Silky Cocoa Cream Pie Food

CHOCOLATE SILK PIE

Steps:

• Make Crust: Roll pie dough to a 1/8-inch thick circle and place inside a greased 9-inch metal pie pan. Cut excess dough, leaving a 1/2-inch overhang. Fold overhang under itself, creating a thicker ring of crust around the edge. Crimp edge. Grease a sheet of aluminum foil liberally with butter. Place the buttered surface inside the pie shell, allowing the crust to come in direct contact with the foil. Freeze for 1 hour or overnight. Preheat oven to 350°F. Bake crust with foil for 20 minutes. Remove foil and use a spoon to press down any areas that have puffed up. Return to oven for an additional 13-15 minutes, until the crust is golden brown all over. Set aside to cool.
• Make Filling: Bring 2 inches of water to boil in the bottom of a double boiler. Whisk together eggs and sugar and place over double boiler, whisking regularly until the mixture reaches 165°F. Remove from heat and allow to cool until just warm.
• While egg mixture is cooling, chop the chocolate and place in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave for 20 second intervals at 30% power, stirring in between each interval, until mixture is completely melted. Pour egg mixture over melted chocolate and whisk until fully incorporated. Whisk in espresso powder. Allow to cool completely to room temperature.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter until fluffy. With the mixer on low, slowly pour in chocolate mixture. Scrape down sides of the bowl with a spatula, and increase the speed to medium-high, beating until the mixture increases in volume and lightens in color, 5 minutes.
• In a clean bowl, beat together cream and powdered sugar to stiff peaks. Gently fold half of the whipped cream into the chocolate mixture. Add remaining whipped cream and gently fold until no streaks of cream remain. Pour filling into crust, leveling the surface with a spatula. Refrigerate for 8 hours or overnight. Garnish with whipped cream and cocoa powder or shaved chocolate, if desired.

SILKY CHOCOLATE PIE

Steps:

• On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to a 1/8-in.-thick circle; transfer to a 9-in. pie plate. Trim crust to 1/2 in. beyond rim of plate; flute edge. Line unpricked crust with a double thickness of foil. Fill with pie weights, dried beans or uncooked rice., Bake at 400° for 20 minutes. Remove foil and weights; bake 10-12 minutes longer or until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack., In a heavy saucepan, mix sugar and cornstarch. Whisk in cream. Cook and stir over medium heat until thickened and bubbly. Remove from the heat. In a small bowl, whisk a small amount of hot mixture into egg yolks; return all to the pan, whisking constantly. Cook and stir over low heat 1 minute longer. Remove from the heat; stir in the chocolate, Cognac and vanilla until chocolate is melted. , Transfer to a clean bowl; press waxed paper onto surface of filling. Cool filling to room temperature. Spoon into crust. Refrigerate, covered, until cold, about 4 hours., For topping, in a small bowl, beat cream until it begins to thicken. Add Cognac and confectioners' sugar; beat until soft peaks form. Spread over pie. Dust lightly with cocoa.