Angus Barn Chocolate Chess Pie Recipe
If you’re looking for the perfect chocolate chess pie recipe, look no further! This one is from the Angus Barn in Raleigh, and it’s famous for being the BEST!
Chocolate Chess Pie
Let me tell you about this Angus Barn Chocolate Chess Pie. Growing up in Raleigh for much of my childhood, we all knew about this Chocolate Chess Pie. It was the place we’d go for a special birthday or other celebration. Their food was amazing and specifically, this pie. So much so that they decided to share the recipe, hooray!
Thad Eure Jr. opened the Angus Barn in Raleigh in 1960. When Thad passed away, his daughter, Van, stepped in to run the restaurant. Vans’ mother, Alice, developed this chocolate chess pie recipe!
Chocolate Chess Pie is a staple at our Thanksgiving every single year, but it’s a delicious year-round treat as well.
I love easy recipes and this chocolate chess pie fits the bill. Easy ingredients. Easy to make. And delicious. What more could you ask for? It’s actually a great pie to double and take one to a friend or freeze for the upcoming holidays (it freezes well).
Doesn’t this chocolate chess pie look amazing with ice cream on top?
CHOCOLATE CHESS PIE BAKING TIPS
- It is a bit ooey gooey in the center (similar to this brown sugar pie) so allow it to fully cool or refrigerate before cutting. If you love brownie batter, you will love this chocolate chess pie. Don’t be alarmed by the lighter colored crackly crust that will form on the top, that’s the signature look of this pie! It’s still perfectly fudgy inside.
- The only thing you need to do is be sure it cooks through which can vary by oven temperature, but it will set up once cooled. Top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and you’re ready to enjoy. Add a drizzle of chocolate sauce if you’re feeling extra decadent, because life is short!
- Remember, this pie freezes fabulously!
With the fall holidays approaching, I knew I had to share this chocolate chess pie recipe with you. I still can’t believe it’s taken me this long as there is not a major holiday that goes by without this pie included on our table. So now you have the famous Angus Barn Chocolate Chess Pie recipe!
If you’re in Raleigh, I highly recommend you find your way over to the Angus Barn (everything they have is amazing), but now you can enjoy their famous dessert at home too!
Angus Barn Chocolate Chess Pie
Chocolate Chess Pie
Ingredients
- 1 unbaked pie shell
- 1/2 cup butter - (1 stick)
- 2 ounces Baker’s semi-sweet chocolate
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- dash of salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Melt the butter and chocolate together in a double boiler.
- Whisk together eggs, sugar, vanilla and salt.
- Then add the melted chocolate and butter mixture and mix well.
- Pour your batter into pie crust and bake for 30-35 minutes or until slightly puffed. Be sure to allow the pie to cool before cutting. I often refrigerate mine until ready to serve.
Notes
Nutrition
Check out some of my other favorite pies below…
I love learning about regional specialties like this. What a special pie and special story!
I love regional recipes as well! :)
Oh my goshhhh this looks incredible! So ooey gooey and perfect with that scoop of ice cream on top!
I love the Angus Barn! Remember that rehearsal dinner!? :-) Anyways, I could live off of this pie. It’s so chocolatey and so delicious! And now I want a slice for breakfast. Haha!
Hi from Wendell, NC (Eastern Wake County). Is the first ingredient listed the frozen pie shell? I think there’s a typo.
I’ve been to the Angus Barn. It have never tried their famous pie. I think I might have to after seeing your pictures!
Hi Nancy! Yes, you’re right, frozen pie shell. All fixed, thank you!
This dish looks delicious and attractive. I will try to make it. Thanks for sharing the recipe.
Hi Courtney,
This pie looks delish! Question, do you use a regular pie shell or deep dish?
Thanks!
I used a regular pie shell, but if you use a deep dish, maybe make 1.5X the amount of filling! This will also require it be cooked a bit longer.
This combination will bring me significant innovation. It’s simple but impressive. I like the idea form you suggested! Thanks a lot.
We lived in Raleigh when first married. The Angus Barn was the very special place to go for special occasions. I always had the Chocolate Chess Pie!!
I am really lucky that I got a chance to read your article. It was great.
I doubled recipe an it took 2 sticks of butter. It never seem to set up but I know I haven’t been using a electric mixer. Is that. Key to the pie
Layden, it may be that doubling it causes issues, but it could also be the electric mixer. It might also need a bit more time to cook. And fully cool.
Trumendos work really inspired form it because it was actually extraordinary.
How does the pie turn light brown on top ?
It’s just a lighter chocolate coloring on top.
Simple ingredients but tastes like a complicated recipe!
Yes! Love easy recipes!
Well I just found my new favorite dessert!
Haha, it’s my fave too! Thanks Rachael! XO – Courtney
This looks so yummy! Pinning for later1
Thank you Andie!
So glad I don’t have to miss out on not having this before anymore. Looks like such a wonderful dessert.
Thank you so much, Sabrina! :)
Do you refrigerate the pie once it’s done?
I usually do!
Can you tell me if you use a traditional pie crust or deep dish?
I’d probably use a deep dish, because I tend to prefer those for almost all pies so there’s no over-flowing, but it could be made in a traditional pie crust too.
Angus barn chocolate chess pie recipe is one of the best i have personally experienced as i love cheesecake and my kids as well.
Would you freeze this before baking? After?
This looks great! One question: How much do you beat the eggs? Just until the sugar is dissolved?
Just lightly, yes. You don’t want to overbeat it.
The tops of my pie burnt but the crust wasn’t done? Should I bake for longer at a lower temp?
Natalie, ovens can vary, but I’ve not had this happen when I’ve made it. But, a blind-bake of the crust or a lower temperature for longer should fix it. You can also cover the pie with a sheet of aluminum foil if the top begins to burn.
This recipe looks delicious. Would love to make this.
Some Chocolate Cheese pies have a sugary/crystalized bottom. What causes this? I love it.
I’ve made this several times and it always tastes great but is a very thin pie. Is it supposed to be?
Hi Mary! It is indeed a thin pie, of course that would adjust a bit based on the size of pie crust you use. If you use an 8″ it’ll be a little thicker… You could do 1 1/2 the amount of filling and increase the baking time a bit if you wanted it a bit thicker!
Is 2 ounces of chocolate correct? It seems like not enough but I have never made this.
Carol, It’s correct.
I have a recipe card that I received from The Angus Barn that they put our bill in. It calls for 4 ounces of chocolate. This recipe calls for 2. Would like to know the correct response to this. Guess I’ll have to go eat at The Angus Barn again soon and ask them.
I love making this pie. Just finished making 2! Just waiting for them to cool. I also love the fact Angus Barn puts the recipe on the card they put your bill in.
Melissa
Does your recipe call for 2oz or 4oz of chocolate ? I have a card from Angus Barn also and it calls for 4oz of chocolate.
Can you make a whipped topping and put on entire pie and sprinkle chocolate shavings on for presentation or will the whipped topping not hold up??
I made this last night and when I went to take it out of the oven, the top cracked (not as pretty all cracked), and the inside was still almost soupy. I even left it in an extra 5 minutes. What am I doing wrong???
Can the chocolate and butter be melted another way besides using a double boiler? I don’t have one and want to make this pie. TIA!
You could microwave it in short intervals.
I melt the Bakers chocolate and butter together in a glass measuring cup in the microwave for 30 seconds at a time stirring in between each 30 seconds.
It looks very good
Love this pie! Easy to make and absolutely delicious. I have made this pie for my son in law’s birthday and he requested it each year. Thank you for the recipe.
I made the chocolate chess pie this past week. I have the Angus Barn recipe that I received on a card from the Angus Barn and it calls for 4 ounces of the chocolate. It was really good but a little too chocolate for me. My husband loved it.