Black Velvet Pie

Ingredients

• For the crust: For the crust:
• 1 ½ cups (180g) chocolate cookie crumbs 1 ½ cups (180g) chocolate cookie crumbs
• 6 tablespoons (85g) unsalted butter, melted 6 tablespoons (85g) unsalted butter, melted
• For the cream cheese filling: For the cream cheese filling:
• 8 oz (225g) cream cheese, softened 8 oz (225g) cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup (100g) granulated sugar 1/2 cup (100g) granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup (240ml) heavy cream 1 cup (240ml) heavy cream
• For the chocolate custard: For the chocolate custard:
• 1 ½ cups (360ml) whole milk 1 ½ cups (360ml) whole milk
• 1/2 cup (100g) granulated sugar 1/2 cup (100g) granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup (30g) unsweetened cocoa powder 1/4 cup (30g) unsweetened cocoa powder
• 3 tablespoons cornstarch 3 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 4 oz (115g) dark chocolate, finely chopped 4 oz (115g) dark chocolate, finely chopped
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• For the whipped cream topping: For the whipped cream topping:
• 1 cup (240ml) heavy cream 1 cup (240ml) heavy cream
• 2 tablespoons powdered sugar 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Nutrition

• Calories (kcal / KJ): 450 kcal / 1880 KJ
• Fat (total, saturated): 32g, 19g
• Carbohydrates (total, sugars): 38g, 26g
• Protein: 6g
• Fiber: 2g
• Salt: 0.3g

Preparation

1. 1.
   Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. 2.
   In a bowl, combine the chocolate cookie crumbs and melted butter for the crust. Press the mixture into the bottom and up the sides of a 9-inch (23cm) pie dish. Bake for 10 minutes, then remove from the oven and let it cool completely.
3. 3.
   In a mixing bowl, beat the softened cream cheese, granulated sugar, and vanilla extract until smooth. In a separate bowl, whip the heavy cream until stiff peaks form. Gently fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture until well combined. Spread the cream cheese filling evenly over the cooled crust.
4. 4.
   In a saucepan, whisk together the whole milk, granulated sugar, cocoa powder, cornstarch, and salt for the chocolate custard. Place the saucepan over medium heat and cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens and comes to a boil. Remove from heat and add the chopped dark chocolate and butter. Stir until the chocolate and butter are melted and the custard is smooth. Let it cool slightly.
5. 5.
   Pour the chocolate custard over the cream cheese filling in the pie dish. Smooth the top with a spatula. Refrigerate the pie for at least 4 hours, or until set.
6. 6.
   Before serving, prepare the whipped cream topping. In a chilled bowl, whip the heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract until soft peaks form. Spread the whipped cream over the chilled pie.
7. 7.
   Slice and serve the Black Velvet Pie chilled. Enjoy!

Treat your ingredients with care...

• Dark chocolate — Use high-quality dark chocolate with at least 70% cocoa solids for the best flavor and texture.
• Cream cheese — Make sure the cream cheese is softened at room temperature to ensure a smooth and creamy filling.
• Heavy cream — Chill the heavy cream and the mixing bowl in the refrigerator before whipping to achieve the best results.
• Chocolate cookie crumbs — You can use store-bought chocolate cookie crumbs or crush chocolate sandwich cookies in a food processor until finely ground.
• Cornstarch — Dissolve the cornstarch in a small amount of cold milk before adding it to the custard mixture to prevent lumps.

Tips & Tricks

• For a more intense chocolate flavor, you can add a teaspoon of instant coffee granules to the chocolate custard mixture.
• To save time, you can use a pre-made chocolate cookie crust instead of making your own.
• Garnish the pie with chocolate shavings or cocoa powder for an elegant presentation.
• Allow the pie to chill in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours to ensure it sets properly.
• Serve the pie with a drizzle of chocolate sauce or a sprinkle of crushed chocolate cookies for added indulgence.

Serving advice

Serve each slice of Black Velvet Pie chilled for the best taste and texture. For an extra touch, you can garnish each slice with a dollop of whipped cream and a dusting of cocoa powder.

Presentation advice

Present the Black Velvet Pie on a decorative pie dish or cake stand. The contrasting layers of chocolate custard and cream cheese filling create an eye-catching display. To enhance the visual appeal, pipe rosettes of whipped cream around the edges of the pie and sprinkle some chocolate shavings on top.