Chocolate Silk Pie

With a satiny, mousse-like texture, this Chocolate Silk Pie earns its name. Chocolate lovers everywhere won't be able to resist a second slice.

Active Time:
45 mins
Total Time:
2 hrs 20 mins
Servings:
8

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.

Southern Living Chocolate Silk Pie in a pie pan ready to serve

Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Ingredients

  • 1 Single-Crust Pie Pastry Dough

  • 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar

  • 4 large eggs

  • 8 ounces 60% bittersweet chocolate

  • 1/2 teaspoon instant espresso powder

  • 10 tablespoons unsalted butter

  • 1 cup heavy cream

  • 1 tablespoon powdered sugar

  • Whipped cream for garnish

  • Cocoa powder or shaved bittersweet chocolate for garnish

Directions

  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.

    Southern Living Chocolate Silk Pie crust in the pie pan

    https://www.southernliving.com/recipes/chocolate-silk-pie

    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.

    Southern Living Chocolate Silk Pie with the foil inside the pie crust

    Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

    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.

    Southern Living Chocolate Silk Pie crust baked in the pie pan

    Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

  2. Boil eggs and sugar:

    Chocolate Silk Pie ingredients

    Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

    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.

    Southern Living Chocolate Silk Pie whisking together the eggs

    Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

  3. Melt chocolate:

    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.

    Southern Living Chocolate Silk Pie melting the chocolate

    Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

    Pour egg mixture over melted chocolate and whisk until fully incorporated.

    Southern Living Chocolate Silk Pie whisking in the egg mixture

    Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

    Whisk in espresso powder. Allow to cool completely to room temperature.

    Southern Living Chocolate Silk Pie whisking espresso powder into the chocolate mixture

    Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

  4. Finish filling:

    In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter until fluffy.

    Southern Living Chocolate Silk Pie beating the butter until smooth

    Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

    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.

    Southern Living Chocolate Silk Pie beating the chocolate mixture into the butter

    Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

  5. Whip cream:

    In a clean bowl, beat together cream and powdered sugar to stiff peaks.

    Southern Living Chocolate Silk Pie beating the cream to soft peaks

    Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

    Gently fold half of the whipped cream into the chocolate mixture.

    Southern Living Chocolate Silk Pie folding the cream into the chocolate mixture

    Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

    Add remaining whipped cream and gently fold until no streaks of cream remain.

    Southern Living Chocolate Silk Pie folding the rest of the whipped cream into the filling

    Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

    Pour filling into crust, leveling the surface with a spatula.

    Southern Living Chocolate Silk Pie filling added to the crust

    Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

    Refrigerate for 8 hours or overnight. Garnish with whipped cream and cocoa powder or shaved chocolate, if desired.

    Southern Living Chocolate Silk Pie with a slice cut out to serve

    Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

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