Old-fashioned Chocolate Pecan Pie (A Heritage Recipe)

My grandmother made the BEST Chocolate Pecan Pie! Her Old-fashioned Chocolate Pecan Pie recipe has been lost for many years, but I recently rediscovered it. If you love chocolate and pecan pie, then oh, boy! You are going to LOVE her amazing chocolate pecan pie recipe.

Old-fashioned Chocolate Pecan Pie Recipe

My MawMaw was a great baker, and this chocolate pecan pie was always one of my favorites that she made!

Unfortunately, all her recipes were lost—or so we thought!

My aunt found some old church cookbooks tucked back in her house while she was going through some things. She doesn’t do much cooking, so she gifted them to me.

I LOVE old church cookbooks and anything vintage!

I cannot tell y’all how excited I was to find some of my MawMaw’s recipes in there. The recipe I’m sharing today came from that cookbook – MawMaw Light’s Chocolate Pecan Pie.

I fondly remember this pie from my childhood. The warm, gooey chocolate filling is smooth and velvety and the pecan part is crisp, buttery, and absolute perfection!

Why You’ll Love This Old-fashioned Chocolate Pecan Pie Recipe

• Easy to Make: A fussy recipe this is not! All you do is mix the handful of ingredients called for in a bowl and pour it into a prepared pie crust. My secret to an easy and foolproof pie crust? I buy frozen ones.
• Perfect for the Holidays: The rich flavors of cocoa powder and chopped pecans are perfect for the holiday season.
• Chocolate Lover’s Dream: The addition of chocolate gives this pie a twist on the classic pecan pie recipe. That hint of cocoa is perfect for any chocolate lover who also loves a good, gooey filling.
• Just the Right Sweetness: This pie has a perfect balance of sweetness, and the chocolate flavor comes through without being too rich, making each bite perfect!
• Store-Bought Crusts Welcome: If you’re in a hurry, you can use favorite store-bought pie crust to make things even easier.

If You Love Pecan Pie, You’ll Also Love These Recipes

• No-Bake Pecan Pie
• Easy Pecan Pie
• Apple Pecan Pie
• Praline Sauce with Pecans
• Pecan Pancakes
• Grape Salad with Pecans
• Crockpot Pecan Pie
• Pecan Pie Brownies

Ingredients for Old-fashioned Chocolate Pecan Pie

• Sugar: The white sugar brings sweetness to balance the rich cocoa powder and chopped pecans in this pie.
• Butter: Melted butter adds richness and a smooth texture to the filling. It blends in well with the dry ingredients and brings that classic, buttery goodness we all crave in a traditional pecan pie.
• Cocoa Powder: The cocoa powder gives this pie a deep, chocolatey taste.
• Vanilla Extract: A splash of vanilla extract gives the filling a smooth, mellow note that pairs perfectly with the chocolate and nuts.
• Evaporated Milk: Evaporated milk adds creaminess to the filling without thinning it out.
• Chopped Pecans: You cannot make a pecan pie without chopped pecans! If you like, you can toast them with a little butter before mixing them in.
• Eggs: Room temperature eggs thicken the filling as it bakes, giving it structure and that custard-like texture. (See note below about rooom temp eggs.)
• Deep-Dish Pie Crusts: This recipe fills two deep dish pie crusts. Using a pre-made crust makes things quick and easy. You can go for your favorite store-bought pie crust or make a homemade pie crust if you have the time.

Note: This pie recipe makes two deep dish pies. You are welcome to cut the recipe in half so that it only makes one pie, but if you do that – I guarantee you’re gonna regret making just one after your first bite!

How to Get Eggs to Room Temperature Quickly

How to Make Old-fashioned Chocolate Pecan Pie

Preheat the Oven: Set your oven to 300°F and let it warm up. The low heat helps this pie bake nice and even.

Toast the Pecans (Optional): You can go the extra step and toast the pecans using a little butter in a skillet first for an added layer of flavor, but this is not necessary and my grandmother never did it. If I have time though, I prefer to toast mine. I love the taste of toasty pecans!

Mix Ingredients: Grab a large mixing bowl and add the sugar, melted butter, cocoa powder, vanilla extract, evaporated milk, chopped pecans, and eggs. Stir everything together until it’s all blended smooth.

Fill the Pie Crusts: Take your two deep dish pie crusts and pour the filling evenly into each one. Make sure the filling reaches the top of the pie shell without overflowing.

Bake the Pies: Place the pies on a center rack in the oven and bake for about 1 hour at 300°F. You’ll know it’s done when the center of the pies sets and the crust turns a light golden brown.

Cool the Pies: When done, let the pies cool on a wire rack until they reach room temperature so the filling sets up nicely for slicing. If you’re not serving them right away, cover with plastic wrap and store in an airtight container in the fridge.

Serve and Enjoy: Slice the pie and serve with a scoop of ice cream or a squirt of whipped cream on top if you like.

Possible Favor Variations

• Bourbon or Rum: Add a hint of bourbon or dark rum (about 1-2 tablespoons) to the filling.
• Chocolate Chips or Chunks: Stir in some semi-sweet chocolate chips, dark chocolate chips, or chocolate chunks for extra chocolatey goodness. They’ll melt into the filling and add a deliciously gooey texture.
• Dark Brown Sugar: Substitute some of the white sugar with dark brown sugar to give the pie a deeper, caramel-like sweetness.
• Flaky Sea Salt: Sprinkle a little flaky sea salt on the top of the pie after baking. The salt enhances the chocolate flavor and gives a wonderful balance to the sweetness.
• Orange Zest or Orange Extract: For a touch of citrus, add a teaspoon of orange zest to the filling.
• Espresso Powder: Add a teaspoon of espresso powder to intensify the chocolate flavor.
• Nutty Variations: Swap some of the chopped pecans with whole pecans, walnuts, or almonds for a mix of textures and flavors.

How to Store Pie

Once the pie has cooled, cover it with plastic wrap or place it in an airtight container to keep it fresh. You can store it in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.

If you want to keep it longer, you can freeze the pie. Wrap it tightly in aluminum foil and then place it in a freezer-safe bag or container.

Frozen, it will last about 1-2 months. When you’re ready to enjoy it, let the pie thaw in the fridge overnight.

Print Pin

Old-fashioned Chocolate Pecan Pie

Servings 2 pies

Ingredients

• 3 cups sugar
• 1 stick butter melted
• 4 tbsp cocoa powder
• 1 tbsp vanilla extract
• 12 oz can of evaporated milk
• 1 cup chopped pecans heaping cup
• 3 eggs
• 2 prepared deep dish pie crusts I use frozen

Instructions

• Preheat your oven to 300 degrees.
• Optional: toast the pecans in a hot skillet with a little butter, being careful not to burn. Let cool.
• Mix all the ingredients together in a large bowl.
• Pour into 2 deep dish pie crusts. Bake for 1 hour at 300 degrees.