Everyone loves pie and this pie is about as classic as they come.
Making a pie from scratch is fun and so much better than store-bought, but anyone who has attempted it may have run into a few problems that yielded a less-than-perfect pie. We'll tackle all of those issues right here and show you how to make a perfect homemade pie every single time! Of course, it all starts with an amazing crust, but that's just the beginning!
How To Make Chocolate Meringue Pie
This pie truly is not difficult to make at home. You just need to make sure to follow some very important steps that we'll review in detail.
Even if it doesn't turn out perfectly, we promise you the taste will still be nothing short of amazing.
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The Ingredients You Will Need
Most of the ingredients in this classic pie you most likely already have on hand, with the exception of the unsweetened chocolate. And that can easily be found in the baking section of your local supermarket.
Here's What You'll Need to Make the Pie
For the Crust:
Flour - All-purpose
Salt - Kosher
Unsalted butter - Cubed and very cold
Shortening - Cubed and very cold
Water - Iced
For the Chocolate Filling:
Sugar - Granulated
Cornstarch - For thickening the filling
Salt - Kosher, or fine table salt
Milk - Whole
Chocolate - Unsweetened, roughly chopped
Egg yolks - Save the egg whites!
For the Meringue:
Egg whites - Room temperature
Cream of tartar - Found in the spice section of your supermarket
Sugar - Granulated
EXPERT TIP: When simmering the chocolate filling, it should sputter somewhat and the consistency will be like thick pudding. Quickly transfer the filling to the pre-baked pie shell and smooth the surface with a rubber spatula.
Frequently Asked Questions for Chocolate Meringue Pie
Why Does My Crust Shrink When Baking? - Blind baking is necessary when making a cream pie such as chocolate cream pie. After fitting the dough into the pie dish, you need to chill it. We recommend 1 hour in the refrigerator, but 15 minutes in the freezer will also, work. Docking the dough (poking the dough with a fork) all over is important. Cover the dough with parchment paper and then fill it with pie weights, dried beans, or uncooked rice. Bake for 25 minutes. Remove the weights, and bake for another 10 minutes. This will par-bake the crust and it will not shrink in the process.
How Come My Filling Won't Set? - You need to make sure the flour/cornstarch mixture is fully dissolved into the whole milk. Slowly bring to a simmer, which will cause the mixture to thicken. Remove from heat and stir in the chocolate. Then the egg yolks. Simmer for 1 minute. Turn off the heat. Scrape down the edges, and simmer again. The consistency will be like thick pudding. This will set perfectly. Be sure to allow the pie to cool and then chill for 2 to 3 hours before slicing.
How Do I Prevent My Meringue from Shrinking and Weeping? Weeping is liquid that accumulates on the surface of the chocolate filling, underneath the meringue, and it sometimes seeps underneath the crust. To reduce this, prepare your meringue BEFORE making the chocolate filling. It's important that the prepared meringue goes onto the filling in the pie shell while the filling is still piping hot. Use a spatula to spread the meringue over the sides of the top of the crust. You'll need to anchor the meringue to the crust. If you still get shrinkage in the meringue, you can make a little more and fill in the gaps.
How to Serve
As tempting as it is to serve the pie warm, we don't recommend this. After you've added the meringue to the top of the hot filling, you need to let it rest for 1 hour and then chill in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 hours.
For best results, we recommend submerging a large sharp knife in a tall glass of hot tap water. This will make slicing through the meringue much easier.
EXPERT TIP: As you may know from experience, the first slice can be a challenge to remove from the pie. It's by all means possible to get a pristine piece on the first try, but we like to reserve the first piece as our "sacrifice" slice. After the first slice is removed, the other pieces can be removed with ease. Plate the pieces for your guests, and they'll never even need to know about your secret "sacrifice" slice!
Other Classic Pie Recipes To Try
We seldom ever met a pie we didn't like. Here is a collection of our favorites that you should definitely try!
Lemon Meringue Pie
Cherry Pie
Classic Apple Pie
Classic Coconut Cream Pie
Apple and Caramel Pie
Southern Chess Pie
Key Lime Pie
Blueberry Buttermilk Pie
Pecan Pie
Pumpkin Pie
Sweet Potato Pie with Pecan Topping
But in the meantime, you've got to make this pie. It's seriously one of the best you will ever make or serve!
As with so many of us, there are certain foods that conjure wonderful childhood memories.
For us, this pie is just that.
With every bite, you are reminded of the simpler, more joyful aspects of life. It's really that good. Especially when made with love from scratch.
Ready to make the absolute best pie in town? Go for it!
And when you do, be sure to take a photo of it, post it on Instagram, and tag @HowToFeedaLoon and hashtag #HowToFeedaLoon!
Homemade Chocolate Meringue Pie
Chocolate Meringue Pie is one of the best pies of them all. Be sure to check out the note and blog post for tips on how to avoid common issues with a homemade meringue pie. But don't worry, even if your meringue shrinks, or weeps, or beads, it will still be delicious!
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