Take Your Pie to New Heights with This Unexpected Ingredient

I love savoring a glass of wine, enjoying not just its flavor but the whole experience—from uncorking the bottle and letting it breathe to that first sip that transports me to the vineyards. So the idea of using an entire bottle of wine to make a pie initially made me hesitant. Could I really pour every last drop into a pot instead of into my glass? After all, I'm a wine enthusiast who much prefers drinking it to eating it—at least, that's what I thought.

What Exactly Is a Bottle of Wine Chocolate Pie?

There are many versions of bottle-of-wine pies online, but they all share the same basic ingredients: cornstarch, sugar, red wine, chocolate, and a pie crust. Some recipes suggest mixing everything directly in the pie shell and baking it, but I found that risky since thorough whisking is key to a smooth, creamy filling without any lumps. Instead, I opted for a recipe where the mixture is whisked and cooked before being poured into a pre-baked pie crust. Once the wine-chocolate filling is ready, it's poured into a baked cookie crust and chilled. After setting, it’s topped with whipped cream and chocolate shavings.

How to Prepare a Bottle of Wine Chocolate Pie

As I mentioned, I followed an easy-to-follow recipe I found online.

1. Start by preparing and fully cooling a cookie crust, though a store-bought pie crust works fine too.
2. For the rich filling, combine 1/2 cup cornstarch with 1 1/4 cups sugar in a saucepan. Then, slowly pour in an entire bottle of wine, whisking constantly to avoid lumps. Continue stirring as the mixture cooks over medium heat until it thickens, about 8-10 minutes.
3. Once thickened, remove from heat and stir in 12 ounces of chopped bittersweet chocolate, 2 tablespoons butter, and a pinch of salt. Stir until smooth and glossy.
4. Pour the filling into your crust and refrigerate until set, at least 4 hours or overnight. Top each slice with fresh whipped cream.

Fortunately, this pie is easy to make, so it's a low-stress recipe. After trying it, however, I do have a few tips to share.

Helpful Tips

Tip 1: Pick a quality pie crust. While a store-bought crust will do, I decided to make my own using chocolate cookie crumbs. It was simple and gave my daughter a fun task while I focused on, well, grieving over my lost bottle of wine. Jokes aside, the homemade crust really made the pie, so I highly recommend giving it a try.

Tip 3: Never skip the whipped cream. This dessert is indulgent, and the combination of chocolate and wine can be intense. The whipped cream will help balance the flavors and add a smooth finish. If you’re short on time and don’t want to make it from scratch (though trust me, it’s worth the effort), you can use store-bought whipped cream instead, but consider yourself warned—it’s not quite the same.

Bottle of Wine Pie: Taste Test Results

Though I initially hesitated at the thought of using an entire bottle of wine in the pie, my doubts melted away as soon as I took my first bite. The filling was velvety, indulgent, and had the unique sensation of simultaneously enjoying a rich chocolate treat and sipping wine. The cookie crust added a delightful crunch, and the whipped cream balanced out the acidity of the wine and chocolate, making every bite perfectly harmonious.

That said, I’m not sure I’d make this pie too often, especially with just two adults at home who can enjoy it. Instead, I’ll reserve it for special occasions like dinner parties and holiday celebrations—when I can proudly bring both dessert *and* a bottle of wine.