving, to allow it to set. Then store the pie in the refrigerator for up to three days, covered with a domed bowl or domed foil so that it doesn't touch the whipped cream topping. I don't recommend freezing this pie.
Notes
- The prep time listed does not include chilling time. I chill the pudding for three hours, but you can check it after about 90 minutes. It helps to spread the pudding onto a sheet pan to allow it to chill faster. Press wax paper on top of the pudding to prevent skin forming.
- I also recommend chilling the pie for at least an hour after you assemble it, to allow it to set before you serve it.
- Store the pie in the refrigerator for up to three days and always serve it chilled.
Nutrition
(Recipe Source: Pudding adapted from Kitchn and brownie crust adapted from Kraft. Brownie-Bottom Chocolate Pudding Pie originally published on February 3, 2016 and updated now with process shots, new text and a video.)
Olivia says
If I use instant pudding how many boxes? 1 box makes 2 cups is that enough?
Mamma C says
Hi Olivia - You'd need two (3.9-oz) boxes of instant pudding that makes 4 servings each.
Traci says
Can I use instant pudding and boxed brownie mix?
Mamma C says
Hi Traci - I used to make this with instant pudding (use 2 (3.9-ounce) packages), but I've always made the brownie crust from scratch. A boxed mix should work, but probably won't have the same baking time, and I don't know if the crust would come out too thick.
Lateefa says
I would like to use a non-dairy milk. Can I use regular soy milk or coconut milk? Also, should I use baking cocoa instead of regular? These instructions aren’t entirely clear on that. I’m sort of a beginner so I just want to make sure I have everything right.
Mamma C says
Hi Lateefa - Use unsweetened baking cocoa. I made a note in the recipe to make that more clear. As for the milk, I've never tried making the pudding with soy or coconut milk. My only question is whether it would thicken enough to set like pudding. I know some people do make pudding with dairy-free milk, so you could try it, or refer to one of those pudding recipes and use it here.
Lateefa says
Can I use double broiler to melt chocolate instead of microwave?
Mamma C says
Sure!
Lateefa says
I would like to use a non-dairy milk. Can I use regular soy milk or coconut milk I?
Kathryn Sparks says
Superb right from the bottom up, I'd say. But you had me at "wafer-thin mint"—a phrase I've not heard from anyone since my late southern-gentleman dear friend used to say it on similar occasions—and he was a superb chef, not entirely coincidentally. So thanks for that marvelous memory! And for the recipe. I do love the sound of the entire thing.
Kathryn
Mamma C says
Thanks, Kathryn! I'm so happy you got my Monty Python reference and that it brought back good memories for you. 🙂
Sara says
I tried to print this recipe, but the link to print goes to the Petco website.....??? 🙂
Mamma C says
Hmmm. I wonder if there was an ad in the way when you clicked, Sara. It works on my end.
DeeDee says
All of my favorites in one dessert, chocolate, chocolate and then there's chocolate... Oh yeah and pudding, chocolate pudding, whipped cream with chocolate on top! Can't wait to make it!
Mamma C says
I'm glad you get what this is all about DeeDee! Chocolate for days....Enjoy! 🙂
Lucy - (Recipes @ Globe Scoffers) says
Wow what a desert! This looks and sounds delicious. Thanks for sharing.
Mamma C says
Thanks so much, Lucy. It's one of my favorites!
Jean Curcuru says
Hi I am going to make this dessert in three days and cannot find where there is a size pie pan - 9" 10" orrrrr please state. TY
Mamma C says
Jean, I used a 9-inch pie plate. I will update the instructions. I hope you enjoy the pie.
Cheryl "Cheffie Cooks" Wiser says
Andrea, stop it-I make something similar and it is like too delicious, too chocolatey, too decadent, too irresistible. I loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee it! Then I walk extra on the beach or swim in our pool, or BOTH! yum! Cheryl
Mamma C says
I'd probably have to walk from Ohio to Florida to make up for the amount of pie I ate...but I can't wait to do it again! I will have to come down there to swim and walk on the beach some day. Thanks, Cheryl!
Tammy Renea @SanPasqualsKitchen says
Good things come to those who wait!!! I couldn't imagine anyone not liking this. Looks amazing, Andrea. I'm pinning this for when my boys come home.
Mamma C says
I think I've had more than my share of servings to make up for lost time...Thanks, Tammy! I hope your family enjoys this.
Julie says
Use a 10" pan. It didn't fit in a 9"!
Mamma C says
Julie, I wonder what happened. I use a 9-inch pan, as shown in the last photo (notice the dimensions on the Wilton pan.) Was your pudding runny? I just mound it all into the pan.
Mamma C says
Thanks for your follow-up email, Julie. I'm glad the pudding was delicious and you were able to get everything to fit in your 10-inch pan.