Chocolate French Silk Pie

They must serve this in heaven.

When I was pregnant with Max, I got a hankerin' for French silk pie.  It just sounded yummy.  When I began looking for a recipe, all I found were recipes involving raw eggs.  Dang it.  Pregnant women aren't supposed to indulge in raw eggs.  Salmonella risk and all that.  So, I had to forget about the French silk pie...until I moved to Iowa.
The Iowa State Fair had a French silk pie competition, sponsored by the family of a new fair friend I'd met at the Midwest Living Cookie competition, and this friend encouraged me to enter.  When I told her that most French silk pie recipes called for raw eggs, she was actually surprised, because they'd held this competition for years.  There is a rule in the premium book that states you cannot serve uncooked eggs to the judges.  They went ahead with the competition that year (which I didn't even place in--they wanted a pastry crust, not an Oreo crust--whatever), but the next year, the competition changed to a brownie contest.  I'm such a party pooper whistleblower.
Anyway, this pie has to be one of my favorite all-time desserts.  Willing to take the salmonella risk, I make it for myself for my birthday, because I'm that much of a dessert snob (Sorry, but if you know me, I know your'e not at all surprised).  I do let my family eat some too, but I'm sure to make other dessert options so they don't feel OBLIGATED to eat my pie.  It tastes sooo nice for breakfast on October 1st.


If you're willing to take the salmonella risk, be sure to use UNsalted butter in this pie. It really does make a big difference. I tasted the filling for a pie made with salted butter, and I decided to throw it away and make another with the unsalted butter. Sure, I'm neurotic, but my pie tasted great.  Oh, and be sure to refrigerate at LEAST overnight.  It needs that much time to set up.


Chocolate French Silk Pie
    --adapted from allrecipes.com

WARNING: This pie contains uncooked eggs.

Ingredients
Crust:
(NOTE: you can also just buy a premade Oreo crust at the grocery store.)
1 1/2 cups Oreo crumbs (filling removed)
1/4 cup butter, melted

Filling:
1 cup unsalted butter
1/2 cup white C & H sugar
23 unwrapped Dove Dark Chocolate Promises (about 6 ounces)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
4 large eggs

Topping:
Whipped cream (optional)
8 Dove Dark Chocolate Promises

Instructions
Mix Oreo crumbs and 1/4 cup melted butter and press firmly into a 9-inch pie pan. Set aside. (If this is too much of a hassle, just buy the premade Oreo crust at the store.)

In a double boiler, melt Dove Promises about 2/3 of the way. Remove top of double boiler and continue to stir until chocolate is completely melted. Set aside to cool further.

Cream butter. Gradually add sugar, creaming well. Blend in melted and cooled chocolate and vanilla. Add eggs, one at a time, beating 3 minutes after each addition with an electric mixer on medium speed. Pour into cooled pie crust.

Cover and refrigerate overnight. Garnish with whipped cream and extra Dove Promises, if desired.


Makes 1 pie