As an avid baker, I have an entire shelf in my kitchen dedicated to storing flours, leavening agents, sugars, chocolate chips, and other essentials. Most desserts require a multitude of components to come together. But, if I’m being honest, sometimes I don’t feel like delving into a bunch of containers and pulling out all my measuring spoons and cups to make a sweet treat, especially during the hot summer months when it’s sweltering both inside and out.
Recently, my editor found a three-ingredient vintage chocolate icebox pie recipe—and I was immediately intrigued. It made me think about how my grandpa often used smart shortcuts in the kitchen to create delicious goodies. This particular dessert only requires a few basic staples: chocolate, Cool Whip, and a premade graham cracker crust. After just a few minutes of prep, the fridge takes care of the rest.
All of my grandpa’s quick-turnaround dessert recipes were always reliable, but I didn’t have the same trust in Reddit. So, before putting my faith in this trending chocolate icebox pie, I decided to try it myself to see if it truly lives up to the hype.
How to Make Chocolate Icebox Pie
This three-ingredient pie is just as easy as it sounds. I followed the directions from a Reddit thread where one user shared, “My MIL makes a pie that is 6 Hershey bars, melted. Stir into a container of Cool Whip and pour into a pie shell of your choosing (usually graham cracker crust).”
To start, I microwaved the chocolate bars in a microwave-safe bowl in short 30-second bursts, stirring between each round until they were fully melted. Then, I folded the melted chocolate into the Cool Whip. The ratio turned out to be just right—the mixture fit perfectly into a nine-inch premade graham cracker crust.
After placing the pie in the fridge for an hour, I let it come to room temperature before digging in. When I took a bite, my immediate reaction was how rich the taste was. The chocolate flavor came through strongly (understandable, since the recipe uses six bars). It was a bit too sweet for my liking, so next time I’d scale back to one or two bars.
As for the texture, it was also quite rich. Rather than being light and fluffy, the filling had a consistency closer to cheesecake. I didn’t mind it, but if you prefer something more cloud-like, you could swap the Cool Whip for homemade whipped cream.
Ingredients:
– 6 (1.55 ounce) Hershey bars
– 1 (8-ounce) container of softened Cool Whip Original
– 1 (9-inch) premade graham cracker crust
Instructions:
1. Melt the chocolate using your preferred method, either in the microwave (in short bursts, stirring between each) or in a double boiler.
2. Add the softened Cool Whip to a bowl. Gently fold in the melted chocolate.
3. Fill the graham cracker crust with the chocolate mixture, then refrigerate the pie for at least an hour before serving.
4. Let the pie come to room temperature before enjoying your slice.
How to Upgrade This Reddit-Famous Chocolate Icebox Pie
What I love about the Old Recipes thread on Reddit is that it’s a goldmine for unearthing vintage goodies. All of the chatter about this chocolate pie sent me down a rabbit hole, where I learned more about the history of icebox desserts and came away with plenty of ideas for how to upgrade this simple treat.
For this chocolate pie specifically, you can swap the premade graham cracker crust with an Oreo, shortbread, or Speculoos one. You can also experiment with different types of chocolate. Follow the same basic recipe, but add dark chocolate, white chocolate, or even Hershey’s Cookies ‘n’ Creme for a fun twist.
And, if you’re feeling inspired to branch out even more, check out this roundup of icebox desserts—perfect for enjoying all summer long.
