Bishops Pie is a decadent delight with chopped Pecan Nuts or grated chocolate. Whilst originally from America, the rest of the world has caught on. Served as a dessert or as a snack it is perfect. The whipped cream on the chocolate pudding base is a lovely match.
There is something rather special about a dessert that brings together several delicious layers, each offering something different. Bishops Pie is one of those wonderful treats that looks impressive when served but is surprisingly straightforward to prepare. It combines a buttery pecan crust, a smooth cream cheese filling, rich chocolate pudding and a generous topping of whipped cream. What is not to love?
Although its name suggests a traditional fruit pie, Bishops Pie is much closer to a layered dessert cake. It has American roots and has become a favourite with people who enjoy indulgent chocolate puddings. Furthermore, the combination of textures makes every mouthful a little different.
The bottom layer is particularly enjoyable. The buttery base has a lovely crumbly texture, while the chopped pecans add a gentle crunch and a delicious nutty flavour. This provides a wonderful contrast to the softer layers above it. I particularly like how the cream cheese filling adds a little tanginess, which helps balance the sweetness of the chocolate.
Then comes the chocolate pudding. It is smooth, creamy and wonderfully rich without overpowering the other ingredients. Finally, a generous covering of whipped topping brings everything together. A scattering of chopped pecans or grated chocolate over the top adds an attractive finishing touch.
One of the things I really appreciate about Bishops Pie is that it can be prepared ahead of time. In fact, allowing it to chill in the refrigerator gives the layers time to settle and makes serving much easier. This makes it an excellent choice when entertaining friends or preparing a family meal.
When it comes to serving, I like to cut generous slices and place them on chilled dessert plates. However, a smaller portion is often more than enough because this is a particularly indulgent pudding. A little extra whipped cream alongside each slice is always welcome too!
Bishops Pie is ideal for birthdays, family gatherings, Sunday lunches or simply when you fancy something chocolatey. It is also a lovely dessert to share because it can easily be prepared in advance.
If you enjoy chocolate, creamy fillings and a little crunch, this is definitely one to try. It is comforting, satisfying and wonderfully decadent. Best of all, every layer brings something special to the finished dessert.
Bishops Pie
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter
- 2 cup flour
- 1 1/2 cup pecans chopped
- 8 oz cream cheese
- 1 cup Confectioners' sugar
- 3 cup whipped topping
- 3 packets Instant chocolate pudding
- 3 cup milk
Instructions
- Melt butter and stir in flour and 1 cup of the nuts.1 cup butter, 2 cup flour, 1 1/2 cup pecans
- Continue stirring until a thick paste is formed, with no flour lumps.
- Press into bottom of a 13×10 baking pan and bake 15 min at 375F. Cool.
- Prepare first layer of filling by combining cream cheese, sugar and 1 cup whipped topping.8 oz cream cheese, 1 cup Confectioners' sugar, 3 cup whipped topping
- Beat with electric mixer at med speed for 2-3 min.
- Spoon into cooled crust, then smooth with spatula.
- Combine pudding and milk in the mixing bowl used for the first filling.3 packets Instant chocolate pudding, 3 cup milk
- Beat well, then pour over the cream cheese layer.
- As soon as the chocolate layer firms up a bit, spoon on more whipped topping, smoothing and adding until there is an additional 1/2 inch layer above the chocolate.
- Sprinkle with remaining pecans or grated chocolate and chill for at least 3 hours.
40 comments
A perfect dish for anyone who enjoys sweet desserts.
A great dessert for chocolate lovers. The crunchy base and soft creamy layers make a wonderful combination.
A delicious chocolate pudding with a lovely creamy middle. I added a little grated chocolate on top and it looked fantastic.
This has quickly become one of our favourite desserts. Even my fussy grandchildren loved it.
A fantastic family dessert. It was rich, creamy and full of lovely chocolate flavour.
I loved the contrast between the crunchy pecans and the smooth chocolate pudding. A really enjoyable dessert.
A very tasty pudding with plenty of different textures. I added some dark chocolate shavings which worked beautifully.
Made this for Sunday lunch and there wasn’t a crumb left. Everyone asked for the recipe.
The combination of chocolate, cream cheese and pecans is wonderful. A lovely dessert for any occasion.
A lovely recipe that I will be keeping. It was easy to prepare, tasted delicious and made enough for everyone.
Everyone loved this dessert! The chocolate pudding and creamy filling work beautifully together, while the pecan base adds a lovely crunch.
Made this for a dinner party and it looked wonderful when sliced. It was also much easier to prepare than I expected.
Prepared it the night before a family meal and it was perfect the following day. I will certainly make it again.
The layers work so well together. I particularly enjoyed the slight tang from the cream cheese against the sweet chocolate.
A lovely dessert that disappeared remarkably quickly. Next time I think I will make two!
I was a little unsure about the pecan base, but it worked beautifully with the chocolate. Very pleased with the result.
This is definitely one for the chocolate lovers in the family. Rich, creamy and very satisfying.
I really liked the crunchy pecan base. It gives the dessert something different from an ordinary chocolate pudding.
My family loved this, although I found it slightly sweeter than I normally prefer. A little less sugar would suit my taste.
I prepared this the day before our family gathering and it turned out perfectly. It sliced beautifully and tasted delicious.
Such a lovely treat for the weekend. The chocolate and cream cheese layers are a match made in heaven.
Absolutely delicious! I might add a few extra pecans next time, but otherwise I wouldn’t change a thing.
Very easy to prepare and ideal for making ahead. It saved me so much time when preparing dinner for guests.
Everyone enjoyed this dessert, although I think smaller slices are best because it is quite filling.
The chocolate layer was wonderfully smooth and the cream cheese filling balanced it perfectly.
Really enjoyed making this. It looked impressive on the table and tasted even better than I expected.
A lovely recipe and surprisingly simple to put together. The hardest part was waiting for it to chill before serving.
A wonderful combination of flavours. The pecan crust was my favourite part because it added such a lovely crunch.
I served this after a roast dinner and it went down a treat. A little goes a long way because it is quite rich.
Really enjoyed this recipe. It was rich and creamy without being too sweet, which made it a lovely end to our meal.
Such a lovely dessert! The different textures make it really enjoyable and the chocolate flavour is just right.
I made this for a birthday meal and it was a great success. Everyone enjoyed having something a little different.
A really delicious pudding that looks far more complicated than it is. I know I will be making it again.
A fantastic pudding for sharing with family and friends. It is easy to make ahead and tastes absolutely delicious.
Made this for friends visiting at the weekend and everyone wanted to know how I made it. Definitely a keeper.
A delicious dessert, although my base was a little crumbly when cutting. It still tasted absolutely wonderful.
This was a big hit with the family. Everyone enjoyed the different layers and went back for seconds.
This was a lovely change from our usual desserts. The pecans add a delicious flavour and make the base really special.
I added a little extra whipped cream when serving and it made the dessert even more indulgent. Everyone loved it.
This was delicious served straight from the fridge. The layers held together nicely and the flavour was wonderful.