Grandma’s Easy Chocolate Pie with Homemade Pie Crust

This post includes two treasured recipes: a simple, foolproof homemade pie crust and a rich, old-fashioned chocolate pie filling. These are the exact recipes Maw Maw taught when I was just a kid, and they’ve been made the same way ever since. They’re simple, comforting, and unbelievably good — the kind of recipes that get passed down because they just work.

The pie crust is tender and dependable, perfect for any filled pie, and the chocolate filling is smooth, thick, and deeply chocolatey. Honestly, the filling alone makes the most delicious homemade chocolate pudding — but poured into that flaky crust, it becomes something truly special.

Homemade Pie Crust (Makes 2 Crusts)

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour, sifted
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ⅔ cup butter or shortening (shortening was traditionally used)
• 5–7 tablespoons cold water

Directions

1. Combine Flour & Fat: Place the sifted flour into a large mixing bowl. Add the butter or shortening.
2. Cut It In: Using a pastry cutter (or two knives), cut the fat into the flour until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Small bits of fat throughout the dough help create a flaky crust.
3. Add Salt & Water: Sprinkle in the salt, then add the cold water a little at a time, gently mixing until a soft dough forms. Stop adding water as soon as the dough comes together.
4. Shape the Dough: Divide the dough in half if making two crusts. You can roll it out on a floured surface, or simply place the dough ball directly into the pie pan and gently press and pat it out evenly along the bottom and sides.
5. Pre-Bake: Bake the crust at 375°F (190°C) until lightly golden brown. Allow it to cool before adding the chocolate filling.

Grandma’s Chocolate Pie Filling