Homemade Chocolate Cream Pie Recipe - Live Well Bake Often (2024)

FAQs

Why didn t my chocolate cream pie set? ›

Take care, however, because you also don't want to overcook the filling which will make it very dense, and can even make it start to weep and separate. What causes a chocolate pie not to set up? A chocolate pie can not set up if it doesn't have enough cornstarch, egg yolks, or the filling wasn't cooked to 160 degrees.

How long is chocolate pie good for? It'll stay good for about three days in the fridge, covered in plastic wrap. How do you thicken chocolate pie filling? I add in a little cornstarch to help thicken up the filling.

The Crust: Chocolate cream pie traditionally sits on a cookie crumb crust, while French silk pie traditionally sits on a pastry crust. The Filling: Chocolate cream pie filling has a denser, pudding-like consistency, while French silk pie filling has a lighter, airier, more mousse-like consistency.

Once cooled and set, store the Chocolate Pudding Pie covered in the fridge for up to two days. We have not tried freezing this pie, but let us know if you give that a try!

Cornstarch as Pie Filling Thickener

Just like the name suggests, cornstarch is derived from corn. Cornstarch is faster-acting than flour and forms a smooth, relatively clear filling. Just be aware that too much cornstarch can create a slimy texture.

Chocolate is very sensitive to heat and melts at just above body temperature. But if it gets too hot then it will turn grainy or lumpy and the fats will start to separate out. Sometimes this can be corrected by adding some cream or water.

Pumpkin, cream, chiffon, or custard-based pies should not be out of the refrigerator for more than two hours. "Keep in mind, custard and cream-based pies often do not freeze well," adds Peterson.

Pies with dairy and egg that fall in the cream pie category, such as our Coconut Cream Pie or a chocolate mousse pie, should always be refrigerated, according to Stephens and Wickenden.

The pie crust can be made two days in advance. Even the whipped cream can be made two days in advance, but you may need to give a 30-second re-whip to “fluff” it back up. The actual filling should be made and poured into the crust as instructed, as opposed to being made and cooled.

It's always a good idea to bake pies on a baking sheet. Not only does it make it easier to get the pies in and out of the oven, but a sheet pan will catch any filling that bubbles over. It's much easier to clean a foil lined baking sheet than the bottom of your oven.

Is it OK to eat week old pie? ›

Pies with cream, custard, or meat require refrigeration and typically last up to 3-4 days. Fruit pies, on the other hand, stay fresh at room temperature for a couple of days and can last about a week when refrigerated.

Eating an expired pie will not cause harm, unless it's so old it's begun to mold, which is terribly unlikely. The risk comes from eating a pie containing dairy, eggs, or custard, that has not been refrigerated properly. Most all foods are good past their expiration date.

If the pudding is already runny, the enjoyment will be reduced for sure! Pudding is usually runny because it has been stored in the refrigerator for too long or in an open space. Another cause could be due to improper cooking methods.

Once you've noticed the problem, the only solution is to protect the crust and pop the pie back in the oven. If you look in the oven and see that your pecan pie crust has turned a perfect golden brown, you'll instinctively want to take it out -- even if the filling is too jiggly or even soupy.

To fix this, you can cook the pudding mixture over low heat until it thickens, or add a thickener such as cornstarch or tapioca flour. Another possible reason for a runny banana cream pie is that the pie filling was not chilled properly before being added to the crust.

Runny pastry cream most often comes from undercooking the egg yolk mixture. If you remove it from the heat too soon, the amylase in the egg yolks won't break down and will prevent the cream from fully setting. If you find your crème pâtissière is too thin, return to heat and bring to a boil over medium heat to thicken.

Runny custard: You may have undercooked your custard. If it fails to thicken after bringing it to a low boil, it can be fixed by stirring in a slurry of equal parts cornstarch and water. Mix the two together and whisk it into the hot custard. Bring to a boil, stirring, until thickened.