Bittersweet Chocolate Pudding Pie With Crème Fraîche Topping Food

BITTERSWEET CHOCOLATE PUDDING PIE WITH CRèME FRAîCHE TOPPING

Steps:

• Crust:
• Position rack in center of oven; preheat to 350°F. Blend cookie crumbs and sugar in processor. Add melted butter; process until crumbs are evenly moistened. Press crumb mixture onto bottom and up sides (not rim) of 9-inch-diameter glass pie dish. Bake until crust begins to set and no longer looks moist, pressing gently with back of fork if crust puffs, about 12 minutes. Remove crust from oven, then sprinkle chopped chocolate over bottom of crust. Let stand until chocolate softens, 1 to 2 minutes. Using offset spatula or small rubber spatula, spread chocolate over bottom and up sides of crust to cover. Chill crust until chocolate sets, about 30 minutes.
• Filling:
• Whisk sugar, cocoa, cornstarch, and salt to blend in heavy medium saucepan. Gradually add 1/3 cup milk, whisking until smooth paste forms. Whisk in remaining milk, then 1/4 cup cream. Using flat-bottom wooden spoon or heatproof spatula, stir mixture constantly over medium heat, scraping bottom and sides of pan until pudding thickens and begins to bubble at edges, about 5 minutes. Add chocolate; stir until mixture is smooth. Remove from heat; stir in rum and vanilla. Pour hot pudding into crust and spread evenly. Cool 1 hour at room temperature. Cover with plastic wrap; chill overnight. DO AHEAD: Can be made 2 days ahead. Keep refrigerated.
• Topping:
• Using electric mixer, beat crème fraîche, whipping cream, sugar, and vanilla in medium bowl just until stiff peaks form and mixture is thick enough to spread (do not overbeat or mixture may curdle). Spread topping decoratively over top of pie, swirling to create peaks, if desired. DO AHEAD: Pie can be made 6 hours ahead. Cover with cake dome and refrigerate.
• Sprinkle chocolate shavings decoratively atop pie, if desired. Cut pie into wedges and serve.
• * Sold at some supermarkets and at specialty foods stores.

HOMEMADE CHOCOLATE PUDDING PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Mix the graham cracker crumbs and melted butter together until completely combined. Press tightly into the bottom and up the sides of a 9-inch pie dish. Pre-bake crust for 8 minutes.2
• It's best to measure out all of the pudding ingredients before beginning because you will need to move quickly. Whisk the egg yolks together in a bowl. Set aside. Whisk the cold water and gelatin together in a medium saucepan. Allow to sit for 2 minutes to slightly thicken, then turn the stove on to medium-low heat and place the saucepan on top. Whisk in the milk, sugar, and flour. Whisk aggressively to dissolve the sugar, then slowly whisk as the mixture heats.
• When the mixture is warm and slowly simmering (not boiling!), slowly drizzle about 1/4 cup (60ml) of it into the beaten egg yolks while whisking it all together. The point of the slow pour and the whisking is to temper the egg yolks. Once the 1/4 cup is added, very slowly pour the egg yolk mixture into the saucepan. Whisk it all together as the mixture begins to thicken. Once bubbles begin to burst at the surface, whisk in the chopped chocolate until combined. Whisk for about 1 more minute as the pudding continues to thicken and bubble. Remove the pudding from heat. If you notice lumps, you can strain the pudding through a fine sieve, but that's optional.
• Pour pudding into the prepared pie crust. Immediately cover the top of the pudding with clear plastic wrap (directly on the surface of the pudding). Allow pudding pie to cool for 1 hour at room temperature before putting into the refrigerator to chill. Refrigerate for 4 hours and up to 24 hours until the pudding has completely set.
• Using a hand mixer or a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, beat the heavy cream, confectioners' sugar, and vanilla on medium-high speed until stiff peaks form, about 5 minutes. Remove plastic wrap from chilled pie and spread or pipe the whipped cream on top. Garnish with optional toppings. Slice and serve.

BITTERSWEET CHOCOLATE CREAM PIE

Steps:

• In a medium heavy saucepan, whisk together the sugar, cornstarch, egg yolks, and salt. Whisk in the milk. Cook over low heat for 10 to 15 minutes or until thickened to the consistency of pudding, stirring constantly. Strain the custard into a bowl. Stir in the butter and vanilla until butter is melted.
• In the top of a double boiler set over simmering water, melt the chocolate, stirring until smooth. Fold one-fourth of the chocolate into the custard, then fold in the remaining chocolate. Spoon the filling into the piecrust. Chill for at least 2 hours or until set. Before serving, top with whipped cream and chocolate shavings.