By: Jill Mills Updated: Oct 14, 2024

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A no-bake Oreo crust, rich chocolate filling, and gooey coconut topping make this German Chocolate Pie an absolutely irresistible dessert. Perfect for the holidays or any occasion!

Side view of a slice of German chocolate pie on a white plate

If you love German chocolate cake but are looking for something a bit quicker and easier to make, you’ll love this German chocolate pie. It has all the main components of the classic cake in pie form, including the gooey and sweet coconut topping. This is definitely one to add to your holiday dessert table!

What Makes This German Chocolate Pie Recipe So Good

No baking required. There’s no need to heat up the oven when you make this pie. In fact, the only cooking required in this recipe is warming the heavy cream for the chocolate filling!
Rich chocolate filling. The chocolate filling might be my favorite part of this recipe. It’s so smooth, rich, and creamy. Be sure to use a good quality chocolate!
Gooey coconut topping. The gooey coconut topping is a trademark of German chocolate desserts and this German chocolate pie is no exception. Made with sweetened coconut, sweetened condensed milk, and pecans, it’s sweet and gooey with just a bit of crunchy texture.

Looking for more German chocolate desserts? Check out my German chocolate brownies, German chocolate cake, and German chocolate cookies!

Ingredients needed to make German chocolate pie

What You’ll Need

This pie uses many of the same ingredients and flavors as traditional German chocolate cake. Scroll down to the recipe card below for the exact measurements.

Oreo Crust:

Oreos – Crushed into crumbs.
Unsalted butter – Melted butter helps the crumbs stick together to form the crust.

Chocolate Filling:

Semi-sweet chocolate – Chopped into small pieces for easier melting.
Heavy cream – Helps create the perfect texture for the filling.
Vanilla extract
Pinch of salt – Helps to enhance and balance the chocolate flavor.

Coconut Topping:

Sweetened shredded coconut – The base of the coconut topping.
Sweetened condensed milk – Sweetens the topping and adds the goey texture.
Unsalted butter – Melted.
Vanilla extract
Chopped pecans – They are optional but add a great texture to the topping.

How To Make German Chocolate Pie

Here’s an overview of how to make this pie. You can find the printable version of the instructions in the recipe card below.

Make the crust. Combine the crushed Oreos and butter until the Oreos resemble wet sand. Pour the mixture into the bottom and up the sides of a pie dish, using the back of a spoon to compact the crust.
Chill the crust. Refrigerate the crust for at least 30 minutes.
Make the chocolate filling. Bring the heavy cream to a simmer. Remove from heat and add the chocolate. Let sit for a minute then stir until melted and smooth. Stir in the vanilla and salt.
Chill. Pour the chocolate filling into the Oreo crust, smoothing the top with a spatula. Refrigerate for 2 hours, until the filling is firm.

Pecans added to the coconut topping in a bowl

Make the coconut topping. Combine the topping ingredients in a bowl until fully combined. Stir in the chopped pecans if using.
Chill. Spread the mixture evenly over the chocolate fill. Let the pie chill for another hour then slice and serve cold!

Serving a slice of German chocolate pie from the pie dish

Tips & Variations

Here are a few things I recommend keeping in mind when your make your German chocolate pie.

Chill between each layer. This is important to ensure that each layer stays separate and holds up to the next layer. If you add the coconut before the chocolate sets, it’ll just sink into the chocolate.
Use high-quality semi-sweet chocolate. Chocolate is one of the main ingredients so pick one that you love the flavor of. You can also experiment with dark or milk chocolate according to your taste preference.
Make it nut-free. If you or your guests have nut allergies or prefer a nut-free version, simply increase the coconut to 2 cups total for a similar texture and plenty of flavor.
Toast the coconut. For added depth of flavor, lightly toast the coconut in a skillet over medium heat until golden brown before mixing it into the topping.

A slice of German chocolate pie with a bite missing

Proper Storage

German chocolate pie can be stored in the fridge for up to 4 days. Just remember to cover it tightly with plastic wrap or transfer slices to an airtight container.

German Chocolate Pie

What Makes This German Chocolate Pie Recipe So Good