Possum Pie

Possum pie is a phrase that sounds like a rustic meat dish but actually refers to a layered chocolate-and-cream dessert from Arkansas and the Ozarks. Because the name is easily taken literally, many outside the South misunderstand it, making the term feel Southernish rather than strictly Southern in usage.

#Southernish #FoodandDrink

synonyms: none

Hillbilly Dude Says...

I might eat 'possum pie' - but only if it was a reward for a good snipe huntin' trip.

Hillbilly Dude Says...

I might eat 'possum pie' - but only if it was a reward for a good snipe huntin' trip.

Pronunciation

[PAH-suhm pah]
/ˈpɑː.səm pɑː/

Meaning & Usage

- A layered chocolate-and-cream dessert (noun)

Mae:

What’d you bring?

Earl:

Possum pie-the one with the chocolate hidin’ underneath.

- A name often mistaken for a meat pie

Mae:

Possum pie? You’re jokin’.

Earl:

Not a lick of possum in it. Folks outside Arkansas just hear the name and panic.

variations: chocolate delight, four-layer delight, Arkansas possum pie

★ If someone makes a face when you say "possum pie," grin and tell ’em the only thing playin’ possum is the chocolate layer hidin’ under the cream. ★

Origin

The dessert known as "possum pie" developed in the mid-20th century in Arkansas and the Ozarks, evolving from earlier layered Southern desserts like "Four-Layer Delight." The name plays on the hidden chocolate layer that "plays possum" beneath cream and pecans. While the dessert is undeniably Southern, the phrase is often misunderstood or taken literally by non-Southerners, leading to incorrect assumptions that it refers to possum meat. This mixture of authentic Southern food culture and widespread outsider confusion gives the term its Southernish classification.

Verdict: Southernish. A real Southern dessert with a name outsiders love to misread, blending true Southern roots with non-Southern misunderstanding.

Notes

Within Arkansas and the Ozarks, the meaning is clear: it’s dessert. Outside the region, the name often sparks confusion or nervous laughter. This makes "possum pie" an example of a phrase that sounds rustic or backwoods to outsiders even though its meaning is straightforward to Southerners.

Served at church suppers, reunions, and Arkansas gatherings.
The name is playful-there is no possum involved.
Misinterpretation by outsiders contributes to the term’s Southernish feel.
Known for its "hidden" chocolate layer beneath whipped topping and pecans.

Kin Topics

Food and Drink

How to Cite This Page

APA (7th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. (2025, November 23). Possum Pie. HillbillySlang.com. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/southernish/possum-pie
MLA (9th edition)
"The Hillbilly Dude." "Possum Pie." HillbillySlang.com, 23 Nov. 2025, https://www.hillbillyslang.com/southernish/possum-pie.
Chicago (17th edition)
The Hillbilly Dude. "Possum Pie." HillbillySlang.com. November 23, 2025. https://www.hillbillyslang.com/southernish/possum-pie.