Food Network Peanut Butter Pie

PEANUT BUTTER PIE

Steps:

• 1 (9-inch) baked chocolate cookie pie crust
• Sauce: Add the cream, brown sugar, corn syrup, cocoa powder, salt, and vanilla extract to a heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat. Reduce the heat to a simmer and add the chopped chocolate. Stir continuously until the chocolate is melted and the sauce has thickened, roughly 3 to 4 minutes. Let the sauce cool for 10 minutes before serving.
• Pie: In a large bowl combine the cream cheese, 3/4 cups confectioners' sugar and the peanut butter until the mixture is light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
• In a separate bowl, whip the heavy cream until thick and light. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar and vanilla extract. Continue to whip until stiff peaks form.
• Carefully fold the whipped cream into the peanut butter mixture. Pour the batter into the pie shell, sprinkle with the shaved milk chocolate and freeze for 4 hours.
• If desired, serve with the hot fudge sauce, whipped cream, and chopped peanuts.

PEANUT BUTTER-CHOCOLATE PIE

Steps:

• Make the crust: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a 9-inch pie plate. Pulse the graham crackers and peanuts in a food processor until finely ground. Add the melted butter and pulse to combine. Press the crumb mixture into the bottom and up the side of the prepared pie plate. Bake until set, 10 to 12 minutes. Transfer to a rack to cool.
• Meanwhile, put the chocolate chips in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave at 50 percent power in 30-second intervals, stirring after each, until melted and smooth. Spread evenly in the prepared crust with a small offset spatula or the back of a spoon; set aside until the chocolate sets, about 10 minutes.
• Make the filling: Beat the heavy cream in a bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until soft peaks form; refrigerate until ready to use. In another bowl, beat the peanut butter, cream cheese, milk and vanilla on medium-high speed until smooth, about 1 minute. Add the confectioners' sugar and mix on low speed until incorporated.
• Gently fold half of the whipped cream into the peanut butter mixture until combined, then fold in the rest. Spoon into the prepared crust and smooth the top. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until set, at least 3 hours or overnight. Top with shaved chocolate before serving.

PEANUT BUTTER PIE

Steps:

• For the crust: Mix together the flour, granulated sugar and salt in a large bowl until well combined. Using clean hands, add the butter and toss until just coated. Work the butter into the flour until the mixture is in clumps the size of quarters, about 2 minutes. The butter clumps should go from small chunks to larger chunks. Add the shortening, toss until just coated in flour, then rub it into the flour mixture until the mixture forms pea-size pieces (some big chunks should remain) and comes together in fist-sized clumps when squeezed, about 1 minute. Drizzle in half the ice water and rake through the mixture with your fingers until just moistened. Drizzle in the remaining water 1 tablespoon at a time and comb through the mixture with our fingers to moisten. The mixture will eventually come together; the dough is moist enough when it is moistened through but is not wet when pressed. (Do not overwork the dough or it will become tough.)
• While rotating the bowl with one hand, use the palm of your other hand to push the dough along the side of the bowl to gather it into a ball. Turn the dough onto a piece of plastic wrap, press it into a flat disk and close in the wrap. Place in the coldest part of the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Roll out the dough and form a crust. Press it into a 9- or 10-inch pie pan and bake until golden brown, 10 minutes. Remove and let cool.
• For the peanut butter crumble: Mix the peanut butter and confectioners' sugar with a spoon or stand mixer over low speed until it is a crumble consistency. Set aside.
• For the whipped cream: Add the confectioners' sugar to the cream and whip at high speed with a stand mixer until fluffy.
• For the pudding: Whisk together the milk, granulated sugar and 2 eggs in a saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat. Mix the 3 egg yolks with the vanilla, salt and cornstarch in a small bowl. Slowly stir the egg yolk mixture into the milk mixture until it firms up. Stir in the butter until combined. Remove from the heat and set aside. If everything else is done, place the mixture in the refrigerator for a few minutes to cool.
• To assemble the pie: Layer about one-third of the peanut butter crumble in the bottom of the pie crust, followed by half of the cooled pudding, and half of the whipped cream. Repeat this process again and top with the crumble. Keep the pie in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER PIE

Steps:

• For the crust: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Crush the cookies until they're fine crumbs. Pour the melted butter over the top and stir with a fork to combine. Press into a pie pan and bake until set, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely.
• For the filling: Beat the peanut butter with the cream cheese until smooth. Add the powdered sugar and beat until smooth. Add in the thawed whipped topping and beat until smooth, scraping the sides as needed.
• Pour the filling into the crust, evening out the top with a knife or spatula. Chill for at least an hour before serving.

PEANUT BUTTER PIE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• In the bowl of a food processor, combine the wafers and 1 tablespoon sugar. Process until the wafers are fine crumbs. Melt 3 ounces of the butter and drizzle into the crumb mixture. Pulse to combine. Press this mixture into the bottom, up the sides and just over the lip of a 9-inch metal pie pan. Place in the oven on the middle rack and bake for 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool completely.
• After the crust has cooled, place the peanut butter and remaining 2 ounces of butter into the bowl of the food processor. Process for 1 minute. Add the powdered sugar and vanilla and process for another 1 1/2 to 2 minutes or until smooth. Carefully spread the mixture into the pie shell and return to the oven to bake for 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool while preparing the topping.
• Place the heavy cream into a heat-proof bowl and microwave on high just until simmering, approximately 30 seconds. Remove the cream from the microwave and add the chocolate. Make sure the chocolate is completely submersed in the cream. Allow to sit for 2 minutes. Gently whisk until the chocolate is melted and combined with the cream, approximately 2 to 3 minutes.
• Spread the chocolate mixture over the pie and chill in the refrigerator for 1 1/2 hours before serving.
• Place the peanuts, salt and honey into the bowl of a food processor. Process for 1 minute. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Place the lid back on and continue to process while slowly drizzling in the oil and process until the mixture is smooth, approximately 1 1/2 to 2 minutes. Place the peanut butter in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 2 months.
• Yield: approximately 1 1/2 cups
• *Cooks note: If eating peanuts roasted right out of the shell, use Virginia or Valencia peanuts. If utilizing roasted peanuts to make peanut butter, use Spanish peanuts as they have a higher oil content.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Rinse the peanuts under cool water to remove excess dirt. Pat dry and place in a large bowl and toss with the peanut oil and salt until well coated.
• Place on 2 half sheet pans, making sure to spread them out into a single layer. Roast in the oven for 30 to 35 minutes, rotating the pans halfway through cooking. Once you remove the peanuts from the oven, let them cool slightly before eating. They will continue to "cook" and become crunchy as they cool.
• If using peanuts to make peanut butter, remove shells and discard. Remove the skin by rubbing the peanuts together in your hands held over a salad spinner, allowing the peanuts and skins to fall into the bowl. Once the skin has been loosened from all of the peanuts close the salad spinner and spin until all of the skin has been separated from the peanuts.
• Yield: approximately 2 pounds roasted peanuts in shell

PEANUT BUTTER PIE

Steps:

• Heat the milk in a small pot over low heat until warm. Remove from the heat and stir in the chocolate chips until melted and smooth. Set aside to cool slightly; mixture should be thick but have a pourable consistency.
• In a large bowl using an electric mixer on high, beat together the cream cheese with the peanut butter and powdered sugar. In a separate bowl, beat together the heavy cream with the vanilla until doubled in volume and soft peaks form.
• Stir one-third of the whipped cream into the peanut butter mixture to lighten it. Fold in the remaining whipped cream until combined.
• Spread into the graham cracker crust. Pour the melted chocolate over the top of the pie and sprinkle with the chopped peanuts. Place the pie in the freezer to set up, about 1 hour.