Whether it is the holiday season or a party, you do not need any excuse to make chocolate cream pie at home or purchase it from a bakery shop. It is among the most relished desserts in the world and guarantees a five-star rating from your guests. It will be a showstopper among children, elders, and people who say they don’t have a sweet tooth.
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Boasting a crunchy crust filled with silky chocolate mixture and topped with cream cheese is a classic recipe to whip up when you are confused about what to present to your guests. The irresistible layering of ingredients will make everyone on the dining table dig into the dish and even go as far as licking the plate. Here is a quick guide for beginners who have just begun their journey in the baking world.
Do’s And Don’ts Of Making Chocolate Cream Pie At Home
Do Use Quality Chocolate
When baking chocolate cream pie at home, you need to select high-quality chocolate because its flavours and textures will make all the difference to the recipe. The same tip goes for adding cornstarch, milk, butter, and vanilla extract. The chocolate filling is the heart of this dessert, any ingredient that would go into it must adhere to high-quality standards.
Don’t Take Your Eyes Off The Filling
It does not take more than 10 minutes to cook the filling. If the ratio of the ingredients is not right or you are making it at a high flame, you can easily ruin its texture and flavour. Chocolate does not take much time to burn, and milk can easily go bad and ruin other ingredients if you are not attentive.
Also Read: 6 Guilt-Free Chocolate Desserts To Indulge In
Do Make The Crust Ahead Of Time
One thing that comes in handy while you plan to make this dessert for a gathering is preparing the crust ahead of time. Instead of making the crust, filling, and topping simultaneously, you can divide the time slot. Take your time to bake a thin and crunchy crust. You can even make a couple of them and store them in the refrigerator for at least three months.
Don’t Add Hot Filling To The Crust
Once your filling is ready, do not instantly pour into the crust. Instead of being crunchy, the crust will become warm and gooey. It won’t be a surprise if it starts disintegrating into pieces. Therefore, allow the filling to cool off for a while, just enough so that the chocolate and milk are at room temperature.
Do Refrigerate The Pie For Longer Duration
The chocolate cream pie will require a long time in the refrigerator. You can keep it overnight so that the filling hardens and topping stays well. You can add more toppings like fresh fruits and nuts right before serving the pie. However, do not serve it after refrigerating it for a couple of hours.
How To Make Chocolate Cream Pie
- When baking the crust, preheat the oven to 180°C while you mix unsalted butter, chocolate cookie crumbs, and granulated sugar. Spread the mixture in a pie dish to form the crust and bake it for 10 minutes. Allow it to cool off at room temperature, or store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
- When making the chocolate filling, make a concoction of cornstarch, salt, and sugar in a saucepan and whisk eggs and milk in another pan. Add milk and egg mixture to the saucepan, and after cooking for some time, add chopped chocolate, vanilla extract, and butter. Once everything comes together, turn off the flame and let it cool off.
- To make the whipped cream, beat heavy cream in a bowl until you see soft peaks. Add powdered sugar and vanilla extract to it and beat it again. After pouring the chocolate filling into the crust and refrigerating it, spread the whipped cream on top. Garnish it with some more chocolate and fresh fruits before serving.