French Chocolate Silk Pie Recipe (2024)

Tessa’s Recipe Rundown

Taste:Tons of deep chocolate flavor without any cloying artificial sweetness like the pre-made frozen silk pies from the store.
Texture:The filling is so rich, creamy, and decadent and pairs perfectly with the slightly crunchy crust and ultra-light whipped cream.
Ease:This recipe does make a bit of a mess, but the good news is that it’s made ahead of time so it’s perfect for entertaining or bringing to a party.
Pros:A classic recipe without any raw eggs that your family will request for every holiday.
Cons:A bit involved and messy to make, but one bite of the final pie will convince you it was all worth it.
Would I make this again?Absolutely!

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Growing up, it wasn’t a holiday without a French Silk Pie with those chocolate curls on top.

French Chocolate Silk Pie Recipe (1)

Whether it was Easter, Thanksgiving, or Christmas, we always had to have something chocolate. You see, I come from a long line of chocoholics. My dad and my grandma love chocolate and sweets just as much as I do.

However neither of them bake, so we always got those frozen silk pies from the grocery store.

A few years ago, I decided to finally make a chocolate French silk pie from scratch for Thanksgiving and it was the most popular pie of the evening! So I knew I had to share the recipe with you ASAP.

French Chocolate Silk Pie Recipe (2)

I hope it becomes a family favorite and maybe even a holiday tradition in your home as well!

French Chocolate Silk Pie Recipe (3)

How to Make French Silk Pie

The Crust

I love an Oreo crust for this recipe! It’s so much easier than traditional pie dough and adds an extra dose of CHOCOLATE! Use regular-stuff Oreos with the filling intact. If you’d prefer to use a pastry crust, check out my Best Ever Pie Crust recipe here and follow the directions for pre-baking.

French Silk Pie Filling

Since this recipe doesn’t use raw eggs, it’s safe to serve to everyone.

However, there are a few extra steps and bowls you will dirty while making this recipe – but it’s SOOO worth it. I’d highly recommend reading the recipe through completely before you get started. You’ll need an electric mixer (handheld or stand) and an instant-read thermometer for best results.

What Type of Chocolate Will I Need?

I love using bittersweet chocolate in this French Silk Pie recipe. It brings an intensely rich chocolate flavor. Use high-quality chocolate baking bars, not chocolate chips, for best results. If you’d prefer something more mild, feel free to use semisweet chocolate instead (1:1 ratio).

Whipped Cream Topping for French Silk Pie

  • Be sure to top the pie with the whipped cream no more than a few hours before serving, so it looks its best.
  • The whipped cream will begin to deflate and weep if topped too far in advance.
  • Garnish with chocolate curls (see just below) or a sprinkling of cocoa powder for a pretty presentation.

How to Make Chocolate Curls

Taking the time to make chocolate curls, instead of just shaving a block of chocolate or garnishing with a dusting of cocoa powder, really makes this French Silk Pie look gourmet. Here’s a super helpful step-by-step video on how to make chocolate curls.

What Type of Pie Pan Should I Use?

  • This recipe was designed for a 9-inch deep dish pie plate, like this one.
  • If you don’t have a deep-dish pie pan, you may have some filling leftover (hellooo, little snack for you!)
  • Because this pie doesn’t go in the oven, the pie pan material doesn’t matter as much as it would for a baked pie – but if you choose instead to make a pastry pie crust, I recommend checking out my Best Pie Pan article for more information and tips.

Can I Make French Silk Pie Ahead of Time?

Yes! This pie actually needs to be chilled for 6 hours before serving, so it’s the perfect make-ahead dessert! You can make it up to 2 days ahead of time. Keep covered in the fridge, then top with whipped cream shortly before serving.

Can I Freeze French Silk Pie?

We haven’t tested freezing this French Silk pie, but readers have done so with success. Just note that freezing may slightly alter the texture after thawing. Place inside an airtight container and freeze for up to one month. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before adding whipped cream, chocolate shavings, and serving.

French Chocolate Silk Pie Recipe (4)

More Chocolate Pie Recipes:

  • Chocolate Peanut Butter Pudding Pie
  • Chocolate Pecan Pie
  • Chocolate Pudding Pie
  • No Bake Frozen Chocolate Raspberry Pie

French Chocolate Silk Pie Recipe (5)

How to Make

French Silk Pie

By: Tessa Arias

4.90 from 462 votes

Prep Time: 30 minutes mins

Chilling time: 6 hours hrs

Cook Time: 20 minutes mins

Total Time: 6 hours hrs 50 minutes mins

Review Print

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French Silk Pie features an Oreo cookie crust, rich and creamy chocolate filling, and is topped with homemade whipped cream and chocolate shavings! No raw eggs. Perfect holiday recipe!

Ingredients

For the crust

  • 20 Oreo (230 grams) cookies (regular-stuffed, keep filling intact)
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

For the filling

  • 1 1/3 cups (266 grams) granulated sugar
  • 4 large eggs
  • 8 ounces (227 grams) bittersweet baking chocolate, melted
  • 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 10 tablespoons (142 grams) unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 1 1/3 cups heavy cream, cold
  • 4 teaspoons powdered sugar

For the topping

  • 1 cup heavy cream, cold
  • 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Chocolate shavings or cocoa powder, for garnish if desired

Instructions

Make the crust:

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a 9-inch deep pie dish with cooking spray.

  • Place the Oreo cookies in the bowl of a food processor and pulse until finely ground. Add in the melted butter and pulse until moistened. Press the mixture into the bottom and up the sides of the prepared pie dish. Bake for 10 minutes, or until fragrant and set. Let cool completely on a wire rack.

Make the filling:

  • In a small saucepan, whisk together the granulated sugar and eggs. Set over medium-low heat and cook, whisking constantly, until the mixture reaches 160°F and coats the back of a metal spoon. Remove from heat and stir in the melted chocolate and vanilla until smooth. Cool to just warm, stirring occasionally.

  • Using an electric mixer, beat the butter until light and fluffy, about 2 to 3 minutes. Gradually add in the cooled chocolate mixture then beat on high speed for 5 minutes, or until light and fluffy.

  • In a clean bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the cream until it begins to thicken. Add the powdered sugar and beat until stiff peaks form. Fold into the chocolate mixture.

  • Pour the mixture into the pan, smoothing evenly. The pie will be tall with filling. Chill for 6 hours. At this point, the pie can be stored for up to 2 days ahead of time.

Make the topping:

  • Use an electric mixer to beat the cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla on high speed until stiff peaks form. Top pie with whipped cream and garnish with chocolate shavings or dust with cocoa powder.

Show us!If you make this recipe, be sure to snap a picture and share it on Instagram with #handletheheat so we can all see!

This post was published in 2019 and has been updated with additional recipe tips.Photos by Ashley McLaughlin.

December 2020 Baking Challenge

This recipe was the December 2020 pick for our monthly baking challenge! Every month you can join the challenge by baking the recipe and snapping a photo for a chance to win prizes! Learn more about my monthly baking challenges here.Check out everyone’s pies:

French Chocolate Silk Pie Recipe (6)

French Chocolate Silk Pie Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is French silk pie filling made of? ›

French silk pie, unlike the name suggests, is quite American. Word on the street is that it was the runner-up in the 1951 Pillsbury Bake-Off competition, but don't hold me to that. At its core, French silk pie is just a chocolate mousse consisting of eggs, cream, chocolate, sugar, and butter.

What is the difference between chocolate mousse pie and French silk pie? ›

The Crust: Chocolate cream pie traditionally sits on a cookie crumb crust, while French silk pie traditionally sits on a pastry crust. The Filling: Chocolate cream pie filling has a denser, pudding-like consistency, while French silk pie filling has a lighter, airier, more mousse-like consistency.

Does French silk pie contain raw eggs? ›

This creamy and indulgent French silk pie combines my best flaky pie crust, smooth-as-silk chocolate filling, and fresh whipped cream on top. This recipe uses cooked eggs, so you don't have to worry about consuming raw eggs.

Where did the French silk pie come from? ›

French silk pie was created by a woman named Betty Cooper during The Pillsbury Bake Off in the year 1951.

What ingredient thickens pie filling? ›

Very often flour or cornstarch is used, but in certain instances tapioca, arrowroot and potato starch can also help achieve the desired consistency.

Why put butter in pie filling? ›

A: Dotting the top of a fruit pie filling with butter is an old habit but one that is called for in only about half of the pie recipes out there. Some maintain that the butter is for taste; others claim that it helps the filling set up, particularly when using flour as a thickener.

Does Dairy Queen still have French silk pie? ›

Dairy Queen has discontinued the French Silk Pie Blizzard, a fan favorite.

What is the difference between French silk and chocolate mousse? ›

Chocolate mousse is made by whipping heavy cream and melted chocolate so the combination reaches an aerated, velvety texture. As such, the filling of a French silk pie must be given the whipped cream treatment. The pie's filling initially starts as a pudding-like mixture of butter, eggs, sugar, and chocolate.

Why is chocolate mousse so good? ›

Chocolate mousse is creamy because it is made with whipped egg whites and heavy cream. The whipped egg whites provide a light and airy texture, while the heavy cream adds richness and creaminess to the dessert.

Can you leave a French silk pie out overnight? ›

And, always keep the pie in the refrigerator when storing it, if there happens to be any left! An unfrozen pie should last about 3 days when refrigerated. Do not keep the pie at room temperature for more than a couple of hours.

Is French silk pie safe to eat while pregnant? ›

This French Silk Pie is safe to eat during pregnancy because the eggs are cooked to 160°F. If you are at all concerned, simply use pasteurized eggs. How do you store French Silk Pie? Store French Silk Pie in the refrigerator covered with plastic wrap for up to a week or 2 months frozen.

Is it OK to eat raw eggs in a pie? ›

Make sure your holiday treats such as eggnog, cream pies and other dishes containing eggs are safe to eat, says LSU AgCenter nutritionist Beth Reames. Eating raw or undercooked eggs is a risk for foodborne illness.

Why is it called French silk? ›

Why is it Called French Silk Pie? This chocolate pie is called “French Silk” because it is so smooth and silky. The recipe originated in 1951 when American Betty Cooper made it for the 3rd annual Pillsbury Bake Off competition.

Can you freeze a Bakers Square French silk pie? ›

Yes, you can freeze French silk pie! If you want to freeze the whole pie and thaw the entire thing later, place it in the freezer for a few hours. Then remove it and wrap the frozen pie in plastic wrap. Place the wrapped pie in a freezer bag.

What was the first pie in the world? ›

The Ancient Egyptians were the first to invent a dish close to what we know as a pie today. They had a honey filling covered in a crusty cake made from oats, wheat, rye or barley. A recipe for chicken pie was also discovered on a tablet carved prior to 2000 BC.

What is the difference between chocolate cream and French silk? ›

While the French silk pie is very mousse-like, chocolate cream pies are pudding-y to the core. The main thing they have in common? Both are a chocolate lover's dream.

What are the 4 types of pie fillings? ›

There are four types of pies: cream, fruit, custard, and savory. A pie that contains cooked meat, poultry, seafood, or vegetables in a thick sauce. Examples: Pot pies, Quiche, and Sheppard pie. Made by cooking baking uncooked along with crust.

What is the difference between a cream pie filling and a custard pie filling? ›

In North America, "custard pie" commonly refers to a plain mixture of milk, eggs, sugar, salt, vanilla extract and sometimes nutmeg combined with a pie crust. It is distinctly different from a cream pie, which contains cooked custard poured into a cooled, precooked crust.

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