Ingredients
Chocolate Pie Dough
- 121 g All-Purpose Flour
- 28 g Valrhona Cocoa Powder
- 1 g Fine Sea Salt
- 113 g Unsalted Butter (cold, cut into 1/2 in/13 mm cubes)
- 57 g Cold Water (add more as needed)
Milk Chocolate Black Bottom
- 113 g Valrhona Jivara 40% Milk Couverture Chocolate Feves
- 60 g Heavy Cream
Chocolate Cream Filling
- 228 g Whole Milk
- 115 g Heavy Cream
- 85 g Valrhona Manjari 64% Dark Couverture Chocolate Feves (finely chopped)
- 99 g Granulated Sugar
- 21 g Cornstarch
- 2 g Fine Sea Salt
- 64 g Egg Yolks
- 14 g Unsalted Butter (room temperature)
- 5 g Prova Gourmet Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla Extract
Mile High Whipped Cream Topping:
- 353 g Heavy Cream
- 66 g Granulated Sugar
- 7 g Prova Gourmet Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla Extract (optional)
Fruity Dip Topping
- 227 g Valrhona Raspberry Inspiration Couverture Feves (finely chopped)
- 78 g Heavy Cream
- 21 g Allez Belgian Glucose Syrup (optional)
- Fresh Berries (to garnish)
- SMET Candied Orange Strips (to garnish)
- SMET Dark Chocolate Shavings (to garnish)
Instructions
Chocolate Pie Dough
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, 28 g Valrhona Cocoa Powder, and salt. Add the cubed butter, tossing the cubes through the flour until each individual piece is well coated. ‘Cut’ the butter into the flour by pressing the pieces between your fingers, flattening the cubes into big shards. As you work, continue to toss the butter through the flour, recoating the shingled pieces.
- For a flaky crust, continue cutting the butter into the flour just until the pieces of butter are about the size of walnut halves. Or, for a mealy crust, continue to work the mixture together until the pieces of butter are about the size of peas.
- Make a well in the center of the flour mixture. Add the amount of ice water listed in the recipe to the well, but have more on hand. Use a tossing motion with your hands to start to mix the two together (this begins to combine them without creating too much gluten). As it begins to become hydrated, you can start to use more of a kneading motion – but don’t overdo it: this will make the dough tough. Add more water about 1 tablespoon at a time until the dough is properly hydrated: it should be uniformly combined and hold together easily, but it won’t look totally smooth. Dough that is too dry may have sort of a “dusty” appearance, or pockets of un-hydrated flour. It will not hold together and will appear crumbly. Dough that is too wet will feel sticky or tacky to the touch, and is often smoother and/or lighter in color.
- Form the dough into an even disk (or into another shape if directed by the recipe – or if you are multiplying the recipe to make multiple crusts, divide the dough appropriately). Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes and up to 2 days.
Milk Chocolate Black Bottom
- Place the 113 g Valrhona Jivara 40% Milk Couverture Chocolate Feves in a medium, heatproof bowl and melt in the microwave at 30 seconds intervals, stirring between each interval.
- In a small saucepan, bring the cream to a boil over medium heat. Gradually combine the hot cream with the melted 113 g Valrhona Jivara 40% Milk Couverture Chocolate Feves. Mix using an immersion blender to perfect the emulsion.
- Pour the ganache into the base of a cooled, par-baked pie crust, and spread into an even layer. Let set for 15-20 minutes before adding the filling
Chocolate Cream Filling
- In a medium pot, heat the milk and cream over medium low heat. When the mixture begins to simmer, turn off the heat and add the 85 g Valrhona Manjari 64% Dark Couverture Chocolate Feves. Stir until the mixture is fully combined. Turn the heat back on to medium-low, and heat, stirring constantly, until the chocolate is fully melted. Keep warm over low heat.
- In a medium bowl, whisk the sugar, cornstarch, and salt together to combine. Add the egg yolks and whisk until well combined. Pour about ¼ of the hot milk/chocolate mixture into the bowl to temper the yolk mixture, whisking constantly to combine.
- Return this mixture to the pot and cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly with a silicone spatula, until the mixture becomes very thick and large bubbles break the surface, 2-3 minutes.
- Remove the pot from the heat and stir in the butter and 5 g Prova Gourmet Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla Extract. Strain the pudding into the prepared pie crust and spread into an even layer. Place a piece of plastic wrap directly over the surface and chill until set, 35-45 minutes.
Mile High Whipped Cream Topping
- While the pie sets, make the whipped cream topping: in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whip attachment whip the cream until it begins to thicken, about 1-2 minutes.
- With the mixer running on medium speed, add the sugar in a slow, steady stream, then continue to whip to medium peaks. Add the 7 g Prova Gourmet Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla Extract and mix to combine.
Fruity Dip Topping
- Make the fruity drip topping and allow it to cool while the pie chills. Place the 227 g Valrhona Raspberry Inspiration Couverture Feves in a medium heatproof bowl and melt in the microwave at 30 seconds intervals, stirring between each interval.
- In a small saucepan, bring the cream to a boil over medium heat. Gradually combine the hot cream with the melted 227 g Valrhona Raspberry Inspiration Couverture Feves. Stir in the 21 g Allez Belgian Glucose Syrup. Mix using an immersion blender to perfect the emulsion.
- Let the ganache cool slightly before using. If you make it ahead, you’ll need to gently warm the ganache (over a double-boiler is best).
Assembly and Finishing
- Pipe or spoon the whipped cream around the top of the chilled pie. Drizzle the glaze around the outside edge or over the top of the pie, allowing it to drip down the sides. Garnish the top of the cake with piped rosettes of remaining whipped cream, fresh berries, SMET Candied Orange Strips, and/or SMET Dark Chocolate Shavings if using.