If you’re a fan of chess pie and can’t resist the delicious combination of chocolate and peanut butter, then this Peanut Butter Chess Pie with Fudge Drizzle is the perfect dessert for you. This rich and decadent pie combines the best of a classic chess pie with the irresistible flavors of chocolate and peanut butter.
The ultra-flaky crust of this pie has a cracker-like crispness that provides the perfect contrast to the gooey peanut filling. The classic pairing of peanut butter and chocolate is elevated in this pie with a soft custard center, a crisp sugary top, and a generous drizzle of dark fudge sauce. The peanut butter filling is gooey, rich, and perfectly sweetened to highlight its nutty flavor.
When it comes to making this pie, everyday creamy peanut butter works best, so there’s no need for anything fancy or fresh-ground. The fudge sauce, made with Dutch-process cocoa and dark chocolate, is simple to make using pantry ingredients and comes together easily on the stovetop. Serve slices of this Peanut Butter Chess Pie with extra fudge sauce and, if desired, a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of crème fraîche for added indulgence.
For those short on time, a good store-bought frozen pie crust can be used as a convenient alternative. Simply blind-bake the crust according to the package instructions, then fill and finish baking as directed in the recipe. This time-saving tip ensures that you can still enjoy the delicious flavors of this Peanut Butter Chess Pie without the extra effort of making the crust from scratch.
To add a decorative touch to your pie, the fudge sauce can be spooned onto the surface in a polka-dot pattern or drizzled in a freeform design using a small squeeze bottle or teaspoon. This allows you to customize the presentation of your pie and add a creative flair to your dessert spread.
In the Food & Wine Test Kitchen, it was found that sticking with creamy peanut butter ensures the smoothest filling, while refrigerating the dough overnight results in the flakiest crust that holds its crimp. Using a metal pie pan for baking helps the crust achieve an even golden color with perfect flakiness. Additionally, the fudge sauce can be made ahead of time and gently reheated before drizzling over the pie.
This indulgent Peanut Butter Chess Pie with Fudge Drizzle recipe was developed by Camille Coswell, with the text written by Cheryl Slocum. Whether you’re a fan of chess pie, peanut butter, or chocolate, this dessert is sure to satisfy your sweet tooth and impress your guests with its rich flavors and irresistible combination of textures.
