Black-Bottom Raspberry Cream Pie

The "black bottom" is a layer of superb chocolate pudding - plus a chocolate cookie crust. The pie must be chilled overnight before the topping is added.

Ingredients:

Crust:

• nonstick vegetable oil spray
• 1 3/4 cups crushed chocolate wafer cookies (about 30 cookies from 1 - 9 oz. pkg.)
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
• 1/4 cup sugar

Filling:

• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (preferably dutch-process)
• 2 Tbsp. cornstarch
• 2 1/2 cups whole milk, divided
• 2 large egg yolks
• 1 large egg
• 4 oz. bittersweet (not unsweetened) or semisweet chocolate, finely chopped
• 2 Tbsp. (1/4 stick) unsalted butter

Topping:

• 3 cups raspberries
• 1 cup chilled whipping cream
• 2 Tbsp. powdered sugar
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

Directions:

For Crust: Spray 9-inch-diameter glass pie dish with nonstick spray. Blend cookie crumbs, butter, and sugar in medium bowl. Press mixture evenly over bottom and up sides (not on rim) of prepared dish. Chill crust 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Bake crust until set, about 10 minutes, then cool.

For Filling: Combine sugar, cocoa, and cornstarch in heavy medium saucepan; whisk to blend well. Gradually add 1/4 cup milk, whisking until cornstarch dissolves. Whisk in remaining 2 1/4 cups milk, then egg yolks and egg. Stir over medium-high heat until pudding thickens and boils, about 8 minutes.

Remove from heat. Add chocolate and butter; whisk until melted and smooth. Spread pudding in prepared crust. Press plastic wrap onto pudding to cover and chill pie overnight.

For Topping:

Peel plastic wrap off pie. Cover chocolate layer with raspberries, pointed side up, pressing lightly into chocolate to adhere (some berries will be left over). Beat cream, sugar, and vanilla in medium bowl until peaks form; spread over berries on pie. Arrange remaining berries atop cream. Chill pie at least 1 hour and up to 4 hours. Makes 8-10 servings.

Source: Epicurious.com

By LIVELOVELAUGH from Irvine, CA