Secret Recipe Club – Dark Chocolate S’mores Pie

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Secret Recipe Club – Dark Chocolate S’mores Pie

November 21, 2011 by mydanishkitchen

Dark Chocolate S'mores Pie

I came across a big secret the other day. It’s called The Secret Recipe Club and here is how it works. It’s a club created by Amanda from Amanda’s Cooking which you can join. Every month you are assigned a participating food blog which you then secretly visit and choose one of their recipes to make/bake and blog about. Someone is then in turn assigned to your blog and makes one of your recipes and so on. On reveal day everyone post their recipes at the same time and the secret is out of the bag, I thought this sounds like a lot of fun.

My Secret blog turned out to be a very lovely food blog named Alli-n-son and it’s run by Allison who is the busy momma of two very cute little boys. Allison’s blog is filled with lots of delicious food and desserts. After much going back and forth trying to decide on what to make, I finally decided on Alli’s tempting Dark Chocolate S’mores Pie.

This S’mores Pie quickly became a bit of a hot topic around our house because I wanted to make it with a meringue topping instead of the traditional marshmallows, and so you see, technically it is no longer a S’mores Pie. This is true! Meringue is made with sugar and egg whites while marshmallows are made with sugar, corn syrup and gelatin. Not the same thing I admit, but both white, soft and fluffy so therefore in my mind an acceptable substitute. I had to take the topic to my work for other opinions and imagine they all sided with my husband But as we all know, “you can always tell a Dane, but you can’t tell em much”. Yes that’s right, the stubborn Dane came out in me and so it is a S’mores Pie with Meringue topping.

Dark Chocolate S'mores Pie with Meringue Topping

The pie came out much better than expected. The only thing I would do differently the next time is that I would use regular graham crackers with maybe just a little cinnamon added. The cinnamon graham crackers turned out to be very sweet in themselves and for me it was too much sugar. Also, with the Meringue topping, the pie is best the same day it’s made. Other than that, wonderful pie and a lot of fun to make.

Ingredients:

For the crust:

1 1/3 cup cinnamon graham cracker crumbs

1/4 cup granulated sugar

4 tablespoons butter, melted

For the filling:

4 egg yolks

1 cup granulated sugar

1/4 cup cornstarch

6 tablespoons cocoa powder

a pinch of sea salt

3 cups skim milk

2 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

For the topping:

4 large egg whites

1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons (130 grams) white granulated sugar

1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar

Directions:

To make the crust:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Place graham crackers in a food processor or blender and process until you have a fine crumb. Place cracker crumbs, sugar and melted butter in a small bowl and stir to combine. Place crumb mixture in a 9 inch baking dish and gently press crumbs out and up the sides of the pie dish. Bake in oven for 8-10 minutes or until golden. Set aside to cool. Shut oven off but keep oven door closed to preserve the heat for later use.

To make the filling:

In a medium bowl using an electrical mixer, beat egg yolks to combine and set aside. I a medium sauce pan combine sugar, cornstarch, cocoa powder, salt and milk. Whisk vigorously to combine at first, then set heat to medium and bring mixture to a simmer stirring frequently. Allow to simmer for 1 minute, remove from heat.

While beating the egg yolks, slowly add 1 1/2 cups of the chocolate mixture to the egg yolks. Then pour the beaten egg mixture back into the sauce pan with the remaining chocolate mixture, return to the stove and over medium heat bring mixture back up to a simmer. Allow to continue to simmer for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat, add butter and vanilla, stir to combine. Pour pudding mixture into baked pie crust and set aside, the pudding filling will continue to set.

To make the topping:

Separate the egg whites from the yolks and place the egg whites in a clean, dry bowl of your electrical mixer. Using the whisk attachment, beat the egg whites until foamy. Add the cream of tartar and continue to beat until soft peaks form. Gradually add the sugar and beat until stiff peaks form. Meringue should still have a glossy appearance.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Spread meringue over the pie filling or fill meringue into a piping bag fitted with a decorating tip and pipe meringue onto the pie filling, starting in the center working your way out to the edge of pie. Return the pie to the oven and bake for 10 to 15 minutes or until peaks are golden brown.

Place on wire rack and allow to cool. Serve and enjoy same day!

Source: crust and filling adapted from Alli-n-son, meringue is from Joyofbaking

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Posted in Chocolate, Dessert, Secret Recipe Club | Tagged chocolate, club, meringue, pie, recipe, s'mores, secret, secret recipe club | 25 Comments

25 Responses

on November 29, 2011 at 20:45 | Reply Lindsay {Life and Kitchen}

This is beautiful! Do you have any leftovers to send to me??
on November 26, 2011 at 00:20 | Reply Teri @ The Freshman Cook

What a beautiful pie!
on November 25, 2011 at 16:33 | Reply Sid's Sea Palm Cooking

This looks yummy and one I’ll try. Love your comment (mainly cause my dear husband would say the same thing) about “you can always tell a Dane, but you can’t tell em much” The stubborn Dane comes out in me all the time. And why not meringue, I think it’s a great idea and probably not as sweet.
on November 25, 2011 at 13:30 | Reply Anne@frommysweetheart

Oh my goodness! What a great choice! Your piping is so beautiful! Cannot wait to try this! : )
on November 24, 2011 at 17:49 | Reply Claudie

I had heard about this club and wanted to join, but haven’t done it yet… Your post is really encouraging me to go and sign up now
As for the pie: oh wow. It looks beautiful, and you’ve really succeeded at your task!!
Happy Thanksgiving
- on November 24, 2011 at 18:16 | Reply mydanishkitchen
  
  I’ve only participated one month but so far it’s been a lot of fun. Great way to discover new blogs
on November 24, 2011 at 01:09 | Reply Marla Meridith

You made such a beautiful pie! You chose a great recipe for the Secret Recipe club. Here is what I cooked up from group C: su.pr/1HICCz
on November 23, 2011 at 23:18 | Reply Jamie

This pie looks delicious! I am going to pin it right now!
on November 22, 2011 at 15:05 | Reply pugtography

I love that you added the meringue topping instead of marshmallows. Very creative.

I’m so glad to meet your through SRC!
- on November 22, 2011 at 21:52 | Reply mydanishkitchen
  
  Thank you Alli. I really enjoyed visiting your beautiful blog and had so much fun making your delicious S’mores Pie.
on November 22, 2011 at 03:02 | Reply Sophie33

What an alteranative, festive & superb looking pie! WAW!

I would like to digg in, right away!

A must make!
on November 22, 2011 at 01:38 | Reply Gloria

Hi Gitte! I loved perusing your blog this past month in search of a recipe. I saw lots of things I’d love to try. And I’m really intrigued by all the Danish sweets. I think you guys got it going on in the dessert department!

Your smore’s pie looks awesome. I love the meringue piped on top. I think it’s a totally suitable subsitute to marshmallows.

Have a great Thanksgiving!
on November 21, 2011 at 22:14 | Reply kita

Check out this wicked looking pie! That thing is gorgeous! I would never have the patience for something like that. Kudos!
on November 21, 2011 at 21:36 | Reply Eliot

Absolute genius! Great choice for SRC.
on November 21, 2011 at 20:12 | Reply torviewtoronto

beautiful looking pie looks wonderful
on November 21, 2011 at 20:00 | Reply Emily @ Life on Food

This pie looks wonderful. I love the meringue peaks. I must say I would have a hard time not take my hand and breaking them all. Yep, I am one of those people.
on November 21, 2011 at 15:45 | Reply heidi

Hej fra Danmark – dejligt med en anden dansker i denne gruppe
Love the topping spikes on the cake – would like to try this one out!
- on November 21, 2011 at 18:09 | Reply mydanishkitchen
  
  Yeah the meringue tops turned out really great.
on November 21, 2011 at 15:01 | Reply Rhonda

Personally I’m not a fan of marshmallows so your meringue gets my vote!
on November 21, 2011 at 11:38 | Reply adventuresindinner

The next time that I do something REALLY foolish and need to make ammends I will totally whip up this pie
on November 21, 2011 at 10:15 | Reply Chris and Amy

Love love love those meringue peaks!
on November 21, 2011 at 08:08 | Reply Newyorkerbyheart

Fedt at have fået flere danske madbloggere med i denne sjove “leg”

Mange hilsner
Birthe
- on November 21, 2011 at 18:07 | Reply mydanishkitchen
  
  Ja Secret Recipe Club er alletiders (yes Secret Recipe Club is great)
on November 21, 2011 at 07:24 | Reply Liz

Oh, this is gorgeous!!! My kids LOVE my s’mores pie…and you’ve given me a new idea on the presentation! Just lovely~
on November 21, 2011 at 07:09 | Reply Tes

Oh what a gorgeous pie! I love the beautiful creamy chocolate filling

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