The best chocolate pie recipe we’ve ever found is the one Ann’s step-mom shared with her years ago. It is said to have been the one used by Bishop’s Buffet in Lincoln, Neb. It is rich and creamy and super easy to make. Even those like me who do not follow recipes well can usually make this recipe successfully.
Ann’s step-mom, Janna Karst, made this pie all the time when Ann was growing up and it is a family favorite. Janna shared the recipe and lots of tips and tricks with us in a Facebook live video you can watch below.
The secret to the best chocolate pie
This chocolate pie recipe is very easy and requires just a few ingredients you should be able to easily find at your local grocery store. But the secret to making this pie so rich and creamy is vanilla ice cream.
Janna said she uses Blue Bunny vanilla ice cream, but has also used reduced fat ice cream, as well, and it turned out just fine. Even though the recipe includes ice cream, the completed pie does not need to be frozen, just refrigerated.
We love this pie and serve it at most holiday gatherings. We know others love it, too, because we rarely have a piece left over. Let us know if you make this best chocolate pie recipe and be sure to tag us on social media @postcardjar.
Bishop's no-bake chocolate pie
Equipment
- Hand mixer
- Mixing bowl
- Vegetable peeler
Ingredients
- 2 cup Milk
- 2 cup Vanilla ice cream
- 1 box Chocolate instant pudding 5.9 oz. box
- 1 box Vanilla instant pudding 5.1 oz. box
- 1 Graham cracker crust 9"
- Cool Whip
- Hershey's chocolate bar
Instructions
- Place milk and ice cream into mixing bowl. Blend together using the hand mixer until smooth
- Add chocolate and vanilla instant pudding, mix for an additional two minutes with the hand mixer
- Pour mixture into graham cracker crust
- Top with Cool Whip. Gently touch the top of the pie with a spatula and pull up to create peaks, if desired
- Using the vegetable peeler, shave the Hershey's bar over the pie, dropping some chocolate curls onto the top of the pie
- Place pie into refrigerator until ready to eat. No need to re-freeze as the pudding will make the pie set.
Notes
There are also lots of ways to modify this pie, including:
- Top with mini chocolate chips, candy bar pieces, or chopped nuts instead of the Hershey bar
- Add ½ cup peanut butter to the mixture for a chocolate peanut butter pie
- Cut some calories by using skim milk, low-fat ice cream, and reduced fat whipped topping
We would like to thank Ann’s step-mom Janna Karst for sharing this family favorite with us and all of you. Happy pie making!
What is your favorite type of pie at Thanksgiving?
PIN FOR LATER
pie will not set up
Can you verify that you used instant pudding? Every time we’ve made it, the pie sets up almost immediately because the ice cream and milk are so cold.
yes i made sure to use the instant–i followed recipe, and i even used a cold stainless steel mixing bowl.
it was edible-
it just did not set up– it was more of a blob– we had to call it “deconstructed”
it even sat in the refrigerator overnight.
So weird. We’ve never had that happen before and we’ve been using this recipe for years. Sorry about that.
My grandmother made this for years, I lost the recipe, easy as it is I could never remember the ratio of milk and ice cream! Thank you So much for sharing! Made it today, you have no idea how much we are looking forward to dessert!
We’re glad we could help you rediscover this recipe! It’s so easy and SO GOOD! 🙂 Enjoy!
Have you ever used the kitchen aid for this. Using the wire whisk
I haven’t, but it would work, as well. I usually just use my hand mixer because it is such a quick recipe to pull together and the hand mixer is lighter and easier for me to use. But I do love my KitchenAid mixer for bigger jobs. Thanks for the suggestion.
Ok made this pie but as I was taking cover off store bought graham cracker crust the entire crust feel apart in small pieces. Good thing I had back up pie shells but the smaller size so I put the pie together in the unbroken shell. My husband had the deconstructed pie with chocolate mixture that did not fit and the broken pie shell pieces. He said it was excellent and very rich. The good one is chilling for tomorrow.
Love this! Thanks so much for sharing. We’ve found that Keebler brand graham cracker crusts seem to hold up best and taste great.
Husband said it was amazing definitely one of his new favorites
We are so glad he likes the pie. It’s definitely one of our favorites, too!