Best Worlds Best Chocolate Pie Recipes

WORLD'S BEST CHOCOLATE PIE

Steps:

• 1. For the crust: Combine the sugar, graham cracker crumbs, cocoa and melted butter and mix well. Press the mixture into the bottom and up the sides of a 9-inch pie pan. Refrigerate.
• 2. For the filling: Melt the chocolate using a double boiler or a stainless steel bowl placed over a kettle of boiling water. Dissolve the gelatin in cold water. Cream together the sugar, egg yolks and vanilla. Heat the milk in a medium saucepan until hot but not boiling. Slowly pour the milk over the egg mixture in a thin stream, stirring as you go so the eggs don't scramble. Pour the mixture back into the saucepan. Heat over low, stirring with a wooden spoon, until the mixture coats the back of the spoon. Do not boil. This will take up to 15 minutes, be patient. Stir in the gelatin/water mix and melted chocolate. Stir until smooth. Strain into a bowl and let cool. If you don't mind a few flecks you don't need to strain it.
• 3. Whip the heavy cream to a medium peak. Fold 2/3 into the cooled chocolate custard. Save the remaining 1/3 for garnish. After folding carefully for a full 5 minutes I still had a few flecks of cream in the finished pie. Pour the custard into the prepared pie crust. Refrigerate for 2 hours. Decorate with whipped cream and chocolate shavings before serving

MARGARET'S SOUTHERN CHOCOLATE PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Sift together the cocoa powder and the flour and pour them into a saucepan. Whisk the egg yolks and 1 1/3 cups sugar. Gradually add the evaporated milk, whisking constantly; slowly pour the milk mixture into the saucepan, whisking until combined.
• Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly with a flat-bottomed wooden spoon or spatula, until the mixture begins to thicken and coats the back of the spoon, about 15 minutes. Remove the custard from the heat and stir in the butter until melted. Pour the filling into the baked pie crust.
• To make the meringue topping: Combine the egg whites and cream of tartar in a clean glass or metal bowl; beat with an electric mixer until foamy. Gradually add sugar, a tablespoon at a time, continuing to beat until stiff peaks form. Lift your beater or whisk straight up: the egg whites will form sharp peaks. Spread the meringue over the chocolate filling.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes, or until the tips of the meringue peaks are golden brown.