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Old Fashioned German Chocolate Pie

Old Fashioned German Chocolate Pie

The Old Fashioned German Chocolate Pie is a timeless favorite that delivers pure chocolatey bliss. This recipe is incredibly useful for anyone seeking to recreate the rich, decadent flavor of a traditional German chocolate cake in an easy-to-serve pie form.
Prep Time 45 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Chilling Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Servings: 8 slices
Course: Dessert, Pie
Cuisine: American

Ingredients
  

Crust Ingredients
  • 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter chilled and cut into ½-inch cubes
  • 4-6 tablespoons ice water
Chocolate Filling Ingredients
  • 4 ounces unsweetened baking chocolate chopped
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 3 large eggs lightly beaten
  • 1 cup milk
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Coconut-Pecan Topping Ingredients
  • 1 cup chopped pecans
  • 1 cup shredded sweetened coconut
  • 1/2 cup evaporated milk
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter softened
  • 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Equipment

  • Large Bowl
  • Pastry Blender
  • Medium saucepan
  • Large Bowl
  • Separate bowl
  • Rolling Pin
  • 9-inch pie plate
  • Wire rack

Method
 

  1. In a large bowl, whisk together the 1¼ cups flour, ½ cup granulated sugar, and ½ teaspoon salt.
    1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, 1/2 teaspoon salt
  2. Cut in the ½ cup chilled butter using a pastry blender or your fingertips until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs with some pea-sized pieces of butter remaining.
    1/2 cup unsalted butter
  3. Gradually add the ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time, mixing until the dough just comes together. Be careful not to overmix.
    4-6 tablespoons ice water
  4. Gather the dough into a ball, flatten it into a disc, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
  5. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
  6. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the 4 ounces chopped unsweetened baking chocolate. Stir occasionally until smooth. Remove from heat and set aside to cool slightly.
    4 ounces unsweetened baking chocolate
  7. In a large bowl, whisk together the 1 cup granulated sugar, ¼ cup flour, and ½ teaspoon salt.
    1 cup granulated sugar, 1/4 cup all-purpose flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt
  8. In a separate bowl, whisk the 3 lightly beaten eggs. Gradually whisk the milk into the beaten eggs.
    3 large eggs, 1 cup milk
  9. Slowly pour the egg and milk mixture into the dry ingredients, whisking constantly until well combined.
  10. Add the slightly cooled melted chocolate to the filling mixture and whisk until smooth and evenly incorporated.
  11. Stir in the 2 tablespoons butter for the filling and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract until the butter is melted and the mixture is uniform.
    2 tablespoons unsalted butter, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  12. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the chilled pie dough into a 12-inch circle.
  13. Carefully transfer the dough to a 9-inch pie plate. Trim any excess dough, leaving about a 1-inch overhang. Crimp the edges decoratively.
  14. Pour the chocolate filling into the prepared pie crust.
  15. Bake for 35-45 minutes, or until the filling is set but still has a slight jiggle in the center. You may need to cover the edges of the crust with foil halfway through baking if they start to brown too quickly.
  16. Let the pie cool completely on a wire rack before proceeding to the topping.
  17. While the pie is cooling, prepare the topping. In a medium saucepan, combine the ½ cup evaporated milk, ¼ cup softened butter, and ¾ cup packed light brown sugar.
    1/2 cup evaporated milk, 1/4 cup unsalted butter, 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
  18. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture comes to a boil and thickens slightly, about 3-5 minutes.
  19. Remove from heat and stir in the 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.
    1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  20. Add the 1 cup chopped pecans and 1 cup shredded coconut to the saucepan and gently stir to coat them evenly.
    1 cup chopped pecans, 1 cup shredded sweetened coconut
  21. Once the pie has cooled for at least 30 minutes and is no longer hot, spread the coconut-pecan mixture evenly over the top.

Notes

To store, cover loosely with plastic wrap or place in an airtight container. Refrigerate for up to 3-4 days. For freezing, wrap individual slices tightly and freeze for up to 2 months. Reheat chilled slices at room temperature for 30 minutes or gently in a low oven (300°F / 150°C) for 5-10 minutes.
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