Pie Party 2012, Chocolate-y Goodness

I can’t believe it’s time for the second annual Pie Party already!  Has it really been a year?

It didn’t seem like a whole year had gone by, so I dug up my post from last year.  Pie Party, meant to be one day, turned into Pie Week for me in 2011.  I baked with friends, with the children of friends, I shared pie with those I love, taking the time to slow down and really enjoy what having a slice of pie means to me. Man, I LOVE pie!

This year is no different.  I still love pie, any kind of pie.  Doesn’t have to be a perfectly crimped crust or thinly sliced fruit laid out just so.  My pie for Pie Party 2012 isn’t fancy.  I made it from what I had on hand.  I’m sharing it with my favorite fella after a dinner of carryout.  I hope he is surprised that we’re having homemade pie after I made a frantic phone call to tell him I hadn’t gotten around to dinner tonight, would he please pick up something on the way home.  But I’ve always got time for pie.  Will you make time today for a slice, too? 

The Un-Recipe for Chocolate-y Goodness Pie

You’ll need a 7″ pie pan.  It’s little, enough for four slices or so.  I bought mine at Sur La Table.

For the crust:  make the crust for this cheesecake.  I keep a container of this mixture in the freezer for an impromptu crust.  Let it come to room temperature, then pat it into the pie pan.

For the filling:  Make half of this Alton Brown recipe for Moo-Less Chocolate Pie.  Substitute Frangelico for the coffee liqueur, your pie will have a nice hint of hazelnut.  If you are dairy-free, choose a dairy-free chocolate.  I used Baker’s chocolate in mine.

For the whipped topping:  I keep a can of full-fat coconut milk in the refrigerator most of the time, just so I can have whipped topping in a hurry.  Put the can in the refrigerator overnight, open the can and skim the thickened cream off of the top.  Save the liquid in the bottom of the can for a smoothie later.  The hardened cream part will whip up nicely with a hand mixer.  I add a touch of vanilla bean paste.  I served this with just a dollop on top of each slice. 

So, tell me how you are celebrating Pie Party 2012?  Going out for a slice of pie with a friend?  Baking pie to share?  Having pot pie for dinner?  I wanna hear about your pie adventures!