Chocolate Cream Pie

As part of our Pi Day Celebration, the hubby wanted something chocolatey. So I suggested Chocolate Cream Pie and starting looking for recipes. I figured this one might be onto something when the contributor described it as "fudgy". They were right, and so was I.

Makes: Filling for 1 9" pie

Ingredients
1 1/4 cups sugar (+ ~6tbsp sugar for the meringue, if desired)
2 tbsp flour
2 tbsp cornstarch
1/4 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups milk
4 eggs
2 ounces unsweetened chocolate
1 tbsp butter
1 tsp vanilla
1 prepared pie shell


Directions
CHOP butter and chocolate into small pieces
COMBINE in a small bowl

COMBINE sugar, flour, cornstarch, and salt in a medium saucepan

COMBINE eggs yolks and milk in a measuring cup
BEAT until smooth
REFRIGERATE egg whites to use for meringue

SLOWLY STIR egg and milk mixture into the dry ingredients

PLACE saucepan over medium heat
STIR mixture until mixture thickens and comes to a boil
BOIL for 1 minute

REMOVE from heat

ADD chocolate, butter, and vanilla

POUR into prepared pie shell
COVER with plastic wrap
REFRIGERATE for 2+ hours, until firm

TURN oven to broil

ADD saved egg whites to bowl of stand mixer
WHIP until foamy
GRADUALLY ADD sugar (1tbsp at a time) and continue to whip until stiff peaks form

SPREAD meringue over the chocolate custard
ENSURE edges are sealed

BROIL pie for 5 min to brown creases in meringue

CHILL until serving

Enjoy!

My Thoughts
1. The custard comes together deceptively fast. One minute you are stirring soup, then BOOM! custard. Keep stirring and keep a close eye on it.

2. Also make sure not to forget that you are browning your meringue in the oven. Doing so would lead to blackened meringue. Which you can just peel off and then pop the pie back in for round two, but your meringue will look a little flat and crumbly. Not that I would know from experience or anything. ; )

3. This pie is divine. Fudgy, rich, creamy, amazing. It doesn't need the meringue for flavor, though it does up the presentation factor.

4. We used the delicious No Roll Pie Crust with this filling. It was a perfect pair.