The series on my mama’s favorite chocolate recipes continues with this delicious chocolate pie.

WARNING: This pie sets the standard and will ruin you! No store-bought pie or restaurant pie has ever even come close to matching this one. 

Chocolate Pie Filling:

3 cups milk

1 cup sugar

2 egg yolks

1 tsp. vanilla

2 and a half squares of baking chocolate (or 8 tblsp. cocoa)

5 tblsp. cornstarch

1/2 tsp. salt

1 tblsp. butter

Begin warming milk and chocolate squares in a large pot on the stove top, medium heat. Mix cornstarch and sugar and salt together in a small bowl and then add to the milk. Stir well. Add beaten eggs yolks. (I usually spoon out some of the warm milk mixture to add the beaten eggs before pouring the eggs into the saucepan. This warms them up slowly and prevents lumps.) Whisk mixture constantly and cook until thick. Remove from heat. Add vanilla and butter. Pour into pie shell. Allow to cool completely and then cover and refrigerate for several hours before serving. Serve with whipped cream on top.

I suppose you could buy a pie crust, but I love making my own. Here’s how:

Basic Pie Crust:

2 cups flour

2/3 cup shortening (I use Crisco)

1 tsp. salt

5-6 tblsp. ice water

Combine dry ingredients and use pastry cutter to blend. Add water and use fork to blend. Form a ball of dough with hands; roll out on lightly floured sheets of wax paper. Makes a pie shell and top. (You won’t need a top for the chocolate pie, so there will be some dough leftover.) Use a fork to prick holes in the crust and prevent air bubbles. Bake the pie shell at 450 degrees F for 10 to 12 minutes.

Whipped Cream:

1 cup whipping cream

2 tblsp. sugar

1/2 tsp. vanilla

In a chilled bowl, combine whipping cream, sugar and vanilla. Beat with chilled beaters of an electric mixer on medium speed until soft peaks form. Serve with pie. Makes 2 cups.

Alternative: Skip the crust altogether and just serve up the chocolate pudding in individual dishes. Top with whipped cream and chocolate sprinkles or chocolate shavings for extra flair.