Originating in the early 1940s in the American South, black bottom pie is a sweet dessert consisting of a chocolate pastry cream that is flavored with rum and vanilla, and a crust made with butter, sugar, and crumbled cookies. The pie is typically topped with stiff meringue peaks or whipped cream, then garnished with chocolate shavings.

When fully chilled, it can be served and consumed. Today, there are many version of this dessert with added coconut, lemon, strawberries, or bananas.