Chocolate Chess Pie

This has got to be the absolute best pie that I've ever made. And that is really saying a lot, because I like every pie I make. Chess pie is a Southern classic, and is defined in Wikipedia as "a single crust and a filling composed of eggs, butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla. What sets chess pie apart from many other custard pies is the substitution of corn meal for flour." This particular pie adds melted chocolate into the equation. It has a texture similar to pecan pie, but without the pecans. The corn meal, to my surprise, didn't add any grittiness at all - the pie was smooth and gelatinous, and deliciously rich. Present this at your Thanksgiving meal, and let the compliments fly!

Chocolate Chess Pie
1/4 cup butter
1 1/2 ounces semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 to 1 cup sugar (depending on how sweet you prefer your pie. I used 1 cup and it was really sweet. We all loved it!)
1 tbsp. corn meal
Pinch of salt
1/2 cup milk
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1 unbaked 9" pastry shell

Melt butter with chocolate. In a mixing bowl, combine the chocolate and butter mixture with sugar, flour, salt, milk, eggs, and vanilla; beat with electric mixer for 5 to 6 minutes (I couldn't find my mom's mixer, so I used a whisk and beat it vigorously by hand. It worked out fine). Pour filling into prepared pastry shell; bake at 350 for 35 to 45 minutes, until set. Serve at room temperature, with whipped cream if desired.


Pastry Shell (aka pie crust)
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp. salt
1/3 cup shortening
3-4 tbsp. cold water

Combine flour and salt. Cut in shortening. Mix in enough water to make dough hold together. Roll out on floured surface and ease into pie plate. Trim and flute edges. Use as directed in recipe.


This pie, oh my gosh, I can't say enough about it. It really was a fantastic pie! The filling separated out into two layers - the bottom layer was similar to the filling of a pecan pie, and the top layer had all the chocolate. On the very top of the filling was a thin, almost crispy topping that literally melts in your mouth. The result is a fabulous pie that looks and tastes like you put a ton of work into it, when really it's quite simple and easy to make.