White Chocolate Meringue Pie With Mint Food

WHITE CHOCOLATE PEPPERMINT PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a 9-inch pie plate with nonstick spray, and set aside.
• Place Oreo cookies into a food processor, and pulse until fine crumbs form then drizzle in the melted butter and pulse until combined. Press the mixture into the prepared pie plate.
• Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, and allow to cool completely before filling.
• In a large mixing bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the cream cheese until smooth and creamy. Add the melted chocolate chips and peppermint extract, and mix until combined.
• Finally, stir in the whipped topping (Cool Whip). Pour mixture into cooled Oreo pie crust.
• Refrigerate for at least 2 hours to allow the pie to set.
• In a large mixing bowl, add the heavy whipping cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla or peppermint extract.
• Use an electric mixer with a whisk attachment to beat on low speed until combined then increase speed to medium. Continue whipping until stiff peaks form.
• Use a spatula to spread the whipped cream on top of the finished peppermint pie or use a piping bag to decorate the edges. Sprinkle with crushed peppermint candy and white chocolate shavings if using.
• Serve cold and store any leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Pie can also be frozen.

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.

MINT MERINGUES

Steps:

• In a small bowl, beat the egg whites, salt, cream of tartar, extract and food coloring if desired on medium speed until soft peaks form. Gradually add sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating on high until stiff glossy peaks form and sugar is dissolved, about 6 minutes. Gently fold in chocolate chips. , Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls 2 in. apart onto parchment-lined baking sheets. Bake at 250° until firm to the touch, 40-45 minutes. Turn oven off; leave meringues in oven for 1-1/2 hours. Remove to wire racks. Store in an airtight container.

WHITE CHOCOLATE MINT PIE

Steps:

• In a microwave-safe bowl, heat fudge topping on high for 12-17 seconds or until spreadable. Spread over the bottom of crust; set aside., In a small bowl, beat cream cheese and peppermint extract until smooth. Gradually beat in 1/2 cup milk until smooth. Slowly add the remaining milk. Sprinkle with pudding mix; beat on low speed for 2-3 minutes or until slightly thickened. Pour into the crust. Chill for at least 25 minutes. Sprinkle with peppermints.

CHOCOLATE MINT PIE

Steps:

• Combine 1 1/2 cups cookie crumbs and melted butter or margarine. Press firmly over bottom and up the sides of a 9 inch pie pan. Freeze.
• Spread half of softened ice cream in crust. Drizzle 2 tablespoons creme de menthe and sprinkle 1/2 cup cookie crumbs over the ice cream. Repeat. Freeze till firm.
• In a clean bowl, beat egg whites until foamy. Add salt and cream of tartar, and beat until slightly stiff. Gradually beat in sugar until peaks form. Fold in 2 teaspoons creme de menthe. Spread meringue over pie, and seal to edges. Freeze up to 24 hours.
• Just before serving, broil until top is golden.

CHOCOLATE MERINGUE PIE

Steps:

• Make the crust:
• In a large bowl, stir together the flour, sugar and salt. Cut in the shortening with a pastry blender or 2 knives used like a scissor, or mix with your fingertips until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of the ice water over the flour mixture, tossing with a fork; adjust enough of the remaining water, by the tablespoon, tossing, so that the dough holds together. Flatten into a disk and wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 1 hour.
• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. On a lightly floured surface, with a lightly floured rolling pin, roll out the dough into an 11-inch circle. Fit into a 9-inch pie plate. Fold the edge under to make a stand-up edge; crimp. Prick the bottom all over with a fork. Bake until golden brown, 12 to 14 minutes. Remove the pie plate to a wire rack to cool.
• Make the filling:
• In a heatproof bowl, lightly beat the egg yolks to break up, and then set aside. In a small, heavy saucepan, stir together the sugar, flour and salt. Gradually stir in the scalded milk. Cook over medium-low heat, whisking, until thickened and bubbly, 6 to 8 minutes. Stir a little of the hot mixture into the yolks. Stir the yolk mixture back into the saucepan. Heat over very low heat, stirring, for 2 minutes, and do not let boil. Remove the saucepan from the heat. Whisk in the chocolate, butter, and vanilla until melted and smooth. Scrape into a clean bowl. Press a piece of plastic wrap directly on the surface of the filling and let cool for 10 minutes. Remove the plastic wrap and scrape the filling into the piecrust. Cool on a wire rack.
• Make the meringue:
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a small saucepan, stir together the cornstarch, 2 tablespoons of the sugar, and the water. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the mixture comes to a simmer and thickens, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove the saucepan from the heat. In a large bowl, add the salt to the egg whites. With an electric mixer at medium speed, beat just until soft peaks form. Add the cornstarch mixture and beat until creamy. Gradually beat in the remaining sugar and continue to beat until soft peaks form, 6 to 8 minutes. Spread the meringue mixture over the cooled chocolate filling, make sure the meringue touches the piecrust edge all the way around. Bake until the meringue is golden and its internal temperature registers 150 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer, 25 to 30 minutes. Serve soon after. Cover and refrigerate any leftovers.

CHOCOLATE MERINGUE PIE

Steps:

• For the beginner's pie crust: Combine the flour and salt in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the blade attachment. Add the butter and vegetable shortening and process until the mixture resembles coarse meal, 8 to 10 seconds. With the processor on pulse, add enough of the ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the dough holds together without being sticky or crumbly. Shape the dough into a disk and wrap in plastic wrap. Chill until firm and the moisture has distributed evenly, about 30 minutes.
• Flour a clean work surface and a rolling pin. Place the dough disk in the center of the floured surface. Starting in the center of the dough, roll to, but not over, the upper edge of the dough. Return to the center, and roll down to, but not over, the lower edge. Lift the dough, give it a quarter turn and lay it on the work surface. Continue rolling, repeating the quarter turns, until you have a disk about 1/8 inch thick.
• Ease the pastry into a 9-inch pie plate. Trim 1 inch larger than the diameter of the pie plate; fold the overhanging pastry under itself along the rim of the plate. For a simple decorative edge, press the tines of a fork around the folded pastry. To make a fluted edge, using both your finger and thumb, pinch and crimp the folded dough. Chill until firm, about 30 minutes.
• To blind-bake the crust, preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Crumple a piece of parchment paper, and then lay it out flat over the bottom of the pastry. Weight the paper with pie weights, dried beans or uncooked rice; this will keep the unfilled pie crust from puffing up in the oven. Bake for 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and remove the paper and weights. (You can reuse the rice or beans for blind-baking a number of times.) Return to the oven and bake the empty shell until a deep golden brown, about 10 more minutes (for 30 minutes total).
• For the filling and meringue: While the pie crust is warm, brush the bottom with the melted chocolate and set aside.
• In a saucepan, combine 1 cup of the milk and the granulated sugar. In a bowl, combine the remaining 1 cup of milk, the cocoa powder and flour and whisk thoroughly to combine. Heat the saucepan with the milk-sugar mixture over medium-high heat until simmering. Slowly add the milk-flour mixture and stir to combine. Bring to a boil. Add the egg yolks, whisking constantly, and heat until it returns to a boil. Once the mixture comes to a boil, immediately add the vanilla and remove it from the heat. Pour the mixture into the baked pie crust. Set aside to cool completely and set, about 2 hours at room temperature or 1 hour refrigerated.
• Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F.
• To make the meringue topping, place the egg whites in a nonreactive bowl with a pinch of salt. Add the cream of tartar and, using a hand-held mixer, whisk on high speed until foamy. Sift over the confectioners' sugar a little at a time and whisk until the whites are glossy and hold stiff peaks when the whisk is lifted.
• To finish the pie, spoon the meringue over the pie, making sure it touches the edges of the pie crust. Bake until golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Using a serrated knife, cut the pie into wedges and serve.

CHOCOLATE MERINGUES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 200 degrees F. In a large bowl with an electric mixer beat the egg whites until frothy. Add the cream of tartar and granulated sugar 1 tablespoon at a time. Beat until the egg whites are stiff and shiny and the sugar granules cannot be felt in the whites. Beat in the vanilla, reduce speed to low and add cocoa until combined. With a spatula put the egg white mixture into a pastry bag fitted with a large star tip. Pipe 2-inch meringue "kisses" on a parchment paper lined baking sheet, at least 2 inches apart. Bake in the middle of oven for 2 hours. Turn off oven and leave the meringues in it for at least 2 more hours or until meringues are completely dry.

CHOCOLATE CREAM MERINGUE PIE

Steps:

• FILLING:.
• Combine sugar, flour, cocoa, and salt in medium saucepan; stir in milk.
• Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until mixture boils; remove from heat.
• Stir half of the mixture into beaten egg yolks; return egg mixture to saucepan.
• Continue cooking and stirring over medium heat until mixture boils; boil and stir for 1 minute.
• Remove from heat and stir in butter and vanilla.
• Cool for 10 minutes.
• Pour into pre-baked pie shell.
• MERINGUE TOPPING:
• Heat oven to 350°F.
• In small mixing bowl, beat egg whites and cream of tartar until foamy.
• Gradually add sugar and beat until stiff peaks form.
• Spread this on warm pie filling, carefully sealing to the edges of crust.
• Bake 5 to 8 minutes or just until meringue is lightly browned.
• Cool to room temperature; chill for several hours.

QUICK CHOCOLATE MERINGUE PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Place pie crust in plate on a rimmed baking sheet; bake until crust is golden, about 20 minutes. Cool completely; set aside.
• Put a fine-mesh sieve over a medium bowl; set aside. In a medium saucepan, off heat, whisk together 2/3 cup sugar, the cocoa powder, flour, and 1 tablespoon cornstarch. Gradually whisk in evaporated milk. Whisk in egg yolks.
• Place pan over medium heat; whisking constantly, cook until the first large bubble forms, about 5 minutes. Reduce heat to low; whisking constantly, cook 1 minute.
• Immediately pour mixture through prepared sieve into bowl. Stir in butter and vanilla. Pour warm filling into baked crust; cover surface directly with plastic wrap. Chill at least 2 hours and up to 1 day.
• Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Using an electric mixer, beat egg whites, remaining 1/3 cup sugar, and remaining 1 teaspoon cornstarch until stiff peaks form. Spread meringue on top of filling, right up to edge of crust; bake until meringue is lightly browned, 5 to 7 minutes. Serve immediately.