The perfect chocolate cream pie recipe has a dense chocolate filling that contrasts with a light and airy whipped cream topping. This page will teach you, step by step, how to make chocolate cream pie. The toughest part of making a chocolate cream pie is the constant stirring that the custard requires to make sure it doesn't bur. So, if you can stir a spoon, you can make chocolate cream pie!

• Baked single pie pastry, graham cracker crust, or chocolate crumb crust
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3 cups milk
• 2 ounces unsweetened chocolate
• 3 egg yolks, slightly beaten
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 cup heavy cream whipped with 1/4 cup confectioner's sugar and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1. Combine the sugar, flour and salt in a saucepan.
2. Heat the milk in a second saucepan with the chocolate.
3. Stir until the chocolate is fully dissolved.
4. Add the chocolate milk to the sugar mixture, and cook over low heat, stirring constantly until thickened.
5. Add the egg yolks to the milk one at a time, stirring after each addition.
6. Continue to cook the custard, stirring constantly, for three minutes.
7. Remove from heat and stir in the butter and the vanilla.
8. Let cool for 15 minutes, then pour into the prepared crust.
9. Top with the whipped cream.
10. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours, until thoroughly chilled.

1. Coat a pastry crust with a layer of melted chocolate and chill before adding the custard filling to keep the crust from getting soggy.
2. Use bittersweet chocolate in place of the unsweetened chocolate, and reduce sugar by 2 tablespoons.
3. Use white chocolate in place of unsweetened chocolate and reduce sugar by 3 tablespoons.
4. Top the pie with grated chocolate or a dusting of cocoa powder.