Just-Chillin Chocolate Fridge Pie
INGREDIENTS
- 16 cream-filled chocolate cookies (recommended: Oreos)
- 2 Tbs. melted and cooled unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate morsels
- 14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk
- 1/4 tsp. salt
- 2 egg yolks
- 1/4 cup hot milk
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1-3/4 cups heavy cream, chilled
- 2 tsp. powdered sugar
- Cocoa powder for dusting, optional
- Optional garnishes: fresh strawberries, mint, chocolate curls, and chopped
- nuts
DIRECTIONS
- Position rack in center of oven and preheat the oven to 350.
- Chill a large mixing bowl and the beaters of your electric mixer in the freezer until ready to use.
- In the bowl of a food processor, process cookies until fine crumbs form. Or, you can seal the cookies in a large resealable plastic bag food storage bag and crush with a rolling pin.
- Transfer the crumbs to a medium mixing bowl and add the melted and cooled butter.
- Mix thoroughly with a wooden spoon until mixture resembles wet sand.
- Transfer the mixture to a 9 inch pie pan and press the mixture evenly along the bottom and up the sides of the pan.
- Bake the crust for 15 minutes.
- Transfer to a wire rack, and let cool completely before filling.
- In a heavy saucepan over medium heat, melt the chocolate with the sweetened condensed milk and salt, stirring until very thick and bubbly, about 5 minutes.
- Place the egg yolks in a small mixing bowl and whisk in the 1/4 cup hot milk.
- Add the egg-yolk mixture to the melted chocolate mixture and whisk to combine.
- Continue to cook until the mixture is very thick and bubbly, about 1 minute.
- Set a fine-mesh sieve over a second medium mixing bowl and strain the chocolate mixture into the bowl, pressing with a rubber spatula to force the mixture through the sieve if necessary.
- Discard any lumps.
- Stir in the vanilla and set mixture aside to cool for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Place a piece of plastic wrap directly onto the surface of the chocolate mixture and transfer to the refrigerator.
- Chill thoroughly, about 30-45 minutes.
- In the chilled mixing bowl, using the chilled beaters, beat 1 cup of whipping cream until soft peaks form.
- Gently fold the whipped cream into the chocolate mixture.
- Gently transfer the chocolate mixture to the prepared cookie crust, smoothing the top with a spatula.
- Refrigerate until thoroughly set, at least 3 hours and up to overnight.
- When ready to serve the pie, combine the remaining 3/4 cup of heavy cream with the powdered sugar in a small bowl and beat with an electric mixer until stiff peaks form.
- Serve a dollop of whipped cream on top of every slice of pie.
- Place a small amount of cocoa powder in a sifter and sprinkle over the top of the pie for additional wowing power, if desired, and serve with garnishes.