Frozen Chocolate Pie

As a busy parent, if I’m making a homemade dessert, I need it to tick all the boxes: delicious, quick and versatile. This recipe for frozen chocolate pie knocks these requirements out of the park. The simple filling calls for silky cream cheese, rich cocoa powder and store-bought frozen whipped topping. Mix up the one-bowl recipe and tip it into a pie crust (as always, store-bought is fine!). Then, it’s off to the freezer to chill. A sprinkle of chocolate chips is a speedy finishing touch. The dessert tastes like an ice cream pie, but the filling is airier, more like a mousse.

Since this frozen treat keeps well in the freezer, frozen chocolate mousse pie is a great recipe to make ahead. Pull it out next time you need a dessert for a dinner party or a potluck. It’s a sure-fire favorite.

Frozen Chocolate Pie Ingredients

• Cream cheese: Cream cheese is the base of so many desserts for good reason. It has the perfect balance of richness and tanginess, and it makes an ultra-smooth filling. You can use full-fat or low-fat, whichever you prefer.
• Sugar: Simple granulated sugar easily dissolves into the filling.
• Vanilla extract: Aromatic vanilla adds an extra element of flavor. Use a good-quality brand of vanilla extract for the best taste.
• Baking cocoa: Since most of the chocolate flavor in this pie comes from cocoa, use a delicious brand of cocoa.
• Milk: Milk thins the filling to make it mousse-like and light rather than dense and heavy. You can use whole, 2%, skim or nondairy milk.
• Frozen whipped topping: Airy, frothy whipped topping is sturdier than homemade whipped cream, so the pie will keep its light texture even if stored in the freezer for a few days or weeks.
• Pie pastry: Picking up a premade crust at the store couldn’t be easier. You can also make a simple homemade pie crust. If making one from scratch, you’ll need to blind bake it first.
• Chocolate curls or semisweet chocolate chips: To make this an extra-decadent chocolate dessert, garnish the pie with chocolate curls cut from a large block or with semisweet chips.

Directions

Step 1: Make the filling

In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, sugar and vanilla until smooth. Add the cocoa alternately with the milk and mix well. Fold in the whipped topping.

Editor’s Tip: Stirring in the full amount of cocoa can make it clump, so we alternate a bit of cocoa and a bit of milk. Folding rather than stirring helps preserve the air in the whipped topping.

Step 2: Fill the pie and chill

Pour the cream cheese mixture into the pie shell. Smooth the top with a spatula. Freeze for eight hours or overnight.

Step 3: Serve

Serve the pie directly from the freezer; it doesn’t need to be thawed to slice. Garnish with chocolate curls or chips and add whipped topping or whipped cream if desired.

Allison Cebulla for Taste of Home

Frozen Chocolate Pie Variations

• Make a crumb crust: A crumb crust is simple to make. Use nuts (like walnuts or almonds), peanut butter cookies, wafer cookies or graham crackers.
• Go chocolate-wild: Swap in dark chocolate for the semisweet chip garnish. Or, chop up your favorite artisanal chocolate bars and scatter them over the pie. Raspberry chocolate, nutty chocolate, caramel chocolate or toffee are all delicious options.
• Garnish with a crunch: Sprinkle crumbled cookies or chopped nuts across the top for extra texture.
• Include color: Arrange fresh berries over the pie. Raspberries, blackberries or sliced strawberries are good matches for chocolate. You can also use maraschino cherries.
• Add a drizzle: For the fanciest finish, twirl melted chocolate over the pie.
• Adapt for special diets: Need to go gluten-free? Just switch to a gluten-free crust, whether store-bought or homemade. Need a dairy-free dessert? Look for a vegan pie crust and use nondairy alternatives for the milk, butter, whipped topping and chocolate garnish.

How to Store Frozen Chocolate Pie

To store frozen chocolate pie, wrap it in at least two layers of storage wrap, foil or a freezer-safe bag. Keep it in the freezer until ready to serve or in between servings. If you intend to store the pie for a long time—maybe it’s a make-ahead dish for a holiday party—prepare the recipe through Step 2, wrapping the pie in two layers and and then freezing it. Wait to add garnishes until ready to serve. The garnishes may discolor or lose some flavor after months in the freezer.

How long does frozen chocolate pie last?

The best thing about frozen desserts is that they keep extremely well. A well-wrapped pie will last up to six months in the freezer.

Frozen Chocolate Pie Tips

Allison Cebulla for Taste of Home

What if my frozen chocolate pie didn’t set?

This frozen chocolate pie recipe was carefully tested to ensure that it sets; however, if it doesn’t, that may mean the filling was too thin, maybe from too much milk, or the whipped topping collapsed as you mixed it into the cream cheese. Dissolve a tablespoon of cornstarch into a dash of milk and whisk it into the filling. Smooth the top with a spatula. Freeze the pie again, and this time, the filling should be nice and thick.

How do you get a clean slice of frozen chocolate pie?

The secret to a perfect slice of pie? Use a hot knife! Before cutting, rinse the knife under hot water and then dry it on a tea towel. Slice the first slice. Then rinse and wipe the knife again between slices. We like to use a serrated knife; it cuts through the filling the best.