Baltimore Bomb Pie is Baltimore's take on a classic chess pie that's been filled with our own fudgy Berger cookies, making it a chocolate, cookie-filled decadent slice of pie.
Update: This recipe was originally shared in October 2018. The recipe and photos have been updated and republished in December 2021.
I love making recipes that include Maryland ingredients. I am part of a group that says Maryland is not a state, but instead a cult and I can't really find it in myself to disagree. For such a small state, we have a lot of heart and a lot pf pride. Not to mention, a lot of recipes.
I was looking for recipes to make for Thanksgiving a few years ago and my cousin suggested stopping at a pie place close to her work to pick up one of the signature pies. The Baltimore Bomb Pie is what she brought and we all fell in love. Of course, I needed to figure out how to make it right away.
What is a Baltimore Bomb Pie?
This is really a three-part question. First, we need to talk about chess pie. Chess pie is a classic southern pie that is made with milk, eggs, sugar, vinegar and cornmeal.
Then we need to talk about Berger cookies, which are a Maryland-made, shortbread style cookie where the tops are coated in a fudgy chocolate frosting.
Finally, when you combine those two together, by crumbling up Berger cookies into a chess pie and baking it, you get the Baltimore Bomb Pie.
FAQ about Baltimore Bomb Pie
Dangerously Delicious Pies is the creator of this decadent pie. On season 9 of Next Food Network Star, there was a contestant from Baltimore known as the pie guy. While he didn't win, he went on to create this pie shop and some other amazing recipes.
Another claim to fame for Maryland is our Berger cookies which came to Baltimore in the 1800's by a German immigrant. A soft shortbread like cookie is generously dipped into a fudgy chocolate frosting. We can get these cookies in grocery stores and convenience stores nearly anywhere in the state, but once you cross the state lines they become nearly impossible to find.
If you are outside of Maryland and want to make this pie, I recommend using King Arthur Flour's recipe for the Berger cookies.
A cold glass of milk! This pie is so rich and decadent that you're gonna need something cold to wash it all down with. A scoop of vanilla ice cream never hurt either!
Ingredients for this recipe
- refrigerated pie dough
- 15 oz. Berger cookies
- unsalted butter
- large eggs
- milk
- granulated sugar
- apple cider vinegar
- vanilla
- cornmeal, all purpose or almond flour
Instructions for this recipe
Start by preheating your oven. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and roll out the refrigerated pie dough over a deep dish pie plate.
Then melt your butter. In a small saucepan over medium heat, add the stick of butter and cook until it is fully melted, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool while you continue preparing the pie.
Next, chop up your Berger cookies. Roughly chop Berger cookies into small pieces.
After that, whisk up the other ingredients. In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs and sugar until smooth. Then add in the milk, apple cider vinegar and vanilla. Once the butter is cooled, whisk in a little bit, making sure it doesn't cook the eggs, then whisk in the rest of the butter along with the cornmeal.
Then pour the ingredients into the pie crust. Pour the egg/milk mixture into the pie crust and gently arrange the chopped cookies on top.
Finally, bake your pie! Bake the pie for 1 hour, until the middle is set. Remove from the oven and let cool completely before slicing and serving.
To really up the decadence of the pie, you can drizzle some chocolate syrup on top, but this isn't a requirement.
Substitutions and Serving Suggestions
- Distilled White Vinegar can replace apple cider vinegar in this recipe.
- Cornmeal is used to give the crispy texture on top of a chess pie. If you don't have any, almond flour or all purpose flour can be mixed in to slightly thicken up the recipe. It may not provide as crispy of a topping, however.
- Serve this Berger cookie pie with a glass of cold milk and a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top!
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Recipe
Baltimore Bomb Pie
Ingredients
- 1 refrigerated pie dough thawed
- 15 oz Berger cookies approximately 8 cookies
- 1 stick unsalted butter
- 3 large eggs
- ½ cup milk
- ¼ cup sugar
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon cornmeal (see notes for substitutions)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Roll out the refrigerated pie dough into a deep dish pie plate.1 refrigerated pie dough
- Heat butter in a small saucepan over medium heat until melted. Remove from the heat and let cool slightly.1 stick unsalted butter
- Roughly chop 15 oz. package of Berger cookies, approximately 8 cookies in the package.15 oz Berger cookies
- In a large bowl whisk together the eggs and sugar until combined. Then add in the milk, vinegar and vanilla.3 large eggs, ½ cup milk, ¼ cup sugar, 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Once the butter is cooled, whisk a little in to make sure it doesn't cook the eggs. Then whisk in the remainder of the butter along with the cornmeal.1 tablespoon cornmeal
- Layer the chopped up cookies in the pie dough and pour the batter on top.
- Bake for 1 hour or until the middle is just set. Remove from the oven and let cool completely before slicing and serving.
- Optional: drizzle chocolate syrup on the pie once it's cooled before slicing.
Notes
Nutrition
Farrah
I've never heard of a Baltimore Bomb Pie but this looks so good! :O! I can definitely see how it could put someone into a sugar coma, hehehe.
Mary
We have a slightly different recipe that includes corn meal in the batter - maybe as a stabilizer in lieu of corn starch. If not cooled completely it will run. Best to completely cool before serving. Cookies can be expensive but we tried making with something similar and it doesn’t work for us. We love this pie and my son makes it frequently. It is a chocoholics’ delight!! If I eat a small slice, I need to watch what I eat beforehand. Enjoy!
Jenn
This pie lives up to its name because it is the bomb!! So delish 😋 Always a family favorite.
Juli
This was amazing! I love how simple it all was and the taste was love at first bite.
Rishelle
This pie was the best for thanksgiving. I love chocolate this pie definitely hit the spot😊
Lenora
The best pie ever and super easy to put together. An absolute must try for all cooks.
Gary
Yummy