Layered Chocolate Peppermint Pie Food

CLEAR PEPPERMINT MERINGUE PIE

Steps:

• For the chocolate crust: Pulse the flour, cocoa powder, confectioners' sugar, oil and salt in a food processor until the texture of fine meal. Add the butter and pulse until pea-size pieces form. Sprinkle in 2 tablespoons ice water and pulse until the dough begins to come together. If the dough doesn't hold together, add up to 2 more tablespoons ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time, and pulse again.
• Transfer the dough to a sheet of plastic wrap and pat into a disk. Wrap tightly and refrigerate until firm, at least 2 hours and up to overnight.
• Roll out the dough into a 12-inch round on a lightly floured surface. Ease into a 9-inch pie plate. Fold the overhanging dough under itself and crimp the edges with your fingers. Freeze 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and coat a sheet of aluminum foil with nonstick spray.
• Pierce the bottom of the chilled dough all over with a fork. Line the dough with the foil, sprayed-side down, and fill with pie weights or dried beans. Bake until the edges are set, about 20 minutes. Remove the foil and weights and continue baking until the crust is no longer glossy on the bottom, 5 to 10 minutes. Transfer to a rack and let cool completely.
• Add the chocolate and coconut oil to a medium microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring in between each, until the mixture is melted and smooth, about 1 minute. Paint a thin layer of chocolate all over the bottom and sides of the crust. Let set at room temperature until the chocolate is hardened, about 15 minutes.
• For the filling: Put 1 1/2 cups water in a medium saucepan and sprinkle over the gelatin. Let sit until the gelatin is absorbed, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the granulated sugar and heat over medium heat, whisking occasionally, just until the gelatin and sugar are dissolved, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from the heat and whisk in the peppermint extract.
• Pour the gelatin mixture into a large bowl and stir in 2 cups cold water. Use a spoon to scoop away any bubbles at the surface. Refrigerate, stirring every 10 minutes, until the gelatin just begins to thicken and is the consistency of thin fruit jelly, 30 to 45 minutes.
• Pour the gelatin mixture into the crust and refrigerate until set, at least 4 hours and up to overnight.
• For the meringue: Bring a few inches of water to a boil in a saucepan that can hold a heatproof stand mixer's bowl above the water.
• Add the granulated sugar, lemon juice, salt and egg whites to the mixing bowl and whisk together by hand. Set the bowl above the boiling water and whisk until the mixture is warm to the touch and the sugar is completely dissolved (about 150 degrees F).
• Transfer to the stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, add the peppermint extract and beat on medium-high speed until the mixture is cool and the whites hold stiff peaks, about 5 minutes.
• To assemble: Arrange the crushed peppermints around the edge of the pie. Cut into slices and top each with meringue, chocolate curls and more crushed peppermint.

CHOCOLATE PEPPERMINT CREAM PIE

Steps:

• Pie Crust
• Place a piece of parchment onto your work surface and flour it very sparsely.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour and the salt.
• Cut in the shortening with a pastry blender until the mixture looks like coarse meal.
• Sprinkle the teaspoon of vinegar and two tablespoons of water over the mixture
• Mix lightly and quickly with a wooden spoon, adding the remaining tablespoons of water as needed until dough just holds together
• Place the dough onto the prepared piece of parchment. Cover with an additional piece of parchment and with a rolling pin starting at the center of the dough, roll to the edge, but not over it
• Continue to roll out from the center, but never back to it every 45 degrees
• Throughout the process it will be necessary to flour the dough at various times. Gently pull back the top layer of parchment, and very lightly flour the dough. Replace the parchment and carefully turn the dough over, doing the same to the other side
• Continue rolling and flouring lightly until the dough is an even round circle about 3 inches larger than the rim of the 9-inch pie plate
• To transfer the dough to the pie plate, gently remove the top layer of parchment. Lightly flour the rolling pin and place it at one edge of the circle. Using the bottom layer of parchment, bring the edge of the dough up over the rolling pin and very lightly roll the pin to the other side of the dough. Move the pie plate under the rolling pin and gently roll the dough out over it. Carefully, fit the dough into the plate and trim any excess, leaving one inch over the rim. Fold the dough under so that it is even with the rim and crimp.
• Line the inside with a circle of parchment, add uncooked beans or rice to about 2/3 full and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Bake for 20 minutes. Gently lift the parchment and beans out of the plate and prick the entire crust with a fork. Brush the crust with the egg wash and return to the oven to bake for an additional 15 - 20 minutes until completely golden.
• Filling
• In a medium saucepan, whisk together the cornstarch, sugar, cocoa powder and salt
• Combine the heavy cream and milk in a large measuring cup. Slowly pour into the saucepan while whisking so that no lumps are formed
• Whisk in the egg yolks
• Heat over medium until just boiling and mixture thickens
• Remove from heat and whisk in the chocolate, McCormick Pure Peppermint Extract, and butter until everything is melted and well combined
• Pour into the baked pie crust. Cover the filling with a piece of plastic wrap and chill for 4 hours
• Stabilized Whipped Cream
• In a mixing bowl, beat the confectioners' sugar, cream cheese, McCormick Pure Vanilla and McCormick Pure Peppermint Extracts
• Gradually add the heavy cream and beat until stiff peaks are formed, scraping down the sides and bottom of bowl as needed
• Pipe onto the pie or spread on the top to garnish
• Add the crushed candy canes as a final touch

LAYERED CHOCOLATE-PEANUT BUTTER PIE

Steps:

• Place chocolate chips in the top of a double boiler over simmering water. Stir frequently, scraping down the sides with a rubber spatula to avoid scorching, until chocolate is melted, about 5 minutes.
• Take 2/3 cup of the chocolate and place between wax or parchment paper. Roll it very thin until it is the size of a 9-inch pie; cool for 2 minutes in the refrigerator (it should still be flexible). Take off one side of paper and press into the pie crust. Cool further in the refrigerator, about 10 minutes; remove the other side of the parchment/wax paper.
• Whip cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla extract together in a bowl; split into 2. Take the first mixture and add peanut butter and 1 cup whipped topping. Place this into the prepared pie crust and cool in the freezer until set, about 1 hour.
• Add 2/3 cup of the chocolate mixture and 1 cup whipped topping to the second cream cheese mixture. Place this into the prepared pie crust and cool in the freezer until set, about 1 hour.
• Take another 2/3 cup chocolate mixture and place in wax or parchment paper. Roll it thin until it is the size of the pie. Cool for 2 minutes, until solid but flexible. Remove 1 side of the parchment paper and place this over. Shape and place it back into the freezer until firm, about 30 minutes. Remove the other paper.
• Top with the remaining whipped topping. Add a little water to any remaining chocolate mixture until you can drizzle it onto the pie; drizzle and serve.

CHOCOLATE PEPPERMINT PIE

Steps:

• Heat marshmallows and 1/2 cup milk in saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly, just until marshmallows have melted.
• Remove from heat and stir in vanilla, salt, and peppermint extract.
• Refrigerate, stirring occasionally, until mixture mounds slightly when dropped from a spoon.
• Beat whipping cream in chilled bowl until stiff.
• Stir marshmallow mixture until blended and fold into the whipped cream.
• Add food coloring and mix thoroughly.
• Keep in refrigerator until needed.
• Smash vanilla wafers by putting them in a large plastic baggie and using a kitchen hammer to crush them.
• Combine crumbs, cocoa, and sugar in a bowl.
• Stir in butter.
• Pres mixture onto bottom and sides of a 9" pie pan.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 9 minutes.
• Combine chocolate chips and 2 tablespoons of milk in small saucepan over medium heat stirring occasionally.
• When melted and smooth, pour into bottom of pie crust after it comes out of the oven and smooth it out.
• Refrigerate pie crust.
• When chocolate layer hardens, pour marshmallow mixture into pie crust and smooth to edges.
• Top with spray whipped cream around edges and in center.
• Sprinkle whip cream with crushed candy cane pieces.

CREAMY LAYERS CHOCOLATE-MINT PIE

Steps:

• Whisk together milk and pudding mix in a saucepan; cook and stir over medium heat until mixture thickens and bubbles; reduce heat to low; add chocolate chips and stir until melted; pour into baked pie crust and place pie in refrigerator while you do the next step.
• Beat cream cheese, powdered sugar, peppermint extract and food coloring for 1-2 minutes until smooth and fluffy; gently fold in whipped topping; spread over the chocolate mixture in pie crust; refrigerate 2-3 hours or until firm.
• Garnish pie with chopped chocolate-mints (the Andes candies may also be shaved into curls using a vegetable peeler) and serve; keep pie stored in refrigerator.
• NOTE: You may vary the extract, food coloring, and garnish for a completely different version of the pie. For example, strawberry extract, pink food coloring, and a strawberry rose for garnish. Have fun!