Peanut Butter & Chocolate Pie
A decadent, dreamy pie to appeal to the American passion for peanut butter and chocolate! The peanut butter interior is incredibly creamy and melded with the chocolate ganache topping, what could be better.
Peanut Butter and Chocolate Pie
For the crust:
1 and 1/2 cups graham crackers, chocolate graham cracks or Oreo cookies, crushed (in blender)
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon granulated white sugar
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
For the filling:
8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
3/4 cup confectioners/powdered sugar plus 2 tablespoons
1 cup creamy regular peanut butter
1 cup heavy whipping cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the topping:
3/4 cup heavy/whipping cream
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chip morsels
1/3 cup melted peanut butter
1 cup Mini Reese’s Peanut Butter cups or peanut butter chips
DIRECTIONS:
-Preheat the oven to 325°F.
For the crust:
-In the bowl of a food processor, process the crackers and sugar until finely ground. Add the butter and pulse until moistened. Press the crushed mixture evenly on the bottom and partway up the sides of a 9-inch springform pan or pie plate. Use the bottom of a glass or cup to press the crust mixture evenly on the bottom and up the sides to create an even crust. Bake for 10 - 12 minutes then cool complately on a wire rack.
For the filling:
-In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese, powdered sugar, and the peanut butter with the wire whisk until well-combined, about 3 minutes. If using one mixing bowl, remove peanut butter mixture and place in a smaller bowl and set aside. Clean out the bowl and the whisk.
-Pour the 1 cup heavy cream into the mixing bowl and beat with the whisk on high speed, until thick and light. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of powdered sugar and the vanilla extract and continue to whip until stiff peaks form.
-Add the peanut butter mixture to the whipped cream and on low speed mix for about a minute with the whisk attachment. Remove from the electric mixer and continue to gently fold the mixture together until it is smooth using a hand whisk. Spoon into the prepared pie crust and freeze for 3 hours or chill in the fridge at least 6 hours.
-Meanwhile, heat the 3/4 cup whipping cream in a small saucepan, over medium high heat until it begins to simmer. Remove from heat and add chocolate chips without stirring. Allow to rest for about 15 minutes, then mix together until smooth with a wire whisk. Set aside for about an hour to allow to thicken.
-Melt the 1/3 cup peanut in a small bowl in the microwave for about 25 seconds. Stir until smooth. Melt the chocolate morsels in a small bowl in the microwave for intervals of 30 seconds, stirring after each until the chocolate has melted and is smooth. (It should take 2 - 3, 30 seconds in microwave to melt the chocolate.
-Place melted peanut butter and melted chocolate in separate resealable bags or piping bags. Snip off a tiny corner of the bag's tip. Squeeze slightly to drizzle the melted peanut butter and melted chocolate over your pie. Top with mini Reese's cups (whole or chopped as you prefer) and peanut butter chips. Serve frozen or refrigerated.
-Store in the fridge, covered, for up to 3 days, or in the freezer for up to 1 month.
Crush cookie/cracker crumbs in food processor, mix with butter and press into pie plate, then bake.
Whip peanut butter with softened cream cheese for a velvety filling for the pie.
Smooth the filling into the cooled pie crust as evenly as possible.
Pour and spread the cooled and thickened chocolate ganache completely over the filling. Chill in the freezer or refrigerator.
Drizzle melted peanut butter and chocolate over the top of the chilled pie.
Garnish the top with mini Reese’s PB cups, chopped or whole peanut butter chips and chopped salted peanuts, to your taste.
You can see how smooth the filling is, sandwiched between chocolate crumbs and chocolate ganache…and then the toppings! Go wild with them if it sounds fun and decadent!
PERSNICKETY NOTES:
*You may use a store prepared Oreo or graham cracker crust if you prefer.
*Garnish the top with whole or chopped Reese’s Mini peanut butter cups, peanut butter chips and/or roughly chopped lightly salted peanuts. Toffee chips are also a great addition for when you really want to overdo it!
