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Possum Pie

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Jessica Pinney Avatar

Author

Jessica Pinney

Published

Jan. 31, 2023

Updated

Mar. 7, 2024

This popular Southern pie features a crunchy pecan shortbread crust, a sweet & tangy cheesecake layer, decadent chocolate pudding, and whipped topping.

A glass pie dish filled with a possom pie that's topped with cool whip and roughly chopped pecans.

Were you wondering what the most popular dessert in Arkansas is? I thought so!

Well, it’s called Possum Pie and if you haven’t tried it yet, you’re going to regret that you’ve been missing out this long!

It is a decadent chilled pie that’s made up of three delicious layers – cream cheese, chocolate pudding, and whipped topping. Those layers are nestled inside a homemade pecan shortbread crust. 

A slice of possum pie been lifted out of a glass pie plate via a pie cutter.

Perhaps you’ve had it before but it was called another name? It’s also known as Chocolate Layer Pie, Impossible Pie, Chocolate Lush, and Four Layer Delight. Whoa, that’s a lot of AKAs!

Regardless of what you call it, it’s delicious! And once you see how easy it is to make despite having multiple layers, you’ll understand why it’s so popular. 

It’s perfect to take to potlucks and dinner parties. You could even sell whole pies or slices at a bake sale. It is one of the most sold desserts in Arkansas cafes after all. 

Ingredients

All the ingredients needed to make possum pie in prep bowls.
  • Flour – We’ll be using all-purpose flour in this pie.
  • Butter – Use unsalted butter. 
  • Sugar – Granulated and powdered sugar. 
  • Cream Cheese – Needs to be at room temperature to avoid lumps.
  • Heavy Cream – Should be chilled. Do not substitute. 
  • Vanilla – I use clear vanilla flavoring in the cream cheese layer and traditional vanilla extract in the chocolate pudding layer. 
  • Cocoa Powder – Any cocoa powder works fine. Use a dark chocolate powder for a darker, bittersweet pudding.
  • Cornstarch – This is the thickening agent in the pudding layer.
  • Salt – Standard table salt was used to develop this recipe.
  • Egg Yolks -We’ll only need the yolks for this recipe. Save your whites for scrambled eggs or another use.
  • Whole Milk – I don’t recommend substituting this. 
  • Pecans – Purchase pecan halves, them chop them. For best flavor, toast them first.
  • Cool Whip – Don’t forget to move this to the fridge the night before so it has time to thaw. 
  • Chocolate Shavings – To make the chocolate shavings, use a vegetable peeler and a high-quality chocolate bar. 

This post contains affiliate links (when you buy we make a little money at no cost to you). See our disclosure for more information.

How To Make

Crust

A two photo collage showing the steps to make pecan shortbread crust. First photo shows ingredients mixed in bowl. Second shows the mixture pressed into a pie plate.

Coat a pie pan with non-stick spray. Combine the flour, pecans, butter, and sugar. 

Press into the pie plate to form the crust. Bake for 15-20 minutes until it begins to brown around the edges. Let it cool completely.

Cream Cheese Layer

Photo collage showing the Possum pie cream cheese layer ingredients being added to a mixing bowl, then beat by a handheld mixer.

Add the cream cheese, powdered sugar, heavy cream, and vanilla in a large bowl. Beat until well-combined and lump free. 

Spread evenly over the bottom of the crust, then refrigerate while making the next layer.

Chocolate Pudding Layer

A two photo collage showing how to make this chocolate pudding layer in possum pie. First photo shows egg mixture being poured into cocoa mixture in sauce pan, second photo shows butter being whisked into the pudding.

Add the sugar, cocoa, cornstarch and salt together in a saucepan and stir to combine.

Beat the egg yolks and milk together in a separate dish, then whisk into the sugar/cocoa mixture.

Cook over medium heat, whisking often until the pudding begins to thicken and bubble (7-10 minutes). Remove from the heat and whisk in the butter and vanilla.

Set saucepan aside and let it cool completely before spreading it on top of the cream cheese layer. Refrigerate 1 hour.

Topping

A two photo collage showing Cool Whip being spread on top of a possum pie and then chopped pecans and chocolate shavings on top of the whipped topping.

After the pudding layer has chilled 1 hour, gently spread the Cool Whip over the pudding layer. 

Add the chopped pecans and chocolate shavings. 

Refrigerate until time to serve.

Tips

  1. Want to make an easier version of this pie? Swap the homemade crust for a store-bought graham cracker one and boxed pudding mix in place of the from scratch version. 
  2. For best flavor, toast your pecans on a baking sheet in the oven at 350F for 7-10 minutes. 
  3. Don’t be afraid to try variations, like making an Oreo or Ritz cracker crust or even adding a peanut butter mousse layer. 

Leftovers

Wrap any leftovers of this pie in plastic wrap or place in an airtight container and store in the fridge up to 4 days. 

A slice of layered possum pie sits on a pale green serving dish. A fork with the end of the pie on it rests next to the slice.

FAQs

Does it have possum in it?

No, despite the cheeky name there is no possum in this pie. 

Why is it called possum pie?

There are a few different rumored ways this southern dessert got its name. Some say because the pie has the same colors as the marsupial. 

Others think of the popular southern expression u0022playing possumu0022, which means something is pretending to be something it is not. (Like when a possum plays dead to ward off prey.)

They say this pie is playing possum because the whipped topping layer conceals the other layers beneath until you cut into the pie, leaving the decadent layered filling a surprise. 

Can it be frozen?

I don’t recommend freezing this pie because of the cream cheese layer. Cream cheese can change texture to a less desirable state when frozen. 

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Possom Pie

A chilled layered dessert pie with chocolate pudding, cream cheese, and a pecan shortbread crust.
Print
A slice of layered possum pie sits on a pale green serving dish. A fork with the end of the pie on it rests next to the slice.
Prep Time: 20 minutes mins
Cook Time: 30 minutes mins
Total Time: 4 hours hrs 50 minutes mins
Servings: 8

Ingredients

Crust

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 cup chopped pecans
  • 1/2 cup butter, melted
  • 1/3 cup granulated sugar

Cream Cheese Layer 

  • 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar
  • 2 tablespoons heavy cream
  • 1/2 teaspoon clear vanilla

Pudding

  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/3 cup cocoa powder
  • 3 tablespoons cornstarch
  • pinch of salt
  • 3 egg yolks
  • 2 cups whole milk
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla

Topping

  • 8 ounce container cool whip
  • 1 tablespoon chopped pecans
  • 1 tablespoon chocolate shavings

Instructions

Crust

  • Heat the oven to 350° and spray a pie pan with cooking spray.
  • Combine the flour, pecans, melted butter, and sugar, then press into the pie pan.
  • Place in the oven and bake for 15 to 20 minutes until the crust begins to brown around the edges.  Remove and cool completely.

Cream Cheese Layer

  • Beat the cream cheese, powdered sugar, heavy cream, and vanilla together in a large bowl.
  • Spread evenly over the bottom of the cooled crust.
  • Refrigerate while you make the pudding layer.

Pudding Layer

  • Combine the sugar, cocoa, cornstarch, and salt together in a sauce pan.
  • Beat the egg yolks and milk together in a dish, then whisk into the sugar mixture.
  • Cook over medium heat, whisking often until the pudding begins to thicken and bubble – about 7 to 10 minutes.
  • Remove from the heat and stir in the butter and vanilla.
  • Cool completely, then spread over the cream cheese layer and refrigerate for 1 hour.

Topping

  • Spread the cool whip over the pudding, then top with chopped pecans and grated chocolate.
  • Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Notes

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 4 days.
Author: Jessica Pinney
Did you make this recipe?Please tag @cookingwithjanica on Instagram! We’d love to see!
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