Description
Old-Fashioned Chocolate Meringue Pie brings a taste of timeless Southern charm to your table with every slice. Its rich chocolate custard, flaky baked crust, and heavenly toasted meringue make it the kind of dessert that earns gasps at gatherings and smiles after weeknight dinners. This easy recipe is perfect for holiday dinners, family reunions, or when you’re craving comfort food with a classic twist. Whether you’re after a quick dessert, cozy food ideas, or simple homemade baking inspiration, this pie delivers all that and more. It’s one of those easy recipes that never goes out of style, fitting effortlessly into any lineup of dinner ideas, sweet breakfast treats, or holiday favorites.
Ingredients
1 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 3/4 cups whole milk
3 large eggs, separated
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 prepared pie crust, baked and cooled
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
6 tablespoons granulated sugar (for meringue)
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. In a saucepan, whisk sugar, cocoa, cornstarch, and salt. Slowly add milk and whisk until smooth.
3. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until mixture thickens. Remove from heat.
4. Lightly beat egg yolks. Temper by stirring in a bit of the hot custard, then return to the saucepan.
5. Cook 2–3 more minutes on low until thick and smooth. Stir in butter and vanilla.
6. Pour warm chocolate filling into cooled crust.
7. In a separate bowl, beat egg whites and cream of tartar until soft peaks form.
8. Gradually add sugar and continue beating until stiff peaks form.
9. Spread meringue over hot custard, sealing to crust edges.
10. Bake 10–12 minutes until meringue is golden. Cool completely before slicing.
Notes
Always spread the meringue over warm custard to prevent weeping.
For a deeper flavor, use Dutch-process cocoa.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Southern
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 28g
- Sodium: 170mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 90mg
Keywords: chocolate pie, old-fashioned pie, easy dessert, holiday pie, chocolate custard