Mile High Chocolate Cream Pie Recipes

MILE-HIGH CHOCOLATE PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Line pie dish with crust; crimp edges decoratively. Fully bake pie crust according to recipe or box instructions. Let cool completely.
• Whisk egg whites and sugar in a medium heatproof bowl set over a medium saucepan of simmering water until sugar dissolves and egg whites are warm but not hot, 3-4 minutes. Remove from heat. Using an electric mixer, beat on medium-high speed until cool, tripled in volume, and stiff peaks form (the tips of the peaks won't fall over when beaters are lifted from bowl and turned upright), about 6 minutes.
• Stir chopped chocolate and butter in a large bowl set over same saucepan of simmering water until melted and smooth, 4-5 minutes; set aside.
• Beat 2 cups cream in another medium bowl until medium peaks form (cream should be soft and pillowy), 5-6 minutes.
• Gently fold egg whites into warm chocolate mixture until fully incorporated (work quickly to prevent chocolate from turning gritty). Gently fold in whipped cream just until no white streaks remain; do not overmix or mixture will deflate. Spoon 1/2 cup chocolate mousse into bottom of prepared pie crust; spread evenly over bottom of crust. Sprinkle 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons crushed chocolate wafers over mousse. Top with remaining mousse, mounding in the center to create a dome. (The point is to add height, not to spread out evenly to edges.) Chill pie.
• Beat remaining 2 cups cream, crème fraîche, and salt until medium-stiff peaks form (when the beaters are lifted from the cream, the peaks will hold their shape but the tips will fall over). Top chocolate mousse with whipped-cream mixture, following the same rounded dome shape. Chill pie for at least 4 hours or, covered, for up to 3 days. (It will slice best if chilled overnight, allowing mousse to set properly.)
• Garnish pie with 2 tablespoons chocolate wafers and chocolate shavings. Slice pie using a clean, dry knife; wipe between slices to ensure clean, elegant pieces.

MILE HIGH MUD PIE

Steps:

• Line an 8-quart bowl with overhanging plastic wrap.
• Tip the coffee ice cream into the bowl and smooth the surface. Sprinkle over the chopped pecans and freeze until the ice cream is firm, at least 1 hour.
• Tip the chocolate ice cream into the bowl and smooth the surface. Sprinkle over the chocolate-coated toffee pieces and freeze until firm, at least 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, make the crust: Put the sandwich cookies in a food processor and pulse until fine crumbs. Pour in the melted butter and pulse to combine.
• Tip the vanilla ice cream into the bowl and smooth the surface. Tip the crust on top of the vanilla ice cream, spread it evenly and press down firmly. Freeze again until completely set, 4 hours and up to overnight.
• Turn out the pie onto a board or serving platter lined with 4 squares of parchment arranged so that the paper overhangs the edges of the platter. Peel off the plastic wrap and pour over the chocolate shell ice cream sauce to coat the entire pie. Carefully slide out the sheets of parchment and discard.
• To serve, cut big slices of pie, drizzle over some warm caramel sauce and stick a steak knife into the center standing up.

MILE-HIGH MUD PIE

Steps:

• Line an 8-quart bowl with plastic wrap, leaving an overhang. Tip the coffee ice cream into the bowl and smooth the surface. Sprinkle the chopped pecans on top and freeze until the ice cream is firm, at least 1 hour.
• Tip the chocolate ice cream into the bowl over the pecans and smooth the surface. Sprinkle the toffee pieces on top and freeze until firm, at least 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, put the sandwich cookies in a food processor and pulse into fine crumbs. Pour in the melted butter and pulse to combine. Set aside.
• Once the chocolate ice cream is firm, tip the vanilla ice cream into the bowl over the toffee pieces and smooth the surface. Tip the cookie mixture on top of the vanilla ice cream; spread it evenly and press down firmly. Cover with the overhanging plastic and freeze until completely firm, at least 4 hours and up to overnight.
• Turn out the pie onto a cake stand or platter lined with 4 squares of parchment so that the paper hangs over the edges of the platter. Peel off the plastic wrap from the pie and pour the chocolate shell over the ice cream to cover completely. Slide out the sheets of parchment.

MILE-HIGH BANANA CREAM PIE WITH CHOCOLATE PASTRY

Steps:

• CHOCOLATE PASTRY: In a food processor or a bowl, combine 1 cup all-purpose flour, 1/4 cup sugar, 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa, and 1/4 teaspoon salt; whirl or mix to blend. Add 1/2 cup (1/4 lb.) butter or margarine, cut into chunks; whirl or rub in with your fingers until fine crumbs form. Add 1 large egg yolk and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla; whirl or mix with a fork until blended. Pour mixture into a 9-inch pie pan and press evenly over bottom and up sides to edge of rim. Bake in a 350 degree regular or convection oven just until crust is slightly darker around edges, 18 to 20 minutes. Let cool on a rack at least 1 hour.
• In a 1 1/2- to 2-quart pan, combine 3/4 cup sugar, cornstarch, and salt. Add milk and whisk to blend. Whisk over medium heat until mixture boils and thickens, taking care not to scorch. Remove from heat.
• In a small bowl, beat egg yolks to blend. Stir about 1/2 cup of the hot milk mixture into yolks, then stir mixture back into pan. Return pan to medium-low heat and stir until mixture just begins to bubble, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in butter and 1 teaspoon vanilla.
• Peel bananas. Slice half into chocolate pastry, covering bottom evenly. Pour half the warm custard evenly over bananas. Repeat to layer remaining bananas and custard. Cover surface of custard with plastic wrap. Chill until cold, at least 2 hours.
• In a bowl, with a mixer on high speed, beat whipping cream and remaining 2 tablespoons sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla until mixture holds soft peaks. Mound on pie and swirl to cover decoratively. Top with chocolate curls, if desired.

MILE-HIGH TRIPLE-CHOCOLATE-ESPRESSO MOUSSE PIE

Steps:

• Crust: Preheat oven to 350°F. Brush the bottom and sides of a 9-inch-round, 3-inch-deep springform pan with butter. Pulse cookies and granulated sugar in a food processor until finely ground. Add butter and salt, pulsing until texture resembles that of wet sand. Press mixture evenly into bottom and halfway up sides of prepared pan. Bake until crust is set and dry to the touch, 12 to 15 minutes. Transfer pan to a wire rack; let cool completely. (Crust can be loosely wrapped and stored at room temperature up to 1 day.)
• Mousses: Melt both chocolates in separate heatproof bowls set over (but not in) a pot of simmering water, stirring occasionally, until only pea-size lumps remain. Remove from heat; stir until chocolate is completely melted. Let cool to warm room temperature. Stir 1 egg yolk and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla into each bowl just to combine.
• In a mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat egg whites on low speed until foamy. Add cream of tartar; increase speed to medium-high and beat to soft peaks. With motor running, gradually add granulated sugar and beat to stiff, glossy peaks.
• Stir 1 cup meringue into each bowl with chocolate mixture. Divide remaining meringue evenly between mixtures, gently folding in until no streaks remain. Whisk cream with confectioners' sugar to soft peaks. Divide evenly between chocolate mixtures, gently folding in until no streaks remain.
• Pour bittersweet-chocolate mousse into crust, smoothing top with an offset spatula. Gently pour milk-chocolate mousse over bittersweet mousse, smoothing top.
• Espresso Cream: Whisk cream, espresso powder, and confectioners' sugar to stiff peaks. Spread evenly over milk-chocolate mousse in pan, smoothing top. Refrigerate until set, at least 8 hours. (Pie can be loosely covered with plastic wrap and refrigerated up to 3 days.)
• To serve, lightly dust top with cocoa, then run a thin knife around edges of pan to loosen; unlock pan and lift sides to remove. Transfer pie to a serving plate or cake stand and cut into wedges.