To Freeze or Not to Freeze: The Ultimate Chocolate Pudding Pie Dilemma

Chocolate pudding pie is one of those delicious desserts that everyone in the house can get excited about. But if there are any leftovers, can you freeze them?

Yes, you can freeze your homemade chocolate pudding pie so long as it’s wrapped tightly. The pudding would be safe to eat if frozen and defrosted. However, it is not recommended since the texture may change once thawed.

Read on to learn how freezing this timeless treat will help make mealtime a breeze no matter how busy your schedule is!

Table of Contents

About Chocolate Pudding Pie

Chocolate pudding pie, also known as chocolate cream pie, is an American classic dessert. It usually consists of a chocolate custard filling with cocoa powder, sugar, eggs, and milk poured into a flaky pastry crust.

The pie can be served as-is or topped with whipped cream for sweetness and texture. Chocolate pudding pies are a great way to satisfy your sweet tooth!

The best way to store it is in the fridge. It should be stored for no more than 5-7 days and consumed within that period.

Graham cracker crust chocolate pudding pie. Credit: canva

Can You Freeze Chocolate Pudding Pie?

You can preserve the pie for up to two months by firmly sealing it. Freezing will ensure that your pie remains good!

There are reasons why you want to freeze your pie:

Prepare ahead of time: You can prepare the pies, freeze them, and pull them out when you need a quick dessert option. If you’re entertaining a crowd or hosting an event, freezing the pies beforehand can help cut down on preparation time.
Prolong its shelf life: Freezing your homemade chocolate pudding pie will help prolong its shelf life and ensure it remains fresh.
Preserve leftovers: You can save the leftovers for future meals or occasions when you don’t have time to prepare something from scratch.

Drawbacks

Like any other custard pies, meringue pies, and cream pies, chocolate pudding pies do not freeze well.

The flavor or texture of the filling will change once it’s frozen since pudding filling is made of temperature-sensitive ingredients.
They will be watery and separate or have a grainy texture after thawing.

Chocolate pudding pie with pie crust. Credit: canva

Tips for Freezing

Cool Completely

First, you’ll want to ensure your pie is completely cooled before freezing. Since chocolate pudding pies are usually prepared with a graham cracker crust or other types of the pastry base, they can take longer than other pies to cool down completely.

You’ll want to let the pie cool on the counter for at least an hour before transferring it to the refrigerator for another few hours before putting it in the freezer.

Doing so ensures that all ingredients have time to settle into their respective places and won’t become too runny when frozen.

Wrap It Up

To maintain your chocolate pudding pie’s freshness and flavor to its fullest, don’t let it sit in the freezer for more than two months. Make sure you wrap up the dessert with either aluminum foil or plastic before placing it into a deep freeze so that you can prevent any unwanted ice crystals from forming – aka freezer burn.

This will also help prevent unwanted odors or flavors from seeping into your dessert and protect it from ice crystals forming on its surface.

Thaw Gradually

Another critical thing to remember is that when thawing out your frozen pudding pie, you should do so gradually by letting it sit in the refrigerator overnight before serving.

This will help ensure that all of its flavor and texture remain intact after being frozen and will also provide a more enjoyable experience for eating the dessert once it has been thawed out.

The Don’ts

When freezing homemade desserts like chocolate pudding pies:

Avoid using aluminum foil as your wrapping material, as this can create an unfavorable flavor for your dessert if stored for longer periods in the freezer.
Also, avoid storing wet whipped cream toppings on top of your cake when freezing, as this will create an undesirable texture when re-thawed. Instead, opt for adding fresh whipped cream at the time of serving once desired temperature has been achieved.

Chocolate pudding pie with whipped cream. Credit: canva

How to Serve Frozen Chocolate Pudding Pie

The options for serving:

Remove it from the freezer and let it thaw overnight in the fridge.
Serve at room temperature without reheating.
If time doesn’t allow for this method of thawing, put your frozen pudding pie in a shallow pan with cold water (not hot), being sure not to submerge your cake entirely underwater. Allow your frozen pudding pie to thaw until soft, and serve as usual.
Slightly warmed up in a 350-degree oven for 10-15 minutes.
Microwave for 30-second intervals until warm.
Serve with a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of your favorite ice cream.

Making chocolate pudding pie. Credit: canva

How to Make Chocolate Pudding Pie

Making a delicious chocolate pudding pie is easier than you think! A decadent dessert can be ready with just a few ingredients and simple instructions.

Recipe Variations

There are so many ways to make this delicious pie.

You can make your crust from scratch or use crust made of biscuits such as Graham Crackers or Oreo cookies.
For the filling, you can use various types of pudding or even make your own from scratch! No matter what type you choose, let it cool completely before adding it to the crust.
For the topping, you can add anything from premade whipped cream to a homemade chocolate ganache or even a layer of melted chocolate chips.
And don’t forget to add fun decorations such as sprinkles or candy before serving!

Easy Recipe with Graham Cracker Crust

For the Crust:

1 ½ cups graham cracker crumbs
Two tablespoons sugar
pinch kosher salt
Six tablespoons unsalted butter melted.

For the Pie:

One pre-made graham cracker crust
Two 3.9-ounce packages of chocolate instant pudding mix
4 cups of whole milk
1/2 cup of heavy cream
6 ounces of dark chocolate chips or chunks
1/3 cup cornstarch
1 and 1/4 cups sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
Four large egg yolks

Instructions:

Making the Crust:

Preheat the oven to 350°Fahrenheit/175° Celsius.
Mix the graham cracker crumbs with salt, sugar, and melted butter until evenly blended will produce moistened crumbs.
Carefully pour your mixture into a 9-inch deep dish pie plate and use the bottom of a measuring cup to ensure that the crumbs are evenly pressed across both sides and corners.
Bake for 6-8 minutes. Take it out of the oven and let it cool to room temperature.

Cooking the Chocolate Pudding:

To begin, combine the pudding mix, milk, cream, and chocolate chips in a medium saucepan over medium heat.
Stir constantly until the mixture thickens and comes to a boil. Once boiling, remove from heat and set aside.
Whisk together the cornstarch, sugar, salt, and egg yolks in a separate bowl until combined. Slowly add the hot pudding mixture to the egg mixture while stirring constantly.
Pour the mixture into the saucepan and cook over medium heat for about 5 minutes or until thickened.
Remove from heat and pour into your pre-made graham cracker crust.
Refrigerate for at least one hour before serving.

Serving:

When ready to serve, top with optional adornments such as whipped cream or melted chocolate.
Allow people to slice and enjoy.

FAQs

How do you store homemade pudding in the fridge?

Keep homemade pudding in an airtight container in the refrigerator and enjoy it up to seven days later!

Does frozen pudding taste like ice cream?

Not! Frozen pudding provides an entirely different experience than ice cream. It has a much softer texture and is reminiscent of custard with its light yet creamy flavor.