This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
Chocolate pudding pie is one of my favorite go-to, easy-to-make, no bake desserts that you need to have in your back pocket! With just 8 ingredients and 20 minutes of prep, you can wow all your friends and family. Keep reading for my tried and true pro tips!
I made this pudding pie for Thanksgiving yesterday and it was a big hit, everyone loved it. It was also quite easy to make. I will definitely make this dessert again.
-Marie
Why you’ll love this Chocolate Pudding Pie Recipe
- 8 ingredients
- 20 minutes to prep
- no bake dessert
- thick and fluffy
- can be made with a graham cracker pie crust, store-bought crust or oreo pie crust
Pudding pie is an old fashion recipe that has been around for a while! There’s many different ways to make it, including from scratch, but I think the best way to make it is to use a box of instant pudding mix.
This easy chocolate pudding pie is a family favorite and gets rave reviews. This is an easy dessert to make for special occasions, you won’t be able to get enough of this chocolate cream pie recipe!
Many recipes use cold milk, however, I found that using heavy whipping cream created a pie that was thicker, stable, and more mousse like! It’s the perfect creamy chocolate pie for true chocolate addicts!
If you have a stand mixer, this is a great time to use it because when you beat the pudding mix and heavy cream together, the mixture will be very thick. Once you add in the cool whip, the mixture will become more creamy and fluffy.
You can use a hand mixer and large bowl as well to make the chocolate pudding filling.
Chocolate Pudding Pie ingredients
Scroll down for the full ingredient list and instructions.
- instant chocolate pudding mix
- heavy cream
- cool whip
- graham cracker crumbs
- brown sugar
- butter
Pudding Pie Variations
Gluten Free Chocolate Pie
It is really easy to make this chocolate pie with pudding gluten free by using gluten free oreos for the crust. All of the other ingredients in the recipe are naturally gluten free!
Swap the Graham Cracker Crust for Oreo Crust
If you prefer an oreo pie crust, here’s our recipe!
- 1 package oreos (14.3 oz)
- 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted melted butter
Blend the oreos until they are crumbs, combine with the butter and press into the pie pan.
Can I substitute the cool whip?
If you don’t want to use cool whip, you can substitute 8 oz of fresh whipped cream, which is also equal to 3 cups.
How to make Chocolate Pudding Pie
Graham cracker crust
- In a blender or food processor, pulse the graham crackers into crumbs.
- Combine with brown sugar and melted butter.
- Press the mixture into the pie pan using the bottom of a measuring cup.
Chocolate pudding filling
- Combine. Beat the pudding mix and heavy cream together. The mixture will be extremely thick. If you have a stand mixer, this is a great time to use it! Image 1 on the collage above.
- Cool whip. Gently beat in the cool whip. Once you add in the cool whip, the mixture will become more creamy and fluffy. Image 2 on the collage above.
- Top. Spread the filling over the buttery graham cracker crust or oreo cookie crust, if using.
Whipped cream topping
- Prep. Before serving the pie – place a metal or glass mixing bowl and beaters in the freezer for 15 minutes.
- Beat. Remove the bowl from the freezer. Add the heavy cream, powdered sugar and vanilla extract and beat with an electric mixer for 4-5 minutes, or until stiff peaks form / it’s scoop-able with a spoon and holds its shape.
- Assemble. Spoon onto the pie and top with chocolate shavings. I used a Hershey’s Chocolate Bar and a potato peeler to make chocolate shavings.
How to store Chocolate Cream Pie with Pudding
This pie needs to be refrigerated. It can also be frozen for a frozen dessert pie! Be sure to cover the pie with plastic wrap to keep it fresh.
Peanut butter pie, oreo pudding pie, and peanut butter cup chocolate pie are all no bake recipes that you can serve with chocolate pudding pie!
Time Required
- 4 minutes to make the crust
- 5 minutes to make the chocolate filling
- 5 minutes to make whipped cream topping
- 4-8 hours to chill in the fridge
Pro Tips
- The chocolate filling is VERY thick when mixing it. If you have a stand mixer, this is a great time to use it!
- Use a sharp, skinny knife to cut the pie into pieces.
- Be sure to use two 3.4 oz (or 3.9) boxes, not the large 5.1 or 5.9 boxes.
Chocolate Pudding Pie Recipe FAQs
My recipe calls for mixing the pudding mix with heavy whipping cream instead of milk to give the filling an extra thick consistency.
Be sure to use heavy whipping cream when mixing the filling. Substituting milk will make the filling runny.
Usually this isn’t a problem with no bake pies. However, for best results, I recommend eating the pie within 24 hours of assembling to ensure the crust stays fresh.
Our Favorite Recipes
Tap stars to rate!
Chocolate Pudding Pie
Ingredients
Crust
- 1 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs, about 9 graham crackers
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 6 tbsp unsalted melted butter, 3/4 stick
Filling
- 2 boxes instant chocolate pudding mix, 3.4 oz (or 3.9) boxes, not the large 5.1 or 5.9 boxes
- 3 cups heavy whipping cream
- 1 container cool whip, 8 oz thawed
Topping
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- ¼ cup powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
CRUST
- In a large bowl, combine the graham cracker crumbs, brown sugar and melted butter. Press this mixture evenly into a 9 or 10 inch pie pan. Use the bottom of a measuring cup to pack the crust down. Place the crust in the fridge to chill until ready to fill.
FILLING
- In a stand mixer or large mixing bowl, combine the pudding mix and heavy cream with an electric mixer until well blended. You will NOT prepare the pudding mix as directed on the box. If you have a stand mixer, this is a great time to use it because when you beat the pudding mix and heavy cream together, the mixture will be very thick.
- Add the cool whip and mix on low until combined. Spread this mixture over the crust. Once you add in the cool whip, the mixture will become more creamy and fluffy. Cover the pie pan with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 4-8 hours.
Topping
- Before serving the pie – place a metal or glass mixing bowl and beaters in the freezer for 15 minutes.
- Remove the bowl from the freezer. Add the heavy cream, powdered sugar and vanilla extract and beat with an electric mixer for 4-5 minutes, or until stiff peaks form / it’s scoop-able with a spoon and holds its shape.
- Spoon onto the pie and top with chocolate shavings.
Do not use dream whip , 1 cup heavy cream and 2 cups of whole milk and then add cool whip.i did and it tastes like sweet glue.next time I’ll go to the store first and not improvise ingredients.
The filling was good, but the topping doesn’t turn out at all. I mixed the topping for 20 minutes and it still was not forming at all. I ended up having to add more powdered sugar to even get any type of form and even then it didn’t form like the recipe states. I mixed for a total of an hour before giving up and trying to put it on the pie and it just made a huge mess.
Did you use an electric mixer to whip the whipped cream? Cold bowl and beaters?
This Pie looks Awesome I am “Wnntabee” foodie. That said I dont have or desire cool whip.
I do however have plenty of Heavy Cream (Whole milk plus butter to make it)
my question is how many cups of Heavy cream to make the ‘cool whip’ topping.
Hi Mark! You would need 8 oz of homemade whipped cream (about 3 cups whipped cream) to replace the cool whip, which is 8 oz.
I want to cry! I used exact measurements and ingredients and it was so thick and ruined the pie crust when I tried to put it in. Now it looks like a dirt pie 😭 what did I do wrong?
Hi Ashley! The filling is very thick! The filling will pick up some of the crust crumbs while you spread the filling into the pan, but it’s only on the bottom, where the filling meets the crust.
Would it work with fat free whipping cream and sugar free pudding to make the low calorie ?
I haven’t tested this recipe with either of those ingredients, so I can’t offer an accurate answer – Sorry Tammy!
I just made this can I put the topping on now we will have it tomorrow for thanksgiving? Just trying to get a head start I have a lot of cooking to do .
You can add the topping today, be sure to keep it refrigerated!
I just made this and mixed the heavy whipping cream & chocolate pudding mix together but mine was not thick like your picture. I used my kitchen aid but it was very soupy. I’m not sure what I did wrong 😭 I am hoping that putting it in the ridge overnight will thicken it up.
Hi Hailey! The mixture should be very thick! What kind of pudding did you use? It should be instant pudding, not cook and serve. Not sugar free.
Hi there, I do not have a stand mixer so I used a hand mixer to mix the pudding recipe using the instant pudding mix, heavy cream and coolwhip. I am unclear why it turned out very gritty.
How did it taste after you refrigerated it? The mixture does look gritty after mixing, but magic happens in the fridge and it comes out smooth and delicious!
If you are looking for something special – this is not it. It is perfectly ‘fine’ but when it comes down to it – it’s coolwhip and chocolate pudding. I’m not sure why I thought that would make into something uncommon. I did add almond extract to the chocolate pudding base and a few chocolate chips to add more flavor. It’s not exciting but a good way to make an emergency dessert if you have the ingredients on hand
For the filling, do you purchase 8 oz (1 cup) heavy whipping cream to make 3 cups when whipped ?? Not 24 oz of whipping cream?
Hi Shirley! For the filling you combine the pudding mix plus 3 cups of heavy whipping cream (not whipped) into a bowl and whip those together. Then you add the cool whip.