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Hot Chocolate Pie

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Updated Aug 11, 2025
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Now you can drink your hot chocolate and eat it, too! This over-the-top Hot Chocolate Pie is the kind of dessert that turns heads—and has everyone begging for seconds. Even better? You don’t need to be a pastry chef to pull it off.

Made with flaky Pillsbury™ Pie Crusts, it layers rich dark chocolate fudge, silky homemade chocolate pudding, and a dreamy whipped marshmallow topping. A drizzle of chocolate sauce and a festive sprinkle of crushed peppermint candies and mini marshmallows give it big holiday vibes. This chocolate pie is a perfect make-ahead dessert for holiday parties, winter birthdays, or any night you want something extra special.

Recipe Ingredients

Get ready to build a seriously festive pie—with seriously simple ingredients. Most are pantry staples, and the rest are easy to find at your local store.

Refrigerated Pillsbury™ Pie Crusts: A must-have for any pie recipe! It takes the fuss and guesswork out of baking and turns out delicious every time.

Chocolate Pudding Mix: Using a mix helps create a smooth, rich filling without the hassle of making the filling completely from scratch. It saves time and ensures that your filling turns out perfectly every time.

Marshmallow Creme: This takes normal whipped cream and gives it big hot chocolate energy!

Other Ingredients: Dark chocolate chips give this dessert extra chocolaty richness, but you can use semi-sweet or milk chocolate chips depending on how sweet you want it to turn out. And don’t forget the toppings! We love topping this luscious pie with crunchy vanilla marshmallow bits and colorful crushed peppermint candies.

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How to Make Hot Chocolate Pie

This dessert comes together in layers, each one adding its own texture and flavor. Check out this quick overview and keep reading for the full recipe!

1. Bake the Crust

Bake 1 refrigerated Pillsbury™ Pie Crust in an ungreased pie plate for the crisp, flaky base. Poking holes on the bottom and sides of the pie crust with a fork before baking helps prevent it from bubbling up.

2. Make the Fudge Layer

In a saucepan, melt together dark chocolate chips, heavy whipping cream, and a pat of butter to create a quick fudge sauce. Make sure the heat is low, and you’re continuously stirring so the sauce doesn’t burn or seize up. You want it to be a glossy black, not matte black (which means it’s burned). Spread the sauce over the cooled crust, saving a little bit to drizzle on top of the finished pie, and put the pie in the fridge to chill.

3. Make the Pudding

Whip up easy chocolate pudding on the stove using boxed pudding mix. Then, add chocolate chips for extra-rich flavor. Once slightly cooled, spread the pudding over the fudge layer, and return the pie to the fridge to chill until firm.

4. Make the Marshmallow Whipped Topping

Right before serving, make easy homemade whipped cream, and stir in a jar of marshmallow creme to make it taste like a big, fluffy marshmallow! Spoon the whipped cream over the pie, and finish with extra fudge drizzle, a handful of marshmallow bits, and crushed peppermint candy for a festive crunch in every bite.

Storing and Reheating Hot Chocolate Pie

This pie is rich and decadent, so you might find yourself with a few extra slices. Here’s how to store and enjoy them later.

Refrigerator

Store loosely covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. If already cut into slices, store in an airtight container.

Freezer

While we wouldn’t recommend storing the fully-made pie in the freezer, you can make and assemble the crust and chocolate pudding base ahead of time, and store the pie in the freezer, tightly covered, for up to 3 months. Before serving, put the pie in the fridge to thaw for 3 to 4 hours. Then, top with the whipped marshmallow topping to serve.

Frequently Asked Questions

TIP FROM THEDoughboy

  • Sprinkle a little bit of hot chocolate mix on top of the pie for extra hot chocolate fun!

Hot Chocolate Pie

  • Prep Time 35 min
  • Total 4 hr 15 min
  • Ingredients 11
  • Servings 8
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Ingredients

Crust

Fudge Layer and Sauce

  • 1 cup dark chocolate chips
  • 1/3 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 1 tablespoon butter

Filling

  • 2 3/4 cups milk
  • 1 box (5 oz) Jell-O™ Cook & Serve chocolate pudding & pie filling mix (not instant)
  • 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips

Toppings

  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 1 jar (7 oz) marshmallow creme
  • 2 tablespoons vanilla marshmallows bits
  • 4 peppermint candies, unwrapped, crushed

Instructions

  • Step 
    1

    Heat oven to 450°F. Make and bake pie crust as directed on box for One-Crust Baked Shell in ungreased 9-inch pie plate. Cool on cooling rack 20 minutes.

  • Step 
    2

    In 1-quart heavy saucepan, mix Fudge Layer and Sauce ingredients. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until chips are melted. Remove from heat; stir until smooth. 

  • Step 
    3

    Reserve 2 tablespoons fudge mixture in small microwavable bowl for drizzle; cover and refrigerate until needed. Spread remaining mixture in bottom of cooled baked pie shell. Refrigerate 10 minutes.

  • Step 
    4

    Meanwhile, in 4-quart saucepan, cook milk and pudding mix over medium heat 10 to 14 minutes or until mixture comes to a full boil, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. 

  • Step 
    5

    Add 1/2 cup chocolate chips; stir until melted and smooth. Let stand 5 minutes.

  • Step 
    6

    Pour chocolate pudding mixture on top of fudge layer; spread smooth. Cover filling with plastic wrap. Refrigerate at least 3 hours until set.

  • Step 
    7

    When ready to serve, remove plastic wrap from filling. In chilled medium bowl, beat whipping cream until soft peaks form; add marshmallow creme, and beat until blended and smooth. Spread on top of pudding layer.

  • Step 
    8

    Remove reserved fudge mixture from refrigerator; uncover and microwave on High 15 to 20 seconds or until thin enough to drizzle. Drizzle over top of pie. Sprinkle marshmallow bits and crushed candies on top. Cut into wedges to serve.

Nutrition

610 Calories
32g Total Fat
6g Protein
74g Total Carbohydrate
46g Sugars

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 1 Slice
Calories
610
Calories from Fat
290
Total Fat
32g
49%
Saturated Fat
18g
91%
Trans Fat
1/2g
Cholesterol
60mg
21%
Sodium
480mg
20%
Potassium
380mg
11%
Total Carbohydrate
74g
25%
Dietary Fiber
3g
11%
Sugars
46g
Protein
6g
% Daily Value*:
Vitamin A
10%
10%
Vitamin C
0%
0%
Calcium
15%
15%
Iron
15%
15%
Exchanges:
1 Starch; 0 Fruit; 3 1/2 Other Carbohydrate; 0 Skim Milk; 0 Low-Fat Milk; 1/2 Milk; 0 Vegetable; 0 Very Lean Meat; 0 Lean Meat; 0 High-Fat Meat; 5 1/2 Fat;
Carbohydrate Choice
5
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

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