Mocha Decadence Pie

By Addie

“A Valentine's Day favorite, this pie was one of the reasons why Grandpa married Grandma.”

Ingredients

• 4 ounces semisweet chocolate
• 2 cups whipping cream, divided
• 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon granulated sugar, divided
• 3 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons instant coffee granules
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, divided
• 1 (9-inch) prepared graham cracker piecrust

Preparation

Step 1

Place chocolate in small microwavable dish. Microwave on HIGH until melted, 11/2 minutes, stirring after 1 minute. Set chocolate aside.


Combine 1 cup whipping cream and 1/2 cup sugar in medium saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring constantly, until sugar is melted. Beat eggs in small bowl. Stir 1/4 cup cream mixture into eggs; stir back into hot cream mixture. Stir constantly until mixture is thickened, about 4 to 5 minutes.


Pour cream mixture into large bowl. Beat in chocolate, coffee granules and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract. Beat for about 2 minutes. Pour filling into piecrust. Let cool for 15 minutes. Cover and refrigerate 3 hours or overnight.


Beat remaining 1 cup cream in medium bowl 1 minute. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon sugar and remaining 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract. Beat until mixture forms soft peaks. Top each slice of pie with the whipped cream.


Grandma's Secret Tips!

Grandma was always tinkering with recipes, even her own. She loved making little changes to suit others' tastes. One of her best efforts was an even more decadent version of this pie for a chocolate-loving friend. Grandma substituted bittersweet chocolate for the semisweet, used instant espresso powder for the coffee and poured the filling into a chocolate cookie crumb crust. It was pure chocolate heaven!