Arkansas Possum Pie
I just had to include this hilariously named Arkansas favorite as part of my American Eats series. Not only is it incredibly popular and found all over the state of Arkansas, but my curiosity was immediately piqued by the name possum pie. As soon as I saw this on a list of popular Arkansas recipes I was simultaneously repulsed and intrigued.
Did it really have possum in it? Do people really eat roadkill in the South?
Truthfully, I was both relieved and a little disappointed to find out that possum pie is NOT a savory meat pie made with actual possum after all, but rather a delicious dessert recipe with a sandy pecan shortbread crust and layers of cream cheese, chocolate pudding, and sweetened whipped cream.
When we first heard about this pie, we had the same reaction that most people have. “It’s not made with possum, is it?” We assure you, it’s not (eww). This delicious concoction that should be the official
state dessert of Arkansas goes by other names in the south including Striped Delight, Chocolate Layer Pie and Four Layer Delight. A sandy bottom crust is the base upon which a cream cheesy layer sits. A chocolate pudding layer comes next, followed by a whipped cream topping. No one is really sure where the name comes from, but the best reasoning is that this pie plays possum by pretending to be something else – in this case the whipped cream hiding the chocolate filling.
One theory behind the unusual and shocking name is that possum pie is so-named for pretending to be something that it’s not – in this case hiding the chocolate filling underneath a layer of whipped cream. Another theory is that it’s just called possum pie because of it’s similar coloring to the only marsupial in North America.
Possum pie is sometimes called by other names as well, like Chocolate Layer Pie, Chocolate Lush, or Four Layer Delight.
We have seen lots of variations of this dessert including those made with a graham cracker crust, instant chocolate pudding and Cool Whip for the topping. You can go that route, but we prefer our version with no processed ingredients.
If this pie isn’t a near-religious experience, check out Thorncrown Chapel near Eureka Springs. This stunning architectural masterpiece is comprised of 6,000 square feet of glass and 425 windows. Designed to blend into its surroundings, the chapel has won numerous architectural awards and is a must-see if you are in the Ozarks.
Ingredients
Instructions
Did it really have possum in it? Do people really eat roadkill in the South?
Truthfully, I was both relieved and a little disappointed to find out that possum pie is NOT a savory meat pie made with actual possum after all, but rather a delicious dessert recipe with a sandy pecan shortbread crust and layers of cream cheese, chocolate pudding, and sweetened whipped cream.
When we first heard about this pie, we had the same reaction that most people have. “It’s not made with possum, is it?” We assure you, it’s not (eww). This delicious concoction that should be the official
state dessert of Arkansas goes by other names in the south including Striped Delight, Chocolate Layer Pie and Four Layer Delight. A sandy bottom crust is the base upon which a cream cheesy layer sits. A chocolate pudding layer comes next, followed by a whipped cream topping. No one is really sure where the name comes from, but the best reasoning is that this pie plays possum by pretending to be something else – in this case the whipped cream hiding the chocolate filling.
One theory behind the unusual and shocking name is that possum pie is so-named for pretending to be something that it’s not – in this case hiding the chocolate filling underneath a layer of whipped cream. Another theory is that it’s just called possum pie because of it’s similar coloring to the only marsupial in North America.
Possum pie is sometimes called by other names as well, like Chocolate Layer Pie, Chocolate Lush, or Four Layer Delight.
We have seen lots of variations of this dessert including those made with a graham cracker crust, instant chocolate pudding and Cool Whip for the topping. You can go that route, but we prefer our version with no processed ingredients.
If this pie isn’t a near-religious experience, check out Thorncrown Chapel near Eureka Springs. This stunning architectural masterpiece is comprised of 6,000 square feet of glass and 425 windows. Designed to blend into its surroundings, the chapel has won numerous architectural awards and is a must-see if you are in the Ozarks.
Ingredients
- 1 graham cracker pie crust
- 2 3 oz packages cream cheese softened
- 1/2 - 3/4 cup powdered sugar
- 1/4 cup pecans chopped
- 1/3 cup instant dry chocolate pudding mix
- 1/4 cup instant dry vanilla pudding mix
- 2 cups milk
- 8 oz tub Cool Whip topping
- 1 cup pecan halves
Instructions
- Beat softened cream cheese with powdered sugar until smooth.
- Spread cream cheese mixture onto bottom of crust. Sprinkle with chopped nuts.
- In large bowl, beat the pudding mixes with the milk at low speed for 2 minutes.
- Pour this over the cream cheese layer in the pie crust.
- Cover, and refrigerate 3-4 hours.
- Top with Cool Whip, then sprinkle with the pecan halves.