These rich and delicious mini chocolate cream pies are a decadent chocolate lover’s dream. They are made with pre-made mini pie crusts, a smooth and creamy chocolate pie filling, and homemade whipped cream. This is an easy and delicious mini dessert recipe the whole family will enjoy.
I love custard pies of all kinds. Their rich, creamy filling is so decadent, and it’s always the perfect addition to any special occasion, big or small. I’ve been making chocolate cream pies for years, and I decided it would be fun to transform them into mini, single-serve pies by using mini pie crusts. It was a super easy tweak that was well-received by everyone. These little pies are adorable and delicious, and it’s always so much fun to watch people’s eyes light up when they get their very own pie!
Mini Chocolate Cream Pies
These pies start with premade mini pie crusts to keep things quick and easy. I make a thick, rich homemade chocolate custard, fill the crusts, and chill for at least a few hours so the custard can set up nicely and chill thoroughly. Then, when I’m ready to serve the pies, I make a lovely homemade whipped cream and pipe it on top with a piping bag to give it a decorative look. In the end, I have delicious mini pies that are super easy but look super fancy. They’re perfect for any occasion from weeknight desserts to special events.
Why You’ll Love This Mini Chocolate Cream Pie Recipe
- They are light and fluffy, and the rich and creamy chocolate pie filling and the homemade whipped cream are a delicious combination everyone will enjoy.
- They are a delicious chocolate dessert that can be served as a casual after-dinner dessert or for a special occasion, and they are great for potlucks, parties, or a midday snack.
- These mini pies are the perfect size and and ideal for portion control.+
Mini Chocolate Cream Pie Ingredients
The ingredient list for these pies is as simple as it gets. You probably have most, if not all, of the ingredients in your kitchen right now, and anything you don’t have can be found in just a few minutes at your local grocery store.
For the Pies
- Mini pie crusts
- Heavy whipping cream
- Large eggs
- Granulated sugar
- Water
- Milk chocolate
- Vanilla extract
- Butter
For the Topping
- Heavy whipping cream
- Granulated sugar
- Vanilla extract
- Chocolate shavings
How to Make Mini Chocolate Cream Pies
Making these delicious little pies is a simple, straightforward process that anyone can do. Just follow the simple instructions, and you’ll have delicious mini chocolate cream pies in no time!
Step 1: Make Whipped Cream for the Filling
Whip heavy cream with a hand mixer until stiff peaks form. Cover the bowl and chill the whipped cream in the refrigerator while you prepare the rest of the filling ingredients.
Step 2: Make the Custard
Whisk the eggs, sugar, and water in a large glass bowl. Place the bowl over a medium saucepan filled with 1 to 2 inches of lightly simmering water, making sure the water isn’t touching the bottom of the bowl. Using a hand mixer, beat the egg mixture on low-medium speed for 10 to 12 minutes until thickened. Remove the bowl from the heat and continue to beat the mixture for 8 to 10 minutes until thick, fluffy, and cooled.
Step 3: Make the Filling
Add cooled, melted chocolate and vanilla to the custard and beat until well mixed. Then, beat in the butter pieces until fully incorporated. Finally, fold in the chilled whipped cream until fully combined and no streaks of whipped cream are visible.
Step 4: Fill and Chill
Divide the filling between the pie crusts. Then, cover the pies with plastic wrap, pressing down gently to cover the entire top of the pies and chill for at least 3 hours.
Step 5: Top
When the pies have chilled, beat the heavy cream, sugar, and vanilla with a hand mixer until stiff peaks form. Then, use a piping bag or a gallon-size Ziploc bag with the corner snipped off to pipe dollops of whipped cream on top of each pie. Top with chocolate shavings and enjoy!
Recipe Tips
- Whisk constantly while mixing and cooking the custard for a super smooth texture.
- Be sure your bowl does not come into contact with the simmering water. Otherwise, the egg mixture can scramble.
- 3 hours is the minimum chilling time for the pies, but overnight is better.
Variations
- Omit the melted chocolate to make vanilla custard.
- Omit the melted chocolate and add coconut extract to make coconut custard.
- You can use various extracts to make other custard fillings.
What to Serve with Mini Chocolate Cream Pies
Serve these pies with a glass of milk or a cup of coffee or tea. Fresh fruit is also a wonderful pairing with the rich chocolate filling. You can also add these to a larger dessert table with all your favorite treats at parties. They go with everything!
Recipe FAQ
These pies are made with chocolate custard consisting of eggs, milk, and cream. They should always be refrigerated for safety, freshness, and maximum flavor.
There are a couple of major differences between chocolate cream pie and chocolate silk pie. To begin, chocolate cream pie is traditionally made with a crumb crust, while silk pie is made with a pastry crust. Secondly, chocolate cream pie filling is dense and pudding-like, while chocolate silk pie filling is lighter, airier, and mousse-like.
Yes, it is! This filling is made with melted chocolate for a rich, chocolaty taste.
Yes, they can. In fact, I recommend it. These pies are best when they’ve had a chance to chill overnight.
Freeze cream pies is not recommended. The custard filling usually breaks when it defrosts, creating a watery, grainy filling.
How to Store Leftover Mini Chocolate Cream Pies
Cover the pies with plastic wrap and refrigerate them for up to 4 days. Do not freeze the pies.
Try These Delicious Mini Chocolate Pies Today
These mini chocolate cream pies are decadent, delicious, and so easy to make. It’s a combination that will have you looking for excuses to make them. And guess what? They’re so simple, you don’t even need a reason! Give these delicious pies a try, and I know you’ll make them a permanent part of your dessert recipe rotation.
More Delicious Chocolate Recipes You’ll Enjoy
This Chocolate Lover’s Zucchini Cake is so moist and delicious, and the chocolate frosting is out of this world.
Mini Chocolate Cream Pies
Ingredients
- 12 premade mini pie crusts
Chocolate Cream Filling
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 3 eggs
- ¾ cup sugar
- 2 tablespoons water
- 8 ounces milk chocolate, melted and cooled
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 8 tablespoons butter, cut into small pieces and softened
Homemade Whipped Cream Topping
- 1 ½ cups heavy whipping cream
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- Chocolate shavings for topping
Instructions
Chocolate Cream Filling
- In a medium bowl, using a hand mixer, whip heavy cream until stiff peaks form and then cover bowl and place in refrigerator to chill while preparing filling.
- In a large glass bowl, whisk together eggs, sugar, and water.
- Place bowl over a medium saucepan that is filled with 1-2 inches of lightly simmering water, making sure that the water is not touching the bottom of glass bowl. Use a hand mixer to beat egg mixture on low-medium speed until thickened, about 10-12 minutes.
- Remove bowl from heat and continue to beat egg mixture with hand mixer until thick, fluffy, and cooled (about 8-10 minutes).
- Add cooled, melted chocolate and vanilla to egg mixture and beat until well mixed.
- Beat in butter pieces until completely incorporated.
- Fold in chilled whipped cream until fully combined and no streaks of whipped cream are visible.
- Pour filling into all 12 pie crusts, place in refrigerator and chill for at least 3 hours but ideally, overnight.
Homemade Whipped Cream Topping
- Once pies have chilled, make whipped cream topping by beating heavy cream, sugar, and vanilla with a hand mixer until fully combined and stiff peaks form.
- Using a piping bag or gallon size ziplock baggie, pipe dollops of whipped cream on top of pies. Top with chocolate shavings.
Notes
Nutrition
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Good Morning! These look amazing! Can you share where you purchased the mini pie crusts? Were they already baked? Regular pie crust or graham cracker? Thanks for your help, looking forward to making these! :)
Hi Laurie, I buy these Keebler Mini Ready Crust Graham Pie Crust at H.E.B. It’s our local grocery store. They have them at Albertson and Von, and even on Amazon. I hope you are able to find them. :)