The pies were either topped with toasted meringue or freshly whipped cream but the Southern style is always meringue.
We also have a second version with chocolate pudding but more of a German chocolate topped with chocolate and pecans for you to try below.
The crust was made from scratch and the flour version however adapts to a graham cracker crust if you prefer it.
Mom always made everything from scratch and her homemade pudding was spoon-licking-worthy, and using Mom's Meringue Recipe for her Lemon Pie topping this pie to perfection bliss.
We love all kinds of cream pies, and mason jar pies and make several kinds of flavors around the holiday, apple, fresh pineapple pie, and pumpkin are favorites!
Scroll down to the printable recipe card for instructions on making this simple vintage chocolate meringue or our tropical island coconut chocolate cream pie.
Old Fashioned Meringue Pie Easy Steps
- Bake the Crust (use a frozen deep dish pie shell)
- Make Homemade or Boxed Chocolate Pudding
- Follow our directions for the best meringue topping or if you're not a fan of meringue use "real whipped cream".
- I remember growing up we had many versions of this pie so adapt away to what you grew up remembering.
Tips and Suggestions for Making the Best Meringue Pie
- Crust alternatives: graham cracker crust, chocolate sandwich crushed cookies crust, nutter butter crust, vanilla wafers, or any shortbread cookies
- Regular Pie Crust homemade or use a frozen store-bought
- Homemade chocolate pudding or your favorite cooked store-bought
- Whipped cream can be substituted for meringue or whipped toppings for old-fashioned flavors or Southern-style
- Toasted Coconut Island style chocolate pie is also a favorite and in the recipe card below along with the photo
Pin for later Easy Chocolate Meringue Pie
Yield: 10
Easy Chocolate Meringue Pie
Two recipes one for Chocolate Meringue Pie and Tropical Island Cream Pie both delicious so take your pick in recipes!
Prep time: 10 MinCook time: 25 MinTotal time: 35 Min
Ingredients
- Homemade Chocolate Pudding:
- 3/4 cup chopped chocolate semi-sweet chocolate for a darker fudge use 70% bittersweet chocolate
- 1/2 cup + 1 tablespoon sugar
- 3 cups whole milk
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- pinch of salt
- 1 tablespoon of vanilla
- Meringue Topping:
- 5 1/2 tablespoons sugar
- 4 large egg whites
- 1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
- Pie Crust:
- 1 - 9-inch pie crust baked and cooled ( I use deep-dish style homemade crust or store-bought)
Instructions
- Chocolate Meringue Pie Directions:
- Bake the pie crust according to package instructions and cool:
- Chocolate Pie Pudding:
- Using a glass ovenproof bowl over a pan of boiling water or a double boiler, melt the chocolate.
- Combine the cornstarch, sugar, and salt in the bowl. Whisk in the milk then use a silicone heat resistant spatula to blend all the dry ingredients.
- Pour all over into the double boiler bowl heating gently just until water is beginning to simmer.
- Stir constantly over the simmering water until the pudding is thickened and coats the spoon like the photo, it takes around 5 minutes.
- Remove from heat and stir in extract flavoring.
- I then place wax paper over the top to prevent the skin from forming.
- It's ready after cooling for around 30 minutes in the refrigerator to use in a pie or as a dessert to eat!
- Meringue Topping for Chocolate Pie:
- In a large industrial mixer using the beater whisk, set on high speed add the egg whites until soft peaks form.
- Add the tartar and sugar until stiff peaks form around 5 to 8 minutes.
- Pile the meringue onto the pie and put the broiler on low to watch carefully to brown the top of the meringue.
- The pie can be rechilled or served immediately.
- Recipe Number 2:
- Tropical Island Chocolate Pie Filling Recipe:
- 1 pie crust store-bought baked
- Filling:
- 4 oz. German sweet chocolate chopped
- 2 oz. unsweetened chopped chocolate
- 1 can sweeten condensed milk
- 4 egg yolks
- 1 tablespoon rum
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- Optional Coconut Island Topping
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 heavy cream
- 1/4 cup butter
- 2 egg yolks
- 1 cup flaked coconut
- 2 tablespoons dark rum
- 1/4 cup pecans coarsely chopped
- Directions for Tropical Chocolate Pie Recipe:
- Heat oven to 400 degrees.
- Place the pie shell in the oven and prick with a fork the bottom of the dough or use pie weights.
- Cook the pie shell for 11 minutes or until slightly brown.
- Melt the chocolate then cool. Add the condensed milk, egg yolks, and rum, and whisk all together until smooth add pecans Bake at 350 degrees for around 20 minutes. Cool for at least 1 hour or more.
- Combine the brown sugar, cream, and butter in a small saucepan. Boil until sugar dissolves over medium heat. Remove from heat.
- In a small bowl add the yolks then whisk a small amount of hot mixture into the 2 yolks in that bowl, then return to the pan mixture.
- Cook and stir until thick around 3 minutes or so. Remove from heat and stir in the coconut.
- Add the rum.
- Cool for around 15 minutes.
- Pour over the pie.
- Sprinkle with pecans.
- Chill overnight or at least 4 hours.
- Serve with whipped cream and top with drunken pecans!
Notes
Tips and Suggestions for Making the Best Meringue Pie
- Crust alternatives: graham cracker crust, chocolate sandwich crushed cookies crust, nutter butter crust, vanilla wafers, or any shortbread cookies
- Regular Pie Crust homemade or use a frozen store-bought
- Homemade chocolate pudding or your favorite cooked store-bought
- Whipped cream can be substituted for meringue or whipped toppings for old-fashioned flavors or Southern-style
- Toasted Coconut Island style chocolate pie is also a favorite and in the recipe card below along with the photo
Nutrition Facts
Calories
221.13Fat (grams)
8 gSat. Fat (grams)
4.42 gCarbs (grams)
32.29 gFiber (grams)
1.13 gNet carbs
31.15 gSugar (grams)
26.36 gProtein (grams)
4.78 gSodium (milligrams)
64.24 mgCholesterol (grams)
9.57 mgThe default measuring system for this website is US Customary. Unit conversions are provided for convenience and as a courtesy only. While we strive to provide accurate unit conversions, please be aware that there may be some discrepancies.
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Pin for later Easy Chocolate Meringue Pie
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Lemon Pie
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Disclosure: this recipe was printed in 2013 and photos and updates were made in 2024.