National Pie Day is coming up on the 23rd. I celebrate each year with a pie party, not that I really need an excuse. This year, my brother would like to help out by supplying a pie. I would like to encourage him, and his usual medium is chocolate (cookies, brownies and cakes - much to the delight of myself and of his co-workers).
Are there any good chocolate-based pies that he might make for the party? Can readers suggest any good pie recipes that involve chocolate? While I enjoy introducing unusual recipes to my guests - last year's buttermilk pie was a surprise hit, as was the red grapefruit/lime tart - I don't shy away from the standards, especially if I have a reliable recipe to work with.
I offer my crusty, flaky thanks in advance for any ideas. - Christopher
First of all, thank you for bringing National Pie Day to our attention! What a wonderful holiday, and I'm sorry this is a rather belated posting. Hopefully it's not too late to try out some of these recipes - and there's always next year!
A good place to start would be chess pie. This is a simple pie often associated with Southern regional cuisine, and it usually has a simple filling made with eggs, butter, and sugar - like a pecan pie without the pecans. This filling can include chocolate, too. From Emeril and the Food Network, this Hawaiian Vintage Chocolate Chess Pie looks suitably decadent: a chocolate pie with spiced cream. Here's another: Pecan Chocolate Chess Pie, which looks, if possible, even more dangerous.
Another traditional chocolate pie (it happens to be my grandmother's favorite) is the classic French Silk, found in diners and greasy spoons the world over. Made from scratch, its whipped, creamy filling can be light and refreshing. Here's a basic French Silk Pie recipe.
Me, I'd probably gravitate toward the Chocolate Meringue Pie. This recipe uses a cooked sugar syrup meringue, which can be more reliable and easy to work with.
Do let us know how your pie party goes, and what you make! Anyone else?
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I made a chocolate pecan pie from Epicurious for Thanksgiving that was really fantastic (the link is in my name), although I thought it could have used more pecans. Now why the heck didn't I know about National Pie Day before?!
doctor a basic pecan pie with dark chocolate chips and a couple of shots of bourbon or jack. YUM.
My grandmother used to make warm chocolate pie all the time. (With thin, flaky homemade crust.) I think it's basically warm pudding - but much less dense - with a meringue topping. Simple and Southern, but charming.
I realize I'm a bit late with this. So next time, perhaps.
Just stopping by; thanks for the memory you brought up!
i remember a chocolate pie my mom used to make that used half the batter baked to make the crust & the other half was poured in afterwards to make the filling and the whole thing was refrigerated. gotta call her & see if she still has the recipe.
My party isn't until Sunday (consider it National Pie Day "Observed"), so I have some time to take in additional ideas. The French Silk pie sounds intriguing, as does the "the crust _is_ the filling" pie mentioned above. And as much as I like both chocolate and pecans, I'm already committed to a traditional pecan pie - my family used to grow pecans, and we have the family recipe, etc.
I will keep you all posted.
Oh yum! I definitely need to celebrate tonight. And maybe tomorrow and the next day...
I like the sound of a chess pie. I'm used to lemon, but pecan chocolate sounds perfect too. Have all the ingredients in my fridge and pantry. Yay!
okay guys, my mom found the recipe. here it is. it's from maida heatter's great chocolate desserts (which i think is out of print). as this is based on a traditional chocolate mousse, and so made with uncooked eggs, use very fresh eggs & appropriate warnings for people with compromised immune systems (pregnant, nursing, etc.)
chocolate mousse torte
8 oz semi sweet chocolate
1/4 cup strong coffee
8 eggs separated
2/3 c. sugar
1/8 tsp salt.
1 tsp vanilla
fine breadcrumbs or finely ground nuts (optional)
preheat oven to 350
prepare 9" pie pan: butter & dust with breadcrumbs or nuts.
add salt to egg whites & whip until stiff but not dry. set aside.
melt the chocolate
cool slightly & add the coffee. combine til smooth.
beat eggs yolks until thick & lemon colored. add sugar.
add the chocolate and vanilla to the yolk mixture.
fold egg whites into chocolate/egg yolk mixture.
put 1/2 the mixture into the prepared pie pan
refrigerate the other half.
cook for 25 minutes.
turn off oven & leave the shell for another 5 minutes. remove to a rack to cool. the shell will sink while cooling. fill the shell with the remaining mousse & chill for a few hours. this is even better served the next day as the two textures become even more distinct.
serve with whipped cream (maida heatter sweetens her whipped cream but i prefer unsweetened whipped cream to cut the richness of the mousse.)