Chocolate Silk Pie
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.