dark chocolate walnut caramel pie

By momofsixplus1

this decadent pie, made with dark chocolate, creamy homemade caramel, and toasted walnuts is well worth the calorie splurge.

Ingredients

• 1 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup water
• 1 1/4 cup heavy or whipping cream
• 8 oz semisweet chocolate, cut up
• 2 tablespoons butter or margarine
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 3/4 cup walnuts, toasted and coarsely chopped
• 1 9inch baked pie shell

Preparation

Step 1

prepare baked pie shell as recipe directs but bake crust about 2 minutes longer after removing pie weights or until deep golden. cool pie shell on wire rack at least 15 minutes.

in heavy 3 qt saucepan, heat sugar and water on medium-high until sugar dissolves and turns amber in color, 15 minutes, swirling pan occasionally.

meanwhile, in microwave-safe 1 cup liquid measuring cup, heat 3/4 cup cream in microwave on high45 seconds or until warm. place remaining 1/2 cup cream in refrigerator to keep cold for whipping later.

remove saucepan from heat. stir in warm cream until a smooth caramel forms(caramel will stiffen when cream is added) stir in chocolate and butter until completely melted. stir in vanilla extract and 1 1/2 cups walnuts. reserve remaining 1/4 cup walnuts to sprinkle on top of pie later.

pour warm chocolate filling into pie shell. cool 1 hour on wire rack, then cover and refrigerate at least 3 hours or until set.

when ready to serve, in medium bowl, with mixer on medium speed, beat remaining 1/2 cup cream until peaks from. with metal spatula, spread whipped cream on top of pie, leaving 1/2 inch border all around. sprinkle with reserved walnuts.