HOMEMADE CHOCOLATE PUDDING PIE

What You'll Need

FOR THE CRUST

• 1/3 cup all purpose flour
• One tablespoon sugar
• One quarter teaspoon salt
• One half cup butter, chilled and cubed
• Four tablespoons ice water

FOR THE FILLING

• One half cup sugar
• One quarter cup cornstarch
• One half teaspoon salt
• Three cups whole milk
• Four egg yolks
• Two tablespoon butter
• One teaspoon vanilla extract
• One heaping cup semisweet chocolate chips

FOR THE WHIPPED CREAM

• One cup heavy cream
• One tablespoon softened cream cheese
• One quarter cup powdered sugar
• One teaspoon vanilla extract
• Milk chocolate bar to make curls for garnish

How to Make It

FOR THE CRUST

1. In a food processor, (I use my Blendtec) pulse together flour, sugar, and salt.
2. Add butter and pulse until you have coarse crumbs.
3. Slowly drizzle in the ice water until a dough forms.
4. Remove the dough from the processor, and knead it into a smooth ball, adding a little more flour if it is too sticky.
5. Wrap dough in plastic wrap and shape into a flat disk.
6. Chill for 2-3 hours before rolling out, or freeze until you are ready to use it.
7. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
8. On a well floured surface, roll the dough out into a circle.
9. You want to have about 2 inches of extra dough on the outside of your pie tin.
10. You may need to pat the cracks in the dough back together and be patient as you roll.
11. Roll the dough back up onto the rolling pin to transfer it to the pie tin.
12. Without stretching the dough, let it settle into the bottom of the tin.
13. Trim off excess dough, leaving 1/2 inch all around.
14. Fold the edge under itself and crimp.
15. Prick the bottom and sides with a fork.
16. Bake for 10 minutes, or until the crust is just golden brown.

FOR THE FILLING

17. In a medium saucepan, whisk sugar, cornstarch and salt.
18. In a separate bowl, whisk together milk and egg yolks.
19. Slowly add the egg mixture to the saucepan, whisking as you pour so that lumps do not form.
20. Turn the heat to medium, and whisk constantly it cooks.
21. When the pudding starts to boil, turn the heat to low and whisk one more minute.
22. Remove the pan from the heat, and add butter, vanilla extract, and chocolate chips.
23. Stir until smooth.
24. Pour the pudding into the cooled pie crust, and place plastic wrap over the top directly on the pudding so a skin will not form as it cools.
25. Depending on the size of your pie crust, you may have extra pudding.
26. We like to pour it into little jars for individual servings.
27. When completely chilled, top pie with whipped cream and garnish with chocolate curls.
28. Refrigerate until serving.

FOR THE WHIPPED CREAM

29. In a chilled metal bowl (I use my KitchenAid stand mixer with the whisk attachment), add heavy cream, softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract.
30. On low speed, whisk until combined and mixture begins to thicken (about 1 minute).
31. Then gradually increase the speed to high until the cream has reached the stiff peak stage (about 3 minutes).