There’s nothing quite like the sweet memories of grandma’s kitchen, is there? The comforting aromas, the unconditional love baked into every dish, the sticky fingerprints smudged across her well-loved recipe cards. For me, one treat reigns supreme in evoking those nostalgic feelings – old fashioned chocolate pie.
With its velvety chocolate filling and cloud-like meringue topping, this pie was the undisputed star of every family gathering when I was a kid. I can vividly recall sneaking down to grandma’s kitchen, batting my lashes in hopes of scoring an extra slice before dinner. And you can bet I wasn’t alone – there was an unspoken race amongst us grandkids to get our sugary fix before the pie disappeared!
Ingredients
For the Pie:
1 9- inch pie crust baked and cooled
4 tablespoons butter
1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour heaping
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder heaping
1 1/4 cups milk 2% or whole
3 egg yolks
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the Meringue:
4 egg whites room temperature
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/4 cup granulated sugar
Instructions
1/ Prepare pie crust according to package directions and let cool completely.
2/ For the filling: In a saucepan, whisk together the sugar, flour and cocoa powder. Add in the milk, egg yolks, vanilla and butter. Cook over medium heat, whisking frequently, until thickened to a pudding-like consistency, about 5-7 minutes.
3/ Pour the hot filling into the pre-baked pie shell and smooth the top with a spatula.
4/ For the meringue: In a large clean bowl with clean beaters, beat the egg whites with the cream of tartar until stiff peaks form, about 3-5 minutes. Gradually add in the 1/4 cup sugar while beating until thick and glossy, 1-2 minutes more.
5/ Spread or pipe the meringue over the chocolate filling, creating swirly peaks and valleys.
6/ Bake at 350°F for 10-15 minutes until the meringue is lightly golden brown.
7/ Allow pie to cool completely at room temperature, then refrigerate for at least 1 hour before slicing and serving.
However you serve this vintage charmer, it’s bound to be met with oohs and aahs from your guests or family. One bite of that creamy chocolate and featherlight meringue will have everyone feeling like a kid again. Just don’t be surprised when they start licking their plates!
