Shelly's Recipe

CHOCOLATE-PEANUT BUTTER CREAM PIE WITH CHOCOLATE CRUST

Category: Pies - Cream and Custard

1 cup flour
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/3 cup all-vegetable shortening 1/3 stick all-vegetable shortening sticks
3 tbsp cold water

Filling
2 tbsp flour
2/3 cup sugar
1 tbsp cornstarch
1/4 tsp salt
2 1/2 cups milk
3 egg yolks, lightly beaten
1 cup creamy peanut butter
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup semi-sweet baking chocolate, cut in small pieces
1/2 cup heavy cream
2 tbsp powdered sugar
1/4 cup chopped dry roasted peanuts

Heat oven to 450. CRUST: Combine flour, brown sugar, cocoa powder and salt. Cut in shortening with pastry cutter or 2 knives until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add water one tbsp at a time. Toss with fork. Repeat just until mixture is moistened and can be formed into a ball. (The dough should hold together when picked up and pressed, and should not crack.) Flatten ball; chill 30 minutes.

Roll out dough on lightly floured surface to a 12-inch circle. Transfer dough to 9-inch pie plate by loosely rolling around rolling pin. Center rolling pin over pie plate; unroll, easing dough into pie plate. Trim excess pastry from edges, leaving a 3/4-inch overhang. Fold edge under. Pinch between thumb and forefinger to shape. Prick bottom and sides with a fork. Bake 8 to 10 minutes.

FILLING: Combine flour, sugar, cornstarch and salt in heavy saucepan. Gradually stir in milk. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, 5 minutes, or until thickened. Stir about one-fourth of hot mixture gradually into beaten egg yolks. Add egg yolk mixture back into the saucepan; cook, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens. Stir in peanut butter and vanilla until melted. Remove from heat.

Stir chocolate pieces into mixture, leaving some chunks unmelted. Pour hot mixture into baked crust. Let stand 1 minute; swirl melted chocolate chunks using knife. Cool completely.

Whip heavy cream and powdered sugar until soft peaks form. Spread whipped cream over top of pie; garnish with chopped peanuts.