Shelly's Recipe

BROWNIE TRUFFLE CREAM CHEESE PIE

Category: Pies - Cream and Custard

Crust
1 tube refrigerated chocolate chip cookie dough, softened

Brownie Layer
1 box Betty Crocker Triple Chunk Brownie Mix (my preference)
1/2 cup cocoa powder, sifted
3 tbsp lukewarm water
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 eggs, at room temperature
1 tsp almond extract or vanilla

Cream Cheese Truffle Layer
1 cup milk semisweet chips
4 oz cream cheese, softened
1/2 stick unsalted butter

Whipped Cream Layer
2 cups whipping cream
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup powdered sugar, sifted
1/3 cup of chocolate curls or other garnish, optional

Preheat oven to 350. Grease a 9 or 9 1/2 inch springform pan with butter.

Spread the cookie dough into the bottom of the pan, making one big even cookie. It will be a little on the thin side, but don't worry, there will be enough. Use a fork to tamp it down. Stick it in the freezer.

Mix the brownie mix and the cocoa powder together in big bowl with a whisk or large fork. Add the water, oil, eggs, and almond extract and mix together just until the dry ingredients are absorbed. Be careful not to over mix! The batter will be somewhat lumpy.

Remove the springform pan from the freezer and add the brownie batter right over the top. Bake for 34-38 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the brownie comes out almost clean. (You want it just a little less baked than you would a normal brownie.)

Remove it from the oven and promptly sprinkle about a 1/3 cup of chocolate chips (from the 1 cup of chips listed above) over the top. Let it sit for a minute or two and once the chocolate chips are soft, evenly spread them over the top of brownie's surface. All it to cool on the counter.

While the pie is cooling, microwave the remaining chocolate chips on low power (2 or 3) on 30 second intervals until the chips are melted, stirring well each time. Set aside. Cream the butter, and cream cheese together for 1 minute. Add the vanilla and stir again. Add the melted chocolate, one big tspful at a time until it is incorporated into the cream cheese. Spread the cream cheese mixture over the top of the pie and store it uncovered in the refrigerator for an hour.

Before serving, whisk the whipping cream until soft peaks form. Add the vanilla and the powdered sugar and mix again until combined. Spread evenly over the top of the pie. Grate chocolate directly over the top, sprinkle chocolate curls, or embellish with chocolate sprinkles. Cover and put it back in the refrigerator for at least 1/2 an hour.

When you're ready to serve, run a thin knife or spatula to around the edge of the pan to free it from the outside ring. Gently remove the ring and serve let it come to room temperature at least a half an hour before serving. You'll know it's ready to serve when you're able to cut it from the center fairly easily.