1-Gathering and Prepping Ingredients: First things first, pull together everything on your list. This includes measuring out the sugar, cornstarch, and salt into a medium saucepan. Whisk in the whole milk and egg yolks until everything is smooth and combined. It’s fun to see how these simple items transform into something special I always get excited at this stage!

2-Cooking the Filling: Now, cook the mixture over medium heat, stirring gently but constantly. It should take about 6 to 20 minutes to thicken to a pudding-like consistency, depending on your stove. Once it starts to boil, remove it from the heat right away to avoid any lumps. Stir in the chopped bittersweet chocolate, vanilla extract, and butter until it’s all blended smooth. If you’re like me, you’ll sneak a taste here and think, “Wow, this is already amazing!”

3-Assembling and Chilling: Pour the filling into your cooled pie crust, and if you have extra, save it for a quick pudding snack. Pop the pie in the fridge, uncovered, for at least 4 hours to set properly. When it’s time to serve, warm a knife under hot water and dry it off for clean slices. Total time is about 4 hours and 10 minutes, with most of that being chill time, so it’s perfect for planning ahead.