Today's Case:
Johnny Ray's BBQ Chocolate Pie
Re: Johnny Ray's BBQ chocolate pie
From: ?
To: Phaedrus
Date: 3/22/2025, 7:19 AM
On 3/22/2025 2:55 AM, ? wrote:
Do you by chance have the recipe for the chocolate pie from Johnny Rays Barbeque
in Birmingham Alabama?
I tasted that pie back in the 60’s and as far as I’m concert it’s the best chocolate pie
ever made! I have a friend from church who grew up in Birmingham, Alabama and
I would love to make one for her as a surprise. She’s been gone from there for years!
We were recently talking about chocolate pie and I told her my story of tasting the
chocolate pie only once but could not remember where it was purchased from in
Birmingham? I was just visiting there with my grandfather and my aunt had one and
it was delicious!
If you don’t have the recipe could you tell me where I might find it?
Thanks so much!
Hello ?,
Please give your first name when corresponding with me.
Sorry, I do not have this recipe. I searched for any and all recipes from Johnny Ray's BBQ in Birmingham, Alabama when I received a request for their BBQ sauce recipe in 2023. See: 1-31-24 I had no success again today searching for any recipes at all from Johnny Ray's. I could not find any on the internet and or in any of my other resources. Johnny Ray's BBQ closed in 2022 and, at the time, they got dozens of requests for the chocolate pie recipe. They have not responded to any requests for any recipes. You can read the many comments and requests for recipes on their (no longer active, but still there) Facebook page at: Johnny Ray's BBQ Colonnade
There is a photo of Johnny Ray's chocolate pie here:Facebook
A similar situation exists with "Ollie's BBQ", which was also in Birmingham, Alabama. They, too, served a chocolate pie that was extremely popular. They also closed and have failed to respond to any requests for recipes.
However, there is a "tastes-like" recipe for Ollie's BBQ chocolate pie here: 1-31-24
If I may make a suggestion: Ask your friend if she also remembers Ollie's BBQ chocolate pie. If she remembers it positively or if she never had it, bake a chocolate pie using that "tastes-like" recipe for Ollie's and see what she thinks of it. That recipe is below.
Phaed
Recipelink
Bev's Chocolate Pie
1 recipe pastry for a (9-inch) single crust pie (deep-dish suggested)
For the filling:
2 cups white granulated sugar*
5 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder*
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 (12 ounce) can evaporated milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 egg yolks, beaten
1/4 cup butter or margarine
For the meringue:**
4 egg whites
1/4 cup white granulated sugar
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
In a saucepan, off heat, whisk together 2 cups sugar, cocoa powder
and flour. Blend in evaporated milk and vanilla. (Note from a reviewer:
"I cooked the cocoa, sugar, evaporated milk mixture for probably
10-15 minutes just before boiling, and then let it cool quite a bit before
adding the eggs. The mixture barely fit into a regular pie shell.
It baked 40 minutes and was perfect!")
Stir in egg yolks, butter or margarine. Heat, stirring constantly just
until butter is melted. Pour filling into unbaked pie shell.
Bake in preheated oven for 35 to 40 minutes, or until pie is not "wobbly"
when shaken (for some it took 50-60 minutes).
Meanwhile, beat egg whites until soft peaks form. Gradually add 1/4 cup
sugar, beating constantly, until stiff peaks form. Spread meringue on hot
pie, spreading to the edges to seal.
Return pie to oven, and bake until meringue is golden. Cool. (Someone
said the pie is best served after chilled in refrigerator to set, then let sit
at room temperature a bit before cutting.)
*Some who tried the recipe say it is too sweet. Sugar amounts tried and
liked were 1 cup, 1 1/2 cups and 1 3/4 cups. Another reduced the sugar to
1 1/2 cups and used 5 heaping tablespoons cocoa powder.
**Some used 2 (5 oz. each) cans of evaporated milk (1 1/3 cups).
***Some served the pie topped with whipped cream instead of adding
the meringue.
Makes 1 (9-inch) pie, 8 servings
