Princess Pie

I am… such a sucker for little kids.  They have the ability to disengage me from the adult world in about 90 seconds flat.  So when Matt told me his sister and 4-year old niece were coming to visit this weekend, I was super excited to meet the munchkin.  Oh, and make her a pie.  Because every little kid loves chocolate peanut butter pie, right?

After a busy day of errand running, boat dock scheming, and friend lunching, Miss Kristin put on her baker hat and entered into the world of chocolate, peanut butter, and whipping cream.  “You’re working too hard!”, Matt said.  I hardly considered this work.

Of all the pies I had baked over the years, none of them had been chocolate or peanut butter.  Not having a go-to recipe wasn’t ideal, but after browsing through books and sites I knew what needed to happen.  I cherry picked from a few recipes, avoiding steps that involved microwaves, Cool Whip, and corn syrup.

FoodFash Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie (adapted from Better Homes & Gardens)

1 9″ pie shell, baked

1-1/3 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

2/3 cup whipping cream

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 – 8 oz package of cream cheese

3/4 cup peanut butter

1 cup powdered sugar, sifted

2 tablespoons whipping cream

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup whipping cream

2 tablespoons sifted powdered sugar, sifted

Place a mixing bowl and beaters in the fridge.  In a small saucepan, melt chocolate chips, 2/3 cup whipping cream, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla.  When all chips are melted, pour chocolate sauce into the pie shell and place in the freezer while you whip up the peanut butter topping.  In another mixing bowl, beat together peanut butter and cream cheese.  Add 1 cup of sifted powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons of whipping cream, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla.  Beat until super blended and set aside.  In the chilled mixing bowl, beat 1 cup whipping cream and 2 tablespoons sifted powdered sugar until stiff peaks form.  Fold portions of the whipped cream into the peanut butter mix until all of whipped cream has been absorbed into the peanut butter.  Remove the pie shell with chocolate bottom from the freezer and spread the peanut butter topping over the pie.  Refrigerate for a couple hours and then serve.

And that, my friends, is the face of a princess that’s excited for some chocolate peanut butter pie!