Black Bottom Pie I Food

BLACK-BOTTOM PIE

Steps:

• Make the crust: Stir together graham cracker crumbs, butter, sugar, and salt in a bowl. Press into bottom and up sides of a 9-inch pie plate. Refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake until crust is set and begins to turn golden brown, about 12 minutes. Let cool completely on a wire rack.
• Make the filling: Sift together sugar, cocoa powder, cornstarch, and salt into a medium saucepan. Gradually whisk in milk. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring constantly, until almost boiling. Reduce heat to medium; add chocolate. Cook, stirring constantly, until chocolate has melted and mixture is thick, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat; whisk in butter and vanilla until smooth. Spread chocolate mixture over crust. Refrigerate until cold and firm, about 1 hour.
• Make the topping: Prepare an ice-water bath; set aside. Sprinkle gelatin over 2 tablespoons cold water in a small bowl. Let stand until soft, about 3 minutes. Whisk 1/4 cup sugar, the cornstarch, and salt in a medium saucepan. Gradually whisk in the milk. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is thick and boiling, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in gelatin mixture, and let cool completely. Stir in vanilla and rum. Briefly place pan in an ice-water bath to thicken slightly, if needed. Do not let it set completely. Set aside.
• Put egg whites in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Beat on medium-low speed until soft peaks form. Reduce speed to low; continue beating while you make syrup.
• Bring remaining 1/2 cup sugar and 3 tablespoons water to a boil in a saucepan, stirring to dissolve sugar. Brush down sides of pan with a wet pastry brush to prevent crystals from forming. Cook, without stirring, until syrup registers 240 degrees on a candy thermometer.
• Raise mixer speed to high, and beat egg whites just until stiff peaks begin to form. Immediately pour syrup into egg whites in a slow, steady stream near side of bowl, avoiding whisk. Beat until glossy and cooled, about 7 minutes.
• Fold meringue mixture into reserved gelatin mixture in 3 batches until just combined. Mound the mixture into the chocolate-filled crust. Refrigerate pie for 2 1/2 hours or overnight before serving.

BLACK BOTTOM CUPCAKES

Steps:

• Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with liners. Beat together the cream cheese, egg, 1/3 cup of the granulated sugar and 1/2 teaspoon of the vanilla extract in a medium bowl on medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth and no lumps remain, 1 to 2 minutes. Set aside.
• Whisk the flour, cocoa powder, brown sugar, baking soda, salt and remaining 2/3 cup granulated sugar in a large bowl. Add the oil, the remaining teaspoon vanilla extract and 1 cup water and mix until combined. Let the batter rest 10 minutes at room temperature, then stir in the vinegar.
• Divide the chocolate batter evenly among the prepared muffin cups, filling each cup about two-thirds full. Drop about 2 tablespoons of the cream cheese filling in the center of each cupcake.
• Bake until the cream cheese filling has set and a toothpick inserted into the chocolate cupcake comes out clean, about 20 minutes.
• Cool in the tin 5 minutes and then use a butter knife or small offset spatula to carefully remove the cupcakes to a wire rack. Cool the cupcakes completely before serving, about 30 minutes.

BLACK BOTTOM PIE

Steps:

• For the crust: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Add the sugar and melted butter to the crumbs and mix until well combined. Firmly press the crumb mixture into a 9-inch pie pan to form a crust on the bottom and sides. Bake for 8 minutes. Remove from the oven and chill until firm, about an hour.
• For the filling: Sprinkle gelatin over the cold water and set aside. In a heavy saucepan, heat the milk over medium heat until just scalded.
• Vigorously whisk together 1/2 cup sugar, cornstarch, and the egg yolks until completely mixed. Add a cup of the scalded milk to the egg mixture and stir constantly until combined. Pour the tempered milk-egg mixture back into the remaining milk in the saucepan.
• Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook, stirring occasionally at first and then more constantly, until the mixture thickens and begins to gently boil, 12 to 15 minutes. Allow to boil for about one minute and then immediately remove from the heat.
• Place the bittersweet chocolate in a small bowl. Measure out 1 cup of custard and pour over the chocolate. Add the vanilla extract and stir until the chocolate is completely melted and the mixture is smooth. Spread the chocolate custard over the bottom of the cooled piecrust. Place in the refrigerator to set, about 10 minutes.
• Mix the softened gelatin and rum into the remaining custard, stirring vigorously until the gelatin completely dissolves. Allow the rum custard to cool to room temperature.
• With an electric mixer, beat the egg whites until frothy. Add the cream of tartar and salt, then slowly add remaining 1/2 cup of sugar and continue to beat until soft peaks form.
• Fold 1/3 of the egg whites into the rum custard until just combined; then gently fold in remaining whites until no yellow streaks remain. Gently pour the rum custard over the chocolate custard. (There may be extra custard.) Refrigerate until the filling is completely set, at least 3 hours.
• For the topping: Before serving the pie, whip the cream. In a medium-sized bowl, beat the heavy cream with an electric mixer until foamy and starting to thicken. Add confectioners' sugar and continue to beat until soft peaks are formed. Dollop the whipped cream over the pie, garnish with a pile of chocolate shavings and serve immediately.

BLACK-BOTTOM HAZELNUT PIE

Steps:

• For the Crust
• Pulse granulated sugar, salt, and 1 1/4 cups flour in a food processor to combine. Add butter and pulse until coarse, pea-size crumbs form, about 10 seconds. With the motor running, add 2 Tbsp. ice water and process until dough just holds together, about 30 seconds. Squeeze a small amount of dough between your fingers: If it's very crumbly, pulse in more ice water 1 Tbsp. at a time (2 Tbsp. maximum). Do not overprocess.
• Turn out dough onto a lightly floured surface and push together into a ball. Knead a few times to combine, then flatten into a disk with smooth edges (no cracks). Cover tightly and chill at least 1 hour.
• Roll out dough to a 13" round on a lightly floured surface. Roll dough loosely around rolling pin and transfer to a standard 9"-diameter pie dish. Lightly press dough into pan, leaving a 1" overhang; trim excess. Fold overhang under and crimp as desired. Chill until cold, about 30 minutes.
• Do Ahead: Dough can be made and shaped into disk 3 days ahead. Keep chilled, or freeze up to 3 months. Thaw before rolling.
• For the Filling and Assembly
• Place racks in bottom third and center of oven; preheat to 375°F. Place a rimmed baking sheet on bottom rack to preheat.
• Spread hazelnuts on another rimmed baking sheet and bake on center rack until light golden brown, about 10 minutes. Reserve 1 cup whole hazelnuts to decorate pie; finely chop remaining hazelnuts.
• Melt chocolate in a small heatproof bowl set over a small saucepan of barely simmering water (do not let water touch bowl); stir constantly until chocolate is melted and smooth. (You can also do this in a microwave.) Remove from heat and let cool slightly. Spread chocolate in bottom of pie shell with the back of a spoon and chill until set, about 15 minutes.
• Melt butter in a small skillet over medium heat or in a microwave in a microwave-safe bowl. Pour butter into a large bowl. Whisk in brown sugar, espresso powder, vanilla, 1 cup corn syrup, and 3/4 tsp. salt until well incorporated. Whisk in eggs, then fold in chopped hazelnuts.
• Pour filling into pie crust (do not overfill). Toss whole hazelnuts with remaining 2 Tbsp. corn syrup and 1/4 tsp. salt in a small bowl and arrange on top of pie. Place pie dish on preheated baking sheet on bottom rack and bake 20 minutes. Rotate baking sheet, move to center rack, and continue to bake, covering edges with foil or a pie shield if crust starts to brown too much, until crust is golden brown and filling is almost set with a slight jiggle in center of pie, 20-25 minutes more. Transfer pie to a wire rack and let cool before slicing, about 3 hours.
• Do Ahead: Filling (before decorating) can be made 1 day ahead. Bring to room temperature before baking. Pie can be made 2 days ahead. Cover loosely with foil and store at room temperature.

BLACK BOTTOM OATMEAL PIE

Steps:

• For the crust:
• 1. Stir the flour, salt, and sugar together in a large bowl. Add the butter pieces and coat with the flour mixture using a bench scraper or spatula. With a pastry blender, cut the butter into the flour mixture, working quickly until mostly pea-size pieces of butter remain (a few larger pieces are okay; be careful not to overblend).
• 2. Combine the water, cider vinegar, and ice in a large measuring cup or small bowl. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of the ice water mixture over the flour mixture, and mix and cut it in with a bench scraper or spatula until it is fully incorporated. Add more of the ice water mixture, 1 to 2 tablespoons at a time, using the bench scraper or your hands (or both) to mix until the dough comes together in a ball, with some dry bits remaining. Squeeze and pinch with your fingertips to bring all of the dough together, sprinkling dry bits with more small drops of the ice water mixture, if necessary, to combine. Shape the dough into a flat disc, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, preferably overnight, to give the crust time to mellow.
• 3. On a lightly floured work surface, roll out dough to form a round that is 2 to 3 inches larger than your pan, and about 1/8 inch in thickness. Transfer dough to pie pan and trim overhang to 1 to 1 1/2 inches. Transfer to freezer for 20 minutes. Position racks in bottom and middle racks and preheat over to 425°F. When crust has been in freezer for 10 minutes, remove and line it tightly with aluminum foil.
• 4. Pour the pie weights or beans into the pan and spread them so they are concentrated more around the edge of the shell than in the center. Place the pan on the preheated baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes, until the crimped edges are set but not browned. Remove the pan and the baking sheet from the oven, lift out the foil and pie weights, and let the crust cool for a minute. Use a pastry brush to coat the bottom and sides with a thin layer of egg white glaze to moistureproof the crust. Return the pan, on the baking sheet, to the oven's middle rack and continue baking for 3 more minutes. Remove and cool completely before filling.
• For the filling:
• 5. Reduce the oven to 350°F. Spread the oats on a rimmed baking sheet and toast in the oven for 10 to 12 minutes, stirring occasionally. Set aside to cool. Reduce the oven temperature to 325°F.
• 6. To make the ganache layer, bring the heavy cream just to a boil over medium heat in a heavy-bottomed saucepan. Remove from the heat and pour in the chocolate pieces. Swirl the cream around to distribute and cover the chocolate; let sit for 5 minutes. Whisk gently until smooth. Scrape the ganache into the cooled pie shell and spread evenly over the bottom. Place the shell in the freezer to set the ganache while making the filling.
• 7. In a large bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, ginger, salt, and melted butter. Add the corn syrup, vanilla, and cider vinegar and whisk to combine. Add the eggs one at a time, blending well after each addition. Stir in the cooled oats.
• 8. Place the ganache-coated pie shell on a rimmed baking sheet and pour in the filling. Bake on the middle rack of the oven for about 55 minutes, rotating 180 degrees when the edges start to set, 30 to 35 minutes through baking. The pie is finished when the edges are set and puffed slightly and the center is slightly firm to the touch but still has some give (like gelatin). Allow to cool completely on a wire rack, 2 to 3 hours. Serve slightly warm or at room temperature.

BLACK BOTTOM-BANANA CREAM PIE

Steps:

• Melt 4 Tbsp. butter; pour into medium bowl. Stir in wafer crumbs and sugar. Reserve 2 Tbsp. crumb mixture for later use; press remaining crumb mixture onto bottom and up side of 9-inch pie plate.
• Microwave chocolate and remaining butter in microwaveable bowl on HIGH 1 min. or until butter is melted; stir until chocolate is completely melted and mixture is well blended. Drizzle over bottom of crust; top with bananas.
• Beat pudding mix and milk with whisk 2 min.; pour over bananas. Refrigerate 4 hours.
• Top pie with COOL WHIP and reserved crumb mixture just before serving.

PENNINGTON'S BLACK BOTTOM PIE

Steps:

• Make a high-fluted edge on pie shell when preparing shell to hold the filling.
• Melt butter in a large double boiler over high heat.
• Add red food color, vanilla and butter extract.
• Add three-quarters of the milk and heat through.
• Reserve a quarter of the milk.
• Mix all dry ingredients in a large bowl; add the remaining milk, blending until smooth.
• Separate eggs, storing whites in a metal bowl in the refrigerator; add yolks to mixture, whisking until smooth and well blended.
• When the mixture in the double boiler reaches 180 degrees, add cornstarch mixture, stirring constantly until the mixture thickens.
• Turn heat to low and cook for 1 hour.
• Whip the egg whites until stiff peaks form.
• Fold the chocolate mixture into the egg white very gently, just until no white streaks appear.
• Pour into pie shell.
• Refrigerate until pie is completely cooled.
• Top with whipped topping just before serving.
• To make whipped topping:.
• Pour whipping cream into chilled mixing bowl.
• Add sugar and mix with chilled beaters.
• Mix on medium until peaks begin to form.
• Spread onto pie with a spatula.
• It should have peaks and waves on the surface.
• To make the pie crust:.
• Mix flour and salt in bowl.
• Lightly cut in shortening with a pastry blender until mixture resembles a coarse meal.
• Sprinkle in water a small amount at a time, until all particles are moistened and cling together when pressed into a ball.
• Cover with a damp cloth and let rest for a few minutes.
• Roll out thin (less than an 1/8 inch) on lightly floured board.
• Fold and place in pie pan.
• Prick bottom and sides of baking shell first.
• Bake at 425° for 12 to 15 minutes or until lightly browned.
• Cool.

BLACK BOTTOM PIE

Steps:

• Combine 1/2 cup sugar, and cornstarch.
• Slowly add milk to egg yolks, start with just 1 tbsp at a time till you have added about 1/3 cup. This tempers the eggs and prevents them from scrambling. Now add in all the milk.
• Stir in sugar mixture, cook and stir over medium heat until mixture thickens enough to coat a spoon.
• Add vanilla.
• Remove 1 cup of custard and stir into it the chocolate chips until they are melted.
• Pour into crust and chill.
• Meanwhile soften gelatin in 1/4 cup cold water.
• Add to remaining hot custard, and stir until completely dissolved.
• Add rum.
• Chill until slightly thickened.
• Beat egg whites until soft peaks form.
• Fold into gelatin custard mixture.
• Chill if necessary until mixture mounds.
• Pile over chocolate layer.
• Chill till set (about 4 hours).
• Topping:.
• Beat 2 cups of whipping cream till soft peaks form.
• Add sugar and vanilla.
• Continue beating until mixed well.
• Pile on chilled pie.
• Garnish with freshly grated nutmeg over the whipped cream.

BLACK BOTTOM PIE (GINGERSNAP CRUST)

Steps:

• MAKE CRUST:.
• Thoroughly blend the gingersnap crumbs and melted butter. Press on bottom and sides of 9-in pie pan with back of tablespoon. Bake at 350° about 10 minutes. Do not over brown. Cool before filling.
• MAKE FILLING:.
• Soften gelatin in 1/4 cup of the milk. Scald remaining milk in top of double boiler over boiling water.
• Beat egg yolks. Blend in 1/2 cup of the sugar, salt and cornstarch. Add remaining milk slowly, stirring constantly.
• Return to double boiler and cook over simmering water, stirring constantly, until custard coats spoon. Remove from heat. Set aside 1/2 cup custard.
• Add gelatin to remainder and stir until dissolved. Chill.
• Melt 1 1/2 squares of the chocolate. Blend in reserved 1/2 cup custard and vanilla. Pour into crust. Spread evenly. Chill.
• When remaining custard begins to set, blend in rum. Beat egg whites until stiff. Gradually beat in remaining sugar. Fold in custard. Spread over chocolate mixture in pie plate.
• Combine whipped cream and powdered sugar. Spread some over custard. Use a pastry tube with star tip and pipe rest around edges. Shave remaining chocolate over top.
• Chill 4-6 hours.

CARAMEL-PECAN BLACK BOTTOM PIE

Steps:

• For crust:
• Combine flour, sugar and salt in processor. Add butter and blend using on/off turns until mixture resembles coarse meal. Beat water, egg yolk and vanilla together in small bowl. Add egg mixture to processor and process until large moist clumps form. Gather dough into ball; flatten into disk. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate 30 minutes. (Dough can be prepared up to 2 days ahead. Let dough stand at room temperature to soften slightly before continuing.)
• Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 350°F. Lightly butter 9-inch-diameter pie pan. Roll dough out on floured surface to 13-inch round. Transfer to prepared pan. Fold edges under and crimp to form high fluted edge. Freeze until firm, about 15 minutes. Line crust with foil and fill with dried beans or pie weights. Bake until sides are set, about 20 minutes. Remove foil and beans. Pierce bottom of crust until golden brown, about 20 minutes. Cool on rack.
• For filling:
• Combine brandy and vanilla in small bowl. Sprinkle gelatin over and let stand 10 minutes. Place chocolate in medium bowl. Mix sugar, cornstarch and salt in heavy medium saucepan. Gradually whisk half and half and egg yolks into sugar mixture. Cook over medium-high heat until custard is thick and smooth and begins to boil, whisking constantly, about 3 minutes. Quickly add 1 1/4 cups custard to chocolate. Stir until chocolate melts and mixture is smooth. Add brandy and gelatin mixture to remaining hot custard. Stir until gelatin dissolves. Spread chocolate filling in crust. Spread brandy filling over. Refrigerate uncovered until pie is completely cool.
• For topping:
• Heat sugar and water in heavy small saucepan over low heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Increase heat and boil, without stirring, until mixture is deep amber, brushing down sugar crystals from sides of pan with wet pastry brush, about 11 minutes. Remove from heat and add cream (mixture will bubble up). Add butter and stir until smooth. Stir over low heat until color deepens and caramel thickens slightly, about 3 minutes. Mix in pecans. Transfer to small bowl. Refrigerate until cool but not set, stirring occasionally, about 30 minutes.
• Spoon topping over brandy layer. Chill pie until topping is set, about 2 hours. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)

BLACK-BOTTOM CHOCOLATE PIE

Steps:

• For Filling:
• Whisk first 4 ingredients in heavy medium saucepan to blend. Whisk in egg yolks to form thick paste. Gradually whisk in milk, then cream. Whisk over medium-high heat until mixture thickens and boils 1 minute. Remove from heat. Add chocolate and whisk until smooth. Whisk in rum and vanilla. Cool 5 minutes, whisking occasionally. Transfer filling to frozen crust. Chill until cold, at least 2 hours and up to 1 day.
• For Topping:
• Beat first 3 ingredients in large bowl until firm peaks form. Spoon whipped cream into pastry bag fitted with large star tip. Pipe rosettes around edge of pie. Garnish with chocolate curls. (Can be made 4 hours ahead; chill.)