Jean Websters French Silk Pie Recipes

CHOCOLATE MOUSSE PIE WITH PHYLLO CRUST

Steps:

• Crust: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 9-by-2-inch cake pan, then line with two 17-by-2-inch strips of parchment, forming an X in center and leaving a 2-inch overhang. Butter parchment.
• Place 1 sheet of phyllo on a work surface with a long side facing you, keeping remaining phyllo covered with plastic wrap. Lightly brush entire surface with melted butter, then sprinkle some of granulated sugar on right half of phyllo. Fold left half over to enclose sugar. Brush top lightly with butter. Press folded phyllo into pan, buttered-side down, leaving a 1/2-inch overhang on one side; gather and crumple dough slightly as you go to make fit and to create a ruffled edge. Repeat with remaining phyllo sheets, overlapping to completely cover bottom of pan and create a 1/2-inch overhang on all sides. Bake until golden, about 20 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes.
• Brush melted chocolate over bottom and 1 inch up sides of crust. Refrigerate 10 minutes.
• Filling: Meanwhile, in a heatproof bowl set over (not in) a pot of simmering water, whisk together yolks, granulated sugar, and salt until sugar is dissolved. Whisk in bittersweet chocolate until melted. Remove from heat. Let cool 10 minutes.
• Beat 1 cup cream until medium-stiff peaks form. Whisk one-third of whipped cream into chocolate mixture. Gently but thoroughly fold in remaining whipped cream. Pour mixture into cooled crust. Refrigerate at least 3 hours.
• Beat remaining 1 cup cream with confectioners' sugar until soft peaks form. Dollop onto pie, sprinkle with chocolate shavings, and serve.

FRENCH SILK PIE

Steps:

• Cut pie crust in half. Repackage and refrigerate 1 half for another use. On a lightly floured surface, roll out remaining half into an 8-in. circle. Transfer to a 7-in. pie plate; flute edge., Line shell with a double thickness of heavy-duty foil. Bake at 450° for 4 minutes. Remove foil; bake until crust is golden brown, about 2 minutes longer. Cool on a wire rack., In a small saucepan, combine sugar and eggs until well blended. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture reaches 160° and coats the back of a metal spoon. Remove from the heat. Stir in chocolate and vanilla until smooth. Cool to lukewarm (90°), stirring occasionally. , In a small bowl, cream butter until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Add cooled chocolate mixture; beat on high speed until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. , In another large bowl, beat cream until it begins to thicken. Add confectioners' sugar; beat until stiff peaks form. Fold into chocolate mixture. , Pour into crust. Chill for at least 6 hours before serving. Garnish with whipped cream and chocolate curls if desired. Refrigerate leftovers.

CARAMEL PECAN FRENCH SILK PIE

Steps:

• Prepare Baked Pastry Shell; set aside.
• In a heavy medium saucepan combine the 1 cup whipping cream, the chocolate pieces, butter, and sugar.
• Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until chocolate is melted (about 10 minutes).
• Remove from heat.
• Gradually stir half of the hot mixture into beaten egg yolks.
• Return egg mixture to chocolate mixture in saucepan.
• Cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is slightly thickened and begins to bubble (about 5 minutes).
• Remove from heat.
• (Mixture may appear to separate.) Stir in the 3 tablespoons creme de cacao or whipping cream.
• Place the saucepan in a bowl of ice water, stirring occasionally, until the mixture stiffens and becomes hard to stir (about 20 minutes).
• Transfer the chocolate mixture to a medium mixing bowl.
• Beat cooled chocolate mixture with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 2 to 3 minutes or until light and fluffy.
• Spread caramel ice cream topping in bottom of Baked Pastry Shell.
• Sprinkle pecans evenly over caramel.
• Carefully spread filling into pie shell.
• Cover and refrigerate pie for 5 to 24 hours.
• To serve, top with whipped cream.
• If you like, garnish with chocolate curls.