Chocolate Chess Pie

A Southern dessert classic, this chess pie is loaded with pecans. Serve it with Texas-size dollops of whipped cream.

Ingredients:

• 1 recipe Pastry for a Single-Crust Pie
• 2 cups sugar
• 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 tablespoon cornmeal
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 4 eggs, lightly beaten
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 cup chopped pecans
• Whipped cream (optional)

Pastry for Single-Crust Pie:

• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/3 cup shortening
• 3 - 4 tablespoons cold water 

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare Pastry for a Single-Crust Pie; set aside.

2. For filling, in a large bowl, combine sugar, cocoa powder, cornmeal, flour, and salt. In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, butter, and vanilla. Stir egg mixture into sugar mixture until smooth. Stir in pecans.

3. Pour filling into pastry-lined pie plate. Bake about 1 hour or until filling is set and crust is golden. If crust begins to brown too fast, reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees F and cover edge of crust with foil. Cool pie on a wire rack. (Filling will fall slightly during cooling.) Chill within 2 hours. If desired, serve with whipped cream. Makes 8 to 10 servings.

 

Pastry for Single-Crust Pie:
 

1. In a medium bowl, stir together the flour and salt. Using a pastry blender, cut in the shortening until pieces are pea-size. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon cold water over part of the mixture; gently toss with a fork. Push moistened dough to the side of the bowl. Sprinkle additional cold water, 1 tablespoon at a time, over mixture until all of the dough is moistened. Form the dough into a ball. On a lightly floured surface, flatten dough. Roll dough from center to edges into a 12-inch circle. To transfer pastry, wrap it around the rolling pin. Unroll pastry into a 9-inch pie plate. Ease pastry into pie plate, being careful not to stretch pastry. Trim pastry to 1/2 inch beyond edge of pie plate. Fold under extra pastry. Crimp edge as desired.

Make Ahead Tip:

• Cover and chill cooled pie for up to 24 hours.

Source: recipe.com

Mini Malted Milk French Silk Pie

Ingredients:

1. 2      boxes Pillsbury® refrigerated pie crusts, softened as directed on boxes
2. 3      oz semisweet baking chocolate
3. 1      cup butter, softened
4. 1      cup sugar
5. 1/2   cup chocolate malted milk powder
6. 1/2   teaspoon vanilla
7. 4      pasteurized eggs*
8. Sweetened whipped cream and chopped malted milk balls

Directions: 

1. 1 Heat oven to 450°F. Remove pie crusts from pouches; unroll on work surface. With 4-inch round cutter, cut 7 rounds from each crust, shaping and rerolling as necessary. Firmly press each round in bottom and up side of each of 28 ungreased regular-size muffin cups. Prick with fork.
2. 2 Bake 8 to 9 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool completely, about 30 minutes.
3. 3 Meanwhile, in 1-quart saucepan, melt chocolate over low heat; cool. In small bowl, beat butter on medium speed of electric mixer until fluffy. Gradually beat in sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in cooled chocolate, malted milk powder and vanilla until well blended.
4. 4 Add eggs 1 at a time, beating on high speed 2 minutes after each addition; beat until mixture is smooth and fluffy. Spoon into cooled baked pie crusts. Refrigerate 2 hours before serving. Garnish with whipped cream and chopped malted milk balls.

Notes:

1. These mini pies can be made in advance for parties and gatherings. Make up to a day in advance, then store in refrigerator until ready to serve. Garnish with whipped cream just before serving.
2. *Pasteurized eggs are uncooked eggs that have been heat-treated to kill bacteria that can cause food poisoning and gastrointestinal distress. Because the eggs in this recipe are not cooked, be sure to use pasteurized eggs. They can be found in the dairy case at large supermarkets.

Source: Pillsbury.com

Chocolate Silk Pecan Pie

Ingredients:

1 refrigerated pie crust, softened as directed on package
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup dark corn syrup
3 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted
1/8 teaspoon salt, if desired
2 eggs
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1 cup hot milk
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/3 cups semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup whipping (heavy) cream
2 tablespoons powdered sugar
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
Chocolate curls, if desired 

Directions:

Prepare pie crust as directed on package for one-crust filled pie using 9-inch pie plate. Heat oven to 350°. Beat granulated sugar, corn syrup, butter, salt and eggs in small bowl with electric mixer on medium speed 1 minute. Stir in pecans. Pour into pie crust in pie plate. Bake 35 to 45 minutes or until center of pie is puffed and golden brown. Cool 1 hour.

Source: bettycrocker.com