Micah A. Leal
A chocolate silk pie earns its name—in fact, very few desserts are capable of achieving this satiny, mousse-like texture without the addition of gelatin. This unique texture comes from a delicate network of melted chocolate, sugar, and eggs that is then folded into pillowy whipped cream. Once allowed to chill in the refrigerator, the chocolate and butter solidify, transforming the liquid filling into a sliceable airy mousse. There is a lot of bittersweet chocolate in this recipe which balances the sugar in the pie with the bitter richness of high-quality dark chocolate. A small amount of espresso powder enhances the depth of the chocolate filling, not lending a noticeable coffee flavor but highlighting the complexity of the chocolate. Just before serving, garnish the pie with barely sweetened whipped cream and either a dusting of cocoa powder or a sprinkling of shaved bittersweet chocolate.
How to Make It
Step 1
Make Crust: Roll pie dough to a 1/8-inch thick circle and place inside a greased 9-inch metal pie pan. Cut excess dough, leaving a 1/2-inch overhang. Fold overhang under itself, creating a thicker ring of crust around the edge. Crimp edge. Grease a sheet of aluminum foil liberally with butter. Place the buttered surface inside the pie shell, allowing the crust to come in direct contact with the foil. Freeze for 1 hour or overnight. Preheat oven to 350°F. Bake crust with foil for 20 minutes. Remove foil and use a spoon to press down any areas that have puffed up. Return to oven for an additional 13-15 minutes, until the crust is golden brown all over. Set aside to cool.
Step 2
Make Filling: Bring 2 inches of water to boil in the bottom of a double boiler. Whisk together eggs and sugar and place over double boiler, whisking regularly until the mixture reaches 165°F. Remove from heat and allow to cool until just warm.
Step 3
While egg mixture is cooling, chop the chocolate and place in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave for 20 second intervals at 30% power, stirring in between each interval, until mixture is completely melted. Pour egg mixture over melted chocolate and whisk until fully incorporated. Whisk in espresso powder. Allow to cool completely to room temperature.
Step 4
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter until fluffy. With the mixer on low, slowly pour in chocolate mixture. Scrape down sides of the bowl with a spatula, and increase the speed to medium-high, beating until the mixture increases in volume and lightens in color, 5 minutes.
Step 5
In a clean bowl, beat together cream and powdered sugar to stiff peaks. Gently fold half of the whipped cream into the chocolate mixture. Add remaining whipped cream and gently fold until no streaks of cream remain. Pour filling into crust, leveling the surface with a spatula. Refrigerate for 8 hours or overnight. Garnish with whipped cream and cocoa powder or shaved chocolate, if desired.
