Chocolate Hazelnut Chess Pie

This post may contain affiliate sales links. Please read my disclosure policy.

This Chocolate Hazelnut Chess Pie is easy to make and full of chocolate hazelnut spread flavor! It’s sweet, rich and perfect for the holidays!

Why You’ll Love This Chocolate Hazelnut Chess Pie

Chess pies are super simple and are typically made with ingredients that are pantry staples. This pie takes the traditional chess pie up a notch to include even more flavor, and it’s SO good!

  • Amazing flavor – If you’re a fan of Nutella and similar spreads, you will love this pie! With both chocolate and hazelnut flavor, it’s hard to resist. It’s rich, sweet and melts in your mouth.
  • Easy to make – As mentioned, chess pies are about as easy as it gets. Make a pie crust, stir together the quick filling and bake. You don’t even have to blind bake the crust! It doesn’t get much simpler than that.
  • Prep ahead – This is also a great pie to make ahead. You easily store it in the fridge for a day or two before serving, or even freeze it.
ingredients for chocolate hazelnut chess pie on marble countertop

What You’ll Need

Part of this recipe’s charm is the simple and short ingredient list. Scroll down to the recipe card below for the measurements.

  • Pie crust – You can use my flakey homemade pie crust or a store-bought crust. If using my crust recipe, keep in mind that you only need one crust. So you can make the whole recipe (which makes 2 crusts) and freeze one crust for later, or cut the recipe in half and make one crust.
  • Sugar
  • All-purpose flour – Helps to stabilize the pie and gives a smoother texture.
  • Unsalted butter – This should be melted. Salted butter would also be fine.
  • Vanilla extract
  • Eggs and Egg yolk – Be sure to use large eggs, not medium or extra large. They help to firm up the pie filling.
  • Hazelnut chocolate spread – There are lots of options out there. I used Nutella.
  • Milk – I would recommend whole milk or 2% milk.
chocolate hazelnut chess pie in white pie dish with Nutella and hazelnuts in the background

How To Make It

This pie is wonderfully easy to make, but you do want to mix the ingredients in the correct order to avoid a lumpy filling. Here’s a look at the process. You can find the printable version of the instructions in the recipe card below.

Make the crust

  • Make the pie crust, if making a homemade pie crust. Add the crust to a 9-inch deep dish pie pan and shape it. “Dock” the crust by pricking it with a fork. This helps the crust not bubble up during baking. Refrigerate the crust for 2-3 hours or freeze for about an hour so that it’s very cold.
docked pie crust in white pie plate
Docked pie crust

Make the filling

  • For the filling, combine the sugar and flour in a large mixing bowl, then add the melted butter and vanilla extract. It will be dry and crumbly.
  • Add the eggs and egg yolk and gently stir until well combined, then add the chocolate hazelnut spread and gently stir until well combined.
  • Add about half of the milk and gently stir until well combined, then add the remaining milk and gently stir until well combined.

Bake, cool and serve

  • Pour the pie filling into the cold crust, then bake for 10 minutes at 425°F. Reduce the oven temperature to 325°F and bake for another 35-45 minutes, adding a pie crust shield about half way through, if needed, to keep the crust from browning too much.
  • Remove the pie from the oven and set on a wire rack to cool for 1-2 hours, until room temperature.
  • Carefully cover the pie and place in the fridge to cool completely, 3-4 hours. Pie can be made 1-2 days ahead and refrigerated until ready to serve.
chocolate hazelnut chess pie with a slice removed

Tips For Success

  • Dock the crust – This helps prevent the crust from bubbling up during baking, so that you don’t end up with big crust air pockets that can rise into your pie during baking.
  • Add ingredients in correct order – The ingredients are added one or two at a time to avoid a lumpy filling. It can be tempting to just add them all at once and stir, but you’ll end with lumps and likely over mix the filling.
  • Stir gently – This goes along with the last tip. You don’t want to stir too aggressively and add a bunch of air bubbles to your filling. They can rise to the surface of the pie during baking and cause cracks and such.
  • Room temperature ingredients – This makes it easier to combine the ingredients and stir gently, so as to not add too much air into the filling.
  • Non-stick spray – To help the pie crust not stick to the pie plate when you’re serving your pie, you can use a little non-stick spray.
  • Pie crust shield – I recommend using a pie crust shield about half way through baking to avoid a burned crust. You can buy a pie crust shield, or make your own with aluminum foil.
slice of chocolate hazelnut chess pie with a bite taken

How to Store

  • Make ahead. Chess pie can be made 1-2 days in advance. In fact, I recommend making it at least 1 day in advance so it has lots of time to chill. Just cover it with plastic or foil and keep it refrigerated.
  • Fridge. This pie can be stored in the fridge for up to 5 days. Wrap the pie pan tightly with plastic wrap or, if you’ve already sliced it, wrap the slices in plastic wrap or place them in an airtight container. 
  • Freezer. Before freezing, be sure to allow the pie to firm up completely in the fridge. Then just wrap it in a double layer of plastic wrap and freeze for up to 3 months. Leftover individual slices can also be frozen too.

More Great Pies To Enjoy

This recipe was updated 11/10/2024. It’s very similar to the old version, but with different mixing instructions and more filling. To see the old version, download the recipe PDF.

Print
clock clock icon cutlery cutlery icon flag flag icon folder folder icon instagram instagram icon pinterest pinterest icon facebook facebook icon print print icon squares squares icon
slice of chocolate hazelnut chess pie on a white plate with full pie in background
Recipe

Chocolate Hazelnut Chess Pie

  • Author: Lindsay Conchar
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 45 minutes
  • Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
  • Yield: 8-10 Slices
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Oven
  • Cuisine: American

Description

This Chocolate Hazelnut Chess Pie is easy to make and full of chocolate hazelnut spread flavor! It’s sweet, rich and perfect for the holidays!


Ingredients

  • Homemade pie crust (or store-bought) *
  • 1 3/4 cups (362g) sugar
  • 3 tbsp (24g) all-purpose flour
  • 6 tbsp (84g) unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 large egg yolk, room temperature
  • 6 tbsp (120g) hazelnut chocolate spread (such as Nutella)
  • 3/4 cup (120ml) whole milk, room temperature

Instructions

  1. Make the pie crust according to the instructions if making a homemade pie crust. Once you have your pie crust made and rolled it out (or roll out the store-bought crust), spray a 9-inch deep dish pie pan with non-stick spray. Press the crust into the pan and shape your crust. “Dock” the crust by pricking it with a fork. This helps the crust not bubble up and cook unevenly.
  2. Refrigerate the crust for 2-3 hours or freeze for about an hour. You want to be sure the crust is very cold.
  3. When the pie crust is ready, preheat oven temperature to 425°F. To make the filling, combine the sugar and flour in a large mixing bowl, then add the melted butter and vanilla extract and combine. It will be dry and crumbly. Use a silicon spatula to gently combine the ingredients, so that you don’t over mix and add too much air.
  4. Add the eggs and egg yolk and gently stir until well combined, then add the chocolate hazelnut spread and gently stir until well combined. Again, use a silicon spatula to gently combine the ingredients, so that you don’t over mix and add too much air.
  5. Add about half of the milk and gently stir until well combined, then add the remaining milk and gently stir until well combined. Again, use a silicon spatula to gently fold/stir the ingredients together, so that you don’t over mix and add too much air. Mixing things in this order helps to prevent lumps from forming, so be sure to mix thing separately, when listed above.
  6. Pour the pie filling into the cold crust, then bake for 10 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 325°F and bake for another 35-45 minutes, adding a pie crust shield about half way through, if needed, to keep the crust from browning too much.
  7. Remove the pie from the oven and set on a wire rack to cool for 1-2 hours, until room temperature.
  8. Carefully cover the pie and place in the fridge to cool completely, 3-4 hours. Pie can be made 1-2 days ahead and refrigerated until ready to serve. Best if eaten within 4-5 days.

Notes

  • Crust: If using my crust recipe, keep in mind that you only need one crust. So you can make the whole recipe (which makes 2 crusts) and freeze one crust for later, or cut the recipe in half and make one crust.
  • Make ahead: Chess pie can be made 1-2 days in advance. In fact, I recommend making it at least 1 day in advance so it has lots of time to chill. Just cover it with plastic or foil and keep it refrigerated.
  • Fridge: This pie can be stored in the fridge for up to 5 days. Wrap the pie pan tightly with plastic wrap or, if you’ve already sliced it, wrap the slices in plastic wrap or place them in an airtight container. 
  • Freezer: Before freezing, be sure to allow the pie to firm up completely in the fridge. Then just wrap it in a double layer of plastic wrap and freeze for up to 3 months. Leftover individual slices can also be frozen too.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 Slice
  • Calories: 397
  • Sugar: 42.5 g
  • Sodium: 122.5 mg
  • Fat: 17.6 g
  • Carbohydrates: 56.9 g
  • Protein: 3.8 g
  • Cholesterol: 74.3 mg

Categories


Share a Comment

Have a question? Use the form below to submit your question or comment. I love hearing from you and seeing what you made!

Recipe rating 5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

43 Comments
  1. Mallory @ Total Noms

    Holy smokes. This looks INCREDIBLE! I have never had chess pie but I’m a big fan of everything that makes this up, so this will have to get made ASAP. So happy to have found your blog, Lindsay!

    1. lifeloveandsugar@gmail.com

      Thank you Mallory! I’m so glad you found me too! Yay for fb groups! 🙂 This was my first chess pie too – I was surprised how easy and tasty it was – especially with the chocolate hazelnut – YUM!

  2. Erin @ The Spiffy Cookie

    I only recently made my first chess pie – meyer lemon. I;’ve had chess pie before that but first time making it myself. I gotta try this one next time!

    1. lifeloveandsugar@gmail.com

      Oh my gosh, meyer lemon sounds awesome! This was my first chess pie too – I love how easy they are.

  3. Jen @ YummyHealthyEasy

    Oh Lindsay! WHY must you tempt me?! This Chess Pie looks AMAZING!!!! Chocolate and Hazelnut are two of my favorite things in the world! I can’t wait to make this! Thanks for sharing on Saturday Night Fever, pinning now!

  4. Rebecca @ Dorm Room Baker

    This looks amazing! I love Nutella, but don’t love the super processed ingredients–this seems like it might be a good alternative! And then of course once I get my hands on some of the spread I’ll have to do something with it other than eat it straight from the jar…this pie might be just the thing :). Definitely pinning.

    1. lifeloveandsugar@gmail.com

      Thanks Rebecca! Straight out of the jar is certainly yummy too 🙂 Thanks for the pin!

  5. Natashalh

    Oh my gosh this looks amazing! I love that you added Rolos to the pie – I’ve never thought of that! And who can argue with chocolate and hazelnut? I’ve never heard of Nocciolata, but I’ll have to keep an eye out for it.

  6. Miz Helen

    Hi Lindsay,
    Just stopping by from Show Stopper Saturday, your Chess Pie looks delicious and I can’t wait to make it. Hope you are having a great weekend and thanks for sharing!
    Miz Helen

  7. Laura@baking in pyjamas

    Oooh that spread you used sounds delicious, as does the look of that pie! Merry Christmas Lindsey 🙂

    1. lifeloveandsugar@gmail.com

      Great! 🙂 You can do it either way. Some people prefer a warmer/room temperature pie, so if that’s the case I’d do it the day of with a fews hours to cool so that it firms up. But it also tastes delicious cold. I think it’s a preference thing. Hope that helps! Merry Christmas!

  8. Diane Balch

    You sure know how to make a chocolate dessert. Wow, so creamy, love hazelnut spread. Thanks for sharing it with us on foodie friday. Merry Christmas.

  9. Cindys Recipes and Writings

    This looks delicious, Lindsey! Thanks for sharing at Foodie Friends Friday Christmas Party!

  10. Joanne T Ferguson

    G’day! Love chocolate and hazlenut combination, true!
    I could go for a slice of your pie right now too!
    Cheers! Joanne
    Viewed as part of Foodie Friends Friday Anything Goes Party

  11. Kelly

    This pie looks incredible Lindsay! Sounds like it comes together quickly too which is perfect! Thanks for sharing, love how decadent it is 🙂

    1. lifeloveandsugar@gmail.com

      Thanks Kelly! Yes, SO easy to put together. I love a little work for a lot of yumminess 🙂

  12. Linda

    Omigosh, I love chess pie, and this recipe variation has me drooling. I cannot wait to try it. I’m guessing the chocolate spread is Nutella or a variation. Thanks for sharing this yummy that I should not eat but will!

Lindsay
About Lindsay

I’m the baker, recipe developer and photographer behind Life, Love and Sugar. I love sharing trusted recipes with helpful tips to give you great results.

Scripture I’m Loving

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:28-29