FRENCH SILK CHOCOLATE PIE

French Silk Chocolate Pie image

Provided by Kelly Williams

Time 20m

Number Of Ingredients 9

1 graham cracker crust for an 8" pie, homemade or purchased
1 stick butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
2 oz. unsweetened baking chocolate squares, melted and cooled
1 tsp. vanilla
2 large eggs
sweetened whipped cream, cool whip or redi-whip
grated chocolate or chocolate curls
maraschino cherries, optional

Steps:

1. In microwave, melt chocolate in small bowl, set aside to cool. (Stir occaisionally.) In mixer bowl, cream butter, gradually add sugar, cream well. Mix in melted, cooled chocolate and vanilla. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating 5 minutes each, and scraping sides and bottom of bowl often to incorporate all grains of sugar. Spoon and smooth into pie crust. Chill until set, about 1 hour. Serve topped with sweetened whipped cream, chocolate shavings and a maraschino cherry. *Double this recipe for a 9-inch deep dish pie. Variations: add, in addition to vanilla, 1 teaspoon peppermint extract, tint Cool Whip pink for Valentines day, green for St Patty's day. Top with crushed peppermint sticks/candy canes just before serving for Christmas. Add, in addition to vanilla, a 1/2 tsp. almond extract. Can sprinkle with chocolate shavings, finely chopped or sliced almonds, and/or crushed toffee bits. Whipped cream can be tinted a very pale yellow for a buttery look.