Mildred Pierces Black Bottom Pie Recipes

BLACK-BOTTOM PIE

Steps:

• Make the crust: Stir together the graham cracker crumbs, butter, sugar, and salt in a bowl. Press into the bottom and up the sides of a 9-inch pie plate. Refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Bake until the crust is set and begins to turn golden brown, about 12 minutes. Let cool completely on a wire rack.
• Make the filling: Sift together the sugar, cocoa powder, cornstarch, and salt into a medium saucepan. Gradually whisk in the milk. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring constantly, until almost boiling. Reduce heat to medium; add the chocolate. Cook, stirring constantly, until the chocolate has melted and the mixture is thick, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat; whisk in the butter and vanilla until smooth. Spread the chocolate mixture over the crust. Refrigerate until cold and firm, about 1 hour.
• Make the topping: Prepare an ice-water bath; set aside. Sprinkle the gelatin over 2 tablespoons cold water in a small bowl. Let stand until soft, about 3 minutes. Whisk 1/4 cup sugar, the cornstarch, and the salt in a medium saucepan. Gradually whisk in the milk. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture is thick and boiling, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in the gelatin mixture, and let cool completely. Stir in the vanilla and rum. Briefly place the pan in the ice-water bath to thicken slightly, if needed. Do not let it set completely. Set aside.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat egg whites on medium-low speed until soft peaks form. Reduce speed to low; continue beating while you make the syrup.
• Bring the remaining 1/2 cup sugar and 3 tablespoons water to a boil in a saucepan, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Brush down the sides of the pan with a wet pastry brush to prevent crystals from forming. Cook, without stirring, until the syrup registers 240°F on a candy thermometer.
• Raise the mixer speed to high, and beat the egg whites just until stiff peaks begin to form. Immediately pour the syrup into the egg whites in a slow, steady stream near the side of the bowl, avoiding the whisk (it might splatter). Beat until glossy and cooled, about 7 minutes.
• Fold the meringue mixture into the reserved gelatin mixture in 3 batches until just combined. Mound the mixture into the chocolate-filled crust. Refrigerate the pie for 2 1/2 hours or overnight before serving.

BLACK BOTTOM PIE

Steps:

• To make the gingersnap crust: In a bowl, add all the crust ingredients; stir to mix.
• Press mixture into the bottom and up the sides of a 9-inch deep dish pie plate.
• Bake at 350°F for 8-10 minutes; cool on a wire rack.
• To make the filling: In a small bowl, add the water and rum; stir to combine.
• Sprinkle the gelatin over the rum mixture; stir to combine and set aside.
• In a saucepan, add the sugar and cornstarch; stir to combine.
• Gradually whisk in the milk and egg yolks.
• Bring mixture to a boil over medium heat, whisk constantly.
• Boil for 1 minute.
• Add in gelatin mixture; stir until mixture is dissolved.
• Mix together 1 cup of custard mixture and chocolate morsels; stir until smooth; pour into gingersnap crust; spread evenly.
• Chill 30 minutes or until set; set aside remaining custard.
• In a mixing bowl, beat whipping cream until foamy, using an electric mixer on high speed.
• Gradually add powdered sugar; beat until soft peaks form.
• Fold 1 cup whipping cream mixture into custard mixture; spoon over chocolate mixture.
• Chill pie and remaining whipped cream for 2 hours or until pie is set.
• Spread remaining whipped cream over the top.

PENNINGTON'S BLACK BOTTOM PIE

Steps:

• Make a high-fluted edge on pie shell when preparing shell to hold the filling.
• Melt butter in a large double boiler over high heat.
• Add red food color, vanilla and butter extract.
• Add three-quarters of the milk and heat through.
• Reserve a quarter of the milk.
• Mix all dry ingredients in a large bowl; add the remaining milk, blending until smooth.
• Separate eggs, storing whites in a metal bowl in the refrigerator; add yolks to mixture, whisking until smooth and well blended.
• When the mixture in the double boiler reaches 180 degrees, add cornstarch mixture, stirring constantly until the mixture thickens.
• Turn heat to low and cook for 1 hour.
• Whip the egg whites until stiff peaks form.
• Fold the chocolate mixture into the egg white very gently, just until no white streaks appear.
• Pour into pie shell.
• Refrigerate until pie is completely cooled.
• Top with whipped topping just before serving.
• To make whipped topping:.
• Pour whipping cream into chilled mixing bowl.
• Add sugar and mix with chilled beaters.
• Mix on medium until peaks begin to form.
• Spread onto pie with a spatula.
• It should have peaks and waves on the surface.
• To make the pie crust:.
• Mix flour and salt in bowl.
• Lightly cut in shortening with a pastry blender until mixture resembles a coarse meal.
• Sprinkle in water a small amount at a time, until all particles are moistened and cling together when pressed into a ball.
• Cover with a damp cloth and let rest for a few minutes.
• Roll out thin (less than an 1/8 inch) on lightly floured board.
• Fold and place in pie pan.
• Prick bottom and sides of baking shell first.
• Bake at 425° for 12 to 15 minutes or until lightly browned.
• Cool.

BLACK-BOTTOM PIE

Steps:

• Make the crust: Stir together graham cracker crumbs, butter, sugar, and salt in a bowl. Press into bottom and up sides of a 9-inch pie plate. Refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake until crust is set and begins to turn golden brown, about 12 minutes. Let cool completely on a wire rack.
• Make the filling: Sift together sugar, cocoa powder, cornstarch, and salt into a medium saucepan. Gradually whisk in milk. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring constantly, until almost boiling. Reduce heat to medium; add chocolate. Cook, stirring constantly, until chocolate has melted and mixture is thick, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat; whisk in butter and vanilla until smooth. Spread chocolate mixture over crust. Refrigerate until cold and firm, about 1 hour.
• Make the topping: Prepare an ice-water bath; set aside. Sprinkle gelatin over 2 tablespoons cold water in a small bowl. Let stand until soft, about 3 minutes. Whisk 1/4 cup sugar, the cornstarch, and salt in a medium saucepan. Gradually whisk in the milk. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is thick and boiling, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in gelatin mixture, and let cool completely. Stir in vanilla and rum. Briefly place pan in an ice-water bath to thicken slightly, if needed. Do not let it set completely. Set aside.
• Put egg whites in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Beat on medium-low speed until soft peaks form. Reduce speed to low; continue beating while you make syrup.
• Bring remaining 1/2 cup sugar and 3 tablespoons water to a boil in a saucepan, stirring to dissolve sugar. Brush down sides of pan with a wet pastry brush to prevent crystals from forming. Cook, without stirring, until syrup registers 240 degrees on a candy thermometer.
• Raise mixer speed to high, and beat egg whites just until stiff peaks begin to form. Immediately pour syrup into egg whites in a slow, steady stream near side of bowl, avoiding whisk. Beat until glossy and cooled, about 7 minutes.
• Fold meringue mixture into reserved gelatin mixture in 3 batches until just combined. Mound the mixture into the chocolate-filled crust. Refrigerate pie for 2 1/2 hours or overnight before serving.

BLACK BOTTOM PIE

Steps:

• Combine 1/2 cup sugar, and cornstarch.
• Slowly add milk to egg yolks, start with just 1 tbsp at a time till you have added about 1/3 cup. This tempers the eggs and prevents them from scrambling. Now add in all the milk.
• Stir in sugar mixture, cook and stir over medium heat until mixture thickens enough to coat a spoon.
• Add vanilla.
• Remove 1 cup of custard and stir into it the chocolate chips until they are melted.
• Pour into crust and chill.
• Meanwhile soften gelatin in 1/4 cup cold water.
• Add to remaining hot custard, and stir until completely dissolved.
• Add rum.
• Chill until slightly thickened.
• Beat egg whites until soft peaks form.
• Fold into gelatin custard mixture.
• Chill if necessary until mixture mounds.
• Pile over chocolate layer.
• Chill till set (about 4 hours).
• Topping:.
• Beat 2 cups of whipping cream till soft peaks form.
• Add sugar and vanilla.
• Continue beating until mixed well.
• Pile on chilled pie.
• Garnish with freshly grated nutmeg over the whipped cream.

BLACK BOTTOM PIE (GINGERSNAP CRUST)

Steps:

• MAKE CRUST:.
• Thoroughly blend the gingersnap crumbs and melted butter. Press on bottom and sides of 9-in pie pan with back of tablespoon. Bake at 350° about 10 minutes. Do not over brown. Cool before filling.
• MAKE FILLING:.
• Soften gelatin in 1/4 cup of the milk. Scald remaining milk in top of double boiler over boiling water.
• Beat egg yolks. Blend in 1/2 cup of the sugar, salt and cornstarch. Add remaining milk slowly, stirring constantly.
• Return to double boiler and cook over simmering water, stirring constantly, until custard coats spoon. Remove from heat. Set aside 1/2 cup custard.
• Add gelatin to remainder and stir until dissolved. Chill.
• Melt 1 1/2 squares of the chocolate. Blend in reserved 1/2 cup custard and vanilla. Pour into crust. Spread evenly. Chill.
• When remaining custard begins to set, blend in rum. Beat egg whites until stiff. Gradually beat in remaining sugar. Fold in custard. Spread over chocolate mixture in pie plate.
• Combine whipped cream and powdered sugar. Spread some over custard. Use a pastry tube with star tip and pipe rest around edges. Shave remaining chocolate over top.
• Chill 4-6 hours.

MILDRED PIERCE'S BLACK BOTTOM PIE

Steps:

• Scald the milk in a saucepan.
• Stir together the sugar and egg yolks in a bowl until smooth. Mix a little of the hot milk with the eggs, then stir the mixture into the milk.
• Sift the cocoa into a bowl. add a little of the hot milk mixture and stir, then add the cocoa mixture to the milk mixture. cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the liquid coats the back of a wooden spoon, about 2 to 3 minutes.
• Remove from heat. Stir the gelatin into the hot custard. Place the pan over a bowl of ice. Chill, stirring occasionally, until the custard forms a mound when dropped from a spoon.
• Whip 1 cup cream until it forms still peaks. Fold into the custard.
• Fill the pie crust with the custard mixture and refrigerate until set, overnight or several hours.
• In a small bowl, whip the remaining 1 cup cream. Stir in the powdered sugar. spread evenly over the filling and sprinkle with grated chocolate.