Let’s make Vegan Chocolate Pie! This gorgeous dairy-free chocolate cream pie has a rich chocolatey filling and crispy chocolate cookie crust your whole family will flip for! (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)
Our Viral Vegan Chocolate Pie Can Fool Just About Anyone
We’ve been making this gluten-free vegan chocolate pie for the better part of a decade, and it always gets rave reviews. At Thanksgiving, dessert potlucks, parties, and birthdays, it’s one of the first desserts gone and one of the most highly requested recipes I make.
Why? This vegan chocolate cream pie is the real deal. With its crispy chocolate cookie crust, silky, rich chocolate filling, and a dollop of coconut whipped cream on top, it can fool even the most ardent dairy eaters. No one ever guesses this chocolate pie vegan.
🥣 EASE: This easy chocolate pie recipe is made from simple ingredients that are easy to keep on hand, and doesn’t involve fussing with pastry crust. It’s simple and straightforward in all the best ways.
🍫 FLAVORS: CHOCOLATE, CHOCOLATE, CHOCOLATE. From the easy chocolate crust, to the luscious chocolate filling, to the tiny flecks of chocolate for garnish, this decadent vegan chocolate pie tastes delightfully chocolatey through and through.
🥧 TOP TIPS: Don’t rush the cooking or chilling steps! Make sure to thicken the filling before adding the chocolate chips & let the pie chill the full time to allow it to set up properly.
Happy baking! xo, Emily
Gather Your Ingredients
Ready to make the best chocolate pie? Here’s what you’ll need to get started…
More Pie Crust Options To Try
If you prefer, you can absolutely make this pie with a graham cracker crust or traditional pie crust instead of an Oreo crust! Just make sure to use vegan graham crackers or our flaky vegan pie crust recipe.
How To Make Vegan Chocolate Pie, Step By Step
As always, you can find the full recipe with ingredient amounts, detailed instructions, and tips in the recipe card below.
First Make The Crust
- Preheat & Prep. To start, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Set out a 9-inch pie pan. (I prefer a metal pie dish here, but glass or ceramic will also work.)
- Make The Crust. In a food processor, pulse gluten-free Oreos until fine crumbs. Add melted vegan butter and pulse to combine, until crumbs are evenly coated in vegan butter. If needed, you can crush the cookies in a large plastic bag with a rolling pin, then combine them with the melted butter in a mixing bowl.)
- Bake Crust. Transfer cookie crumb mixture to pie pan. Use the bottom of a measuring cup or drinking glass to pat the crust down evenly around the bottom and up the sides of the pan. Even out the top edge out with your fingers. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes to set the crust. Then, set aside on a wire rack to cool while you make the pie filling.
Then, Make The Filling & Finish The Pie
- Whisk Dry Ingredients. In a medium saucepan, combine coconut sugar, cornstarch, cocoa powder, and salt. whisk to combine until well blended.
- Add Milk & Cook. Next, pour in coconut milk and almond milk, then whisk and cook over medium heat 8-10 minutes, or until the mixture has come to a low simmer and the pudding has thickened. (You should be able to see the path of the whisk in the pudding and if you let pudding drip off the whisk back into the saucepan, it should rest on the surface of the pudding briefly before absorbing. You can also check by dipping a spoon or spatula into the pudding and running your finger down the middle. It should leave a clear line.)
- Add Chocolate & Vanilla. When the pudding has thickened, turn off the heat and mix in chocolate chips and vanilla extract. Whisk until the chocolate has full melted and the pudding is smooth. (You will likely see some bubbles, but there shouldn’t be any lumps. If, by chance you do have lumps, you can strain the pudding through a fine mesh sieve before refrigerating.)
- Cover & Chill. Pour the chocolate pudding into the prepared pie crust, and press plastic wrap onto the surface to prevent the pudding from developing a “skin” on top of the pudding. Transfer pie to the refrigerator and chill at least 3-4 hours to thicken completely. (If you check it after 1-2 hours, it’ll still be on the thin side.)
- Serve & Store. Garnish the whole pie or individual slices with whipped coconut cream and shaved chocolate. Store leftover pie in the fridge 3-4 days. (This pie can be made 1 day in advance!)
6 Pretty Ways To Decorate A Chocolate Pie
Now that you have a gorgeous, creamy dairy-free chocolate cream pie, its time to make it look pretty! Here are a few of our favorite ways to add a pretty touch to a chocolate pie:
- Chocolate Shavings – Just use a sharp knife to cut lengthwise along the end of a chocolate bar to get chocolate shavings. I love this look because the shapes are all a bit irregular, with some larger, some smaller, etc.
- Mini Chocolate Chips – Garnish your vegan chocolate pie with a sprinkle of mini chocolate chips! This looks fun and whimsical (mini makes everything cuter, right?!).
- Chocolate Curls. If you want a more polished finish, try making chocolate curls, like these or these.
- Sprinkles. Or, add a pop of color with some sprinkles! I recommend jimmies or quins, since they’ll hold their color best. (Add RIGHT before serving, so they don’t bleed their color!)
- Toasted Nuts. Add a bit of crunch with some toasted sliced almonds or even chopped hazelnuts.
- Fresh Raspberries. Or add a fruity touch with a few fresh raspberries. Chocolate and raspberries are so good together!
FAQ + Tips And Tricks For The Best Vegan Chocolate Pie
I DON’T LIKE COCONUT. CAN I USE SOMETHING BESIDES COCONUT MILK? I don’t recommend it for this pie. If you substitute the coconut milk for another dairy-free milk (like almond milk, cashew milk, oat milk, etc.) just know that your pie filling will set much looser and thinner, and it likely won’t slice as prettily. (It will taste great, but it doesn’t have the same setting power or thickness as coconut milk.)
DO I HAVE TO ADD THE CHOCOLATE CHIPS TO THE PIE FILLING? Yes. You really do! They’re crucial for texture and for completing the chocolate flavor of the vegan chocolate cream pie filling. You can get by with a chopped chocolate bar or chocolate chips, but you cannot omit the chocolate all together.
OUR FAVORITE VEGAN CHOCOLATE CHIPS. If you’re looking for vegan chocolate chips, we love Enjoy Life chocolate chips and Guittard chocolate chips. Many stores now carry allergy-friendly store brands, though, so keep an eye out for those as well!
PRO TIP: CONSIDER A STORE-BOUGHT DAIRY-FREE WHIPPED CREAM. I love making things from scratch, but for the most consistent results here, I actually love using store-bought dairy-free whipped cream topping. They tend to be more stable and last better when pies are set out for a while. I like SoDelicious CocoWhip or TruWhip Vegan Topping.
Did You Make This Recipe?
Tell me all about it! Leave a star rating below when you try our Gluten-Free Vegan Chocolate Pie recipe. I can’t wait to hear how it goes!
Vegan Chocolate Cream Pie (No Tofu!)
Ingredients
FOR THE CHOCOLATE COOKIE CRUST:
- 24 gluten-free Oreo cookies or your favorite gluten-free chocolate sandwich cookies*
- 4 Tablespoons vegan butter, melted (can sub coconut oil in a pinch)
FOR THE VEGAN CHOCOLATE CREAM PIE FILLING:
- 1/3 cup coconut sugar or white sugar
- 4 Tablespoons cornstarch
- 3 Tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder (use natural cocoa powder not Dutch processed)
- 1 (13-oz) can full-fat coconut milk* (NO substitutions for best results)
- 1 cup unsweetened almond milk (can use cashew milk, oat milk, etc.)
- 2/3 cup dairy-free chocolate chips (dark chocolate or semisweet)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
PIE TOPPINGS (OPTIONAL):
- Dairy-Free Whipped Topping Like CocoWhip, TruWhip Vegan, or Reddi-Wip almond or coconut
- Dairy-Free Shaved chocolate chocolate chunks, or mini chocolate chips.
Instructions
FIRST, MAKE THE CHOCOLATE COOKIE CRUST
- Preheat & Prep. To start, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Set out a 9-inch pie pan. (I prefer a metal pie dish here, but glass or ceramic will also work.)
- Make The Crust. In a food processor, pulse gluten-free Oreos until fine crumbs. Add melted vegan butter and pulse to combine, until crumbs are evenly coated in vegan butter. If needed, you can crush the cookies in a large plastic bag with a rolling pin, then combine them with the melted butter in a mixing bowl.)
- Bake Crust. Transfer cookie crumb mixture to pie pan. Use the bottom of a measuring cup or drinking glass to pat the crust down evenly around the bottom and up the sides of the pan. Even out the top edge out with your fingers. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes to set the crust. Then, set aside on a wire rack to cool while you make the pie filling.
NEXT, MAKE THE PIE FILLING & FINISH THE PIE
- Whisk Dry Ingredients. In a medium saucepan, combine coconut sugar, cornstarch, cocoa powder, and salt. whisk to combine until well blended.
- Add Milk & Cook. Next, pour in coconut milk and almond milk, then whisk and cook over medium heat 8-10 minutes, or until the mixture has come to a low simmer and the pudding has thickened. (You should be able to see the path of the whisk in the pudding and if you let pudding drip off the whisk back into the saucepan, it should rest on the surface of the pudding briefly before absorbing. You can also check by dipping a spoon or spatula into the pudding and running your finger down the middle. It should leave a clear line.)
- Add Chocolate & Vanilla. When the pudding has thickened, turn off the heat and mix in chocolate chips and vanilla extract. Whisk until the chocolate has full melted and the pudding is smooth. (You will likely see some bubbles, but there shouldn’t be any lumps. If, by chance you do have lumps, you can strain the pudding through a fine mesh sieve before refrigerating.)
- Cover & Chill. Pour the chocolate pudding into the prepared pie crust, and press plastic wrap onto the surface to prevent the pudding from developing a “skin” on top of the pudding. Transfer pie to the refrigerator and chill at least 3-4 hours to thicken completely. (If you check it after 1-2 hours, it’ll still be on the thin side.)
- Serve & Store. Garnish the whole pie or individual slices with whipped coconut cream and shaved chocolate. Store leftover pie in the fridge 3-4 days. (This pie can be made 1 day in advance!)
Notes
- GLUTEN FREE SANDWICH COOKIES. Our favorite gluten-free cookies for chocolate cookie crust are Gluten-Free Oreos, Goodie Girl Chocolate Creme Cookies, Glutino Chocolate Vanilla Creme Cookies, or Kinnikinnik K-Toos.
- CAN I USE SOMETHING BESIDES COCONUT MILK? I don’t recommend it for this pie. If you substitute the coconut milk for another dairy-free milk (like almond milk, cashew milk, oat milk, etc.) just know that your pie filling will set much looser and thinner, and it likely won’t slice as prettily. (It will taste great, but it doesn’t have the same setting power or thickness as coconut milk.)
- DON’T RUSH. For the best results, don’t rush the cooking or chilling steps! Make sure to thicken the filling sufficiently before adding the chocolate chips & let the pie chill the full time to allow it to set up properly.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition facts are an estimate only and will vary based on brands and amounts used.
Find it Online:
https://www.onelovelylife.com/vegan-chocolate-pie/Originally shared Nov 2020. Updated with improved recipe notes, new photos & video October 2025. Check out some of our original photos below!
this sounds yummy, we have a nut allergy but since coconut is a fruit we can use that. But would a cup of unsweetened coconut milk work instead of almond milk. also have a grain allergy. Has anyone used a grain free chocolate cereal to make the crust, if so how much cereal did you use?
Hi, Jennifer! You can definitely use coconut milk for the almond milk, though the pie will have a thicker texture. I haven’t had anyone comment about a grain-free cereal for the crust before.
So I made this for a pie night party. I had to cook the filling for at least 12 minutes. In the process, I could see my filling steaming (which meant disappearing) before my eyes. So, I would suggest increasing the filling ingredients by 1/3 more of each ingredient so your pie pan isn’t lacking like mine was. Also- after 10 minutes of cooking, my “pudding” was still like chocolate milk, even though it was semi-boiling. I’m going to increase the cornstarch next time to 3 Tbsp and see how it turns out. I made the mistake of eventually using 4 Tbsp corn starch because it simply wasn’t getting to be pudding-like consistency. Make sure you bring your patience to the kitchen with you because you are going to need it.
Hi Jena! I’m not sure why you didn’t use what was called for in the recipe, but that was certainly the problem. It wasn’t thickening quickly enough because you didn’t use the 4 Tablespoons of cornstarch called for from the start. If you make it as written, it works as written!
What can I Use instead of corn starch? We have a corn allergy. Thanks
You can use arrowroot instead. Just keep in mind it can be a bit more finicky to work with and make sure the pie filling thickens at each step as directed so it sets up properly.
**UPDATE** I also just combed through the comments section, and it looks like another reviewer had good luck with potato starch!
This. Is. AMAZING!! So chocolatey and smooth. I know I can rely on this to be a crowd pleaser every time.
Fantastic pie! Probably the best pie I have ever made. Finding a vegan pie so decadent was like finding a diamond in the rough. This will now be my holiday pie going forward. Followed instructions exactly, except used a store bought graham crust. Thanks for the recipe!
This totally made my day! I’m so glad you loved it. I couldn’t agree more!
I am gluten-free, dairy-free and I love this pie. Like others have said, people on regular diets always love it too. My question is, can you freeze it? Does it keep the same texture when you thaw it? Thank you.
Hi! I’m so glad you love the pie! I’ve heard mixed reviews from people about freezing it. A few have done it and said it works just fine, while others said the pudding seeped a bit upon thawing. I don’t usually freeze this one to avoid any separation or change in texture.
My mom used to eat chocolate cream pie once a year on her birthday. Since she went vegan, I’ve been making this pie for her every year. She LOVES it! Says it’s better than the ones she used to eat! The non-vegans love it too! xo
This totally made my day, Nancy! I’m so glad you’ve enjoyed it as much as we do. THANK YOU for taking the time to leave such a kind, glowing review!
My DIL can no longer eat dairy, so I made this for her on Thanksgiving. To save some time, I bought a chocolate pie from Whole Foods for the rest of us. The Whole Foods pie was terrible and ended up in the trash. This one was delicious and we all polished it off! A question – can I use something like oat milk, which she drinks, rather than almond milk? I hate to waste a whole container of almond milk.
Yep! You bet!
I made the pie this year and it works great! Good firm pudding texture. You could use this to make a layered dessert as well as it firms great when cooled. Excited to try it with different milks/flavors. !!
So glad you loved it Sarah!
For the cookie crust, do you use the whole cookie including the filling or just the cookie part? Thanks!
Hi, Megan! It’s the whole cookie. The filling actually helps the crumbs stick together!