Growing up it wasn’t a holiday without a French Silk Pie with those chocolate curls on top.
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 his mom, 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. Last year 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.
I hope it becomes a family favorite and maybe even a holiday tradition in your home as well. This pie would even be perfect for Valentine’s Day!
French Silk Pie Recipe Tips
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 in tact.
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.
The 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. It’s SOOO worth it. I’d highly recommend reading the recipe through completely before you get started. You’ll need an electric mixer (hand held or stand) and an instant read thermometer for best results.
The Chocolate
The filling does have an intensely rich chocolate flavor. If you’d prefer something more mild, feel free to swap in semisweet chocolate for the bittersweet chocolate.
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.
More Chocolate Pie Recipes
Don’t ya just want a big bite?!
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 chocolate, melted
-
2
teaspoon
vanilla extract
-
10
tablespoons
(142 grams) unsalted butter, at room temperature
-
1 1/3
cups
heavy cream
-
4
teaspoons
powdered sugar
For the topping
-
1
cup
heavy cream
-
2
tablespoons
powdered sugar
-
1
teaspoon
vanilla extract
-
Chocolate shavings or cocoa powder,
for garnish if desired
Make the crust:
-
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a 9-inch 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 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.
-
Use 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 sugar and beat until stiff peaks form. Fold into the chocolate mixture.
-
Pour the mixture into the pan, smoothing evenly. 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, 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.
Photos by Ashley McLaughlin.
Ibe been making ypur french silk pie for years- it is easily my most requested item, especially during the holidays! But i noticed you took out the layer of caramel- why? I will probably keep making it the old way!
Hi Tessa – do you ever have any trouble with the eggs trying to cook and leaving little bits in the chocolate mixture? I had this happen to me once and I’m trying to figure out if there is a trick to this step.
Thanks!
beautiful pie, if I may say so, and worth the calorie splurge, thank you!
Hi Tessa, ivm your fans from Indonesia, and i realy want to make this pie…Can i change the heavy cream with soft cream for the filling and topping?
I made this for some friends and family yesterday, and everyone loved it! The end result was pretty perfect. One friend even said it was better than french silk pie she’s had in restaurants. I don’t know if I did something wrong, but getting the egg/sugar mixture to 160 degrees took a very, very long time. Eventually I turned up the heat, and that sped things up, but that made the whole recipe take longer than I expected. Very good recipe! My chocolate curls need some work next time…
Hi, Tessa! I made this pie with Jacques Torres chocolate that I bought on a recent trip to NYC. Absolutely delicious!
Yay! Sounds amazing!
Is the granulated sugar mixed with the chocolate or the powdered sugar?
I had the same question, but my guess is powdered sugar as this is often preferred for whipped cream.
This was the best pies Ever!! All my friends said so too.
I followed all the steps except I don’t know what caused my butter and egg/chocolate mixture to separate at the end. Maybe I over beat it? It was looking so smooth and good too. Either way, it tastes the same as if it were smooth, just is chunky.
How much sugar goes in the pan and how much to mix with cream?
Made this pie for my husband’s birthday dinner party and EVERYONE raved about it. A friend of ours is a local chef and he said it’s the best french silk pie he’s tasted. I will be making this again. and again. and again 🙂
Can this be frozen ahead of time? and if so, what is the best way to thaw it. thanks in advance.
Best pie ever, absolute perfection!
Perfect. Easy. Decadently delicious. I have made it twice and will most assuredly be making it again and again and……
For ingredients, do you add the granulated sugar to the eggs or the powdered sugar. It doesn’t specify, help!!