The Chocolate Pie of Dreams

When you think of pie, what comes to mind? As a Brit, typically a meat pie with gravy and lashings of mash is the true definition of pie. But sweet pies have been around for almost as long as meat pies (in fact, early meat pies very often contained fruit too!) and what about the vice of all vices, chocolate 🍫🍫🍫 Let us take you on a journey back in time to when this wonderful stuff was first created!

The history of chocolate pie is intertwined with the broader history of chocolate itself, which dates back thousands of years to ancient Mesoamerican civilisations such as the Olmec, Maya, and Aztec cultures. These civilisations were among the first to cultivate and consume cacao beans, using them to create a bitter, frothy beverage that held significant cultural and religious importance… The chocolate milkshake of old!

The indigenous peoples of Mesoamerica, particularly the Maya and Aztecs, revered cacao as a sacred crop and consumed it in the form of a bitter beverage known as "xocolātl." This beverage was made by fermenting, roasting, and grinding cacao beans, then mixing them with water and flavourings such as chili peppers and spices.

Following the Spanish conquest of the Americas in the 16th century, cacao beans were introduced to Europe, where they quickly gained popularity among the aristocracy and elite. The bitter cacao beverage was sweetened with sugar and flavoured with spices like cinnamon and vanilla to suit European tastes.

Evolution of Chocolate recipes 🥧🥧🥧

Over time, chocolate recipes evolved to include a wider range of ingredients and preparations. Chocolate was incorporated into various desserts, pastries, and confections, including PIES, cakes, and puddings. Hooray!

Recipes for chocolate pies began appearing in cookbooks in the 18th and 19th centuries, often featuring a rich, chocolate custard filling baked in a pastry crust.

Chocolate pie has a rich and storied history that spans continents and centuries. From its humble origins in ancient Mesoamerica to its modern-day incarnation as a beloved dessert, chocolate pie continues to captivate taste buds and bring joy to chocolate lovers everywhere.

Talking of chocolate pie and the joy it brings… as Easter is approaching again we’ve got Easter treats in the kitchen! And when there’s chocolate in the kitchen, it’s time to make our crème egg pies.

Imagine unboxing your usual order of pies and pasties and discovering a brilliant flash of gold foil! You may be the lucky recipient of a cracking crème egg pie.

We’ll be laying some gooey crème egg pies in Chunk parcels going out for delivery in the run up to Easter so make sure you top up the freezer to be in with a chance of winning one of these beauties!