She Strengthens

Luxurious Mini Chocolate Pies: A Two-Stage Masterpiece

The Perfect Treat for Any Occasion

Imagine indulging in rich, velvety chocolate nestled in a crumbly, buttery pastry crust, topped with a dollop of lightly sweetened whipped cream. Sounds divine, right? With this recipe, you can create 18 individual mini pies that are sure to impress.

Flaky Pie Dough: The Foundation

To begin, you’ll need to prepare the flaky pie dough. This involves combining flour, kosher salt, granulated sugar, and very cold unsalted butter in a food processor. Pulse the mixture until the butter is slightly broken up into the flour, then add ice water and process until the dough starts to come together. Divide the dough in half, shape into disks, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or up to 1 day.

Baking the Shells

Next, roll out the chilled dough disks to about 1/8 inch thickness. Use a 4-inch biscuit cutter to cut out circles, gathering scraps and rerolling as needed to yield 18 circles. Line muffin pans with the dough, freeze for 20 minutes, and then bake at 375°F until the crusts are golden brown.

Smooth Chocolate Ganache Filling

While the shells are baking, prepare the chocolate ganache filling. Whisk together granulated sugar, Dutch-process cocoa powder, cornstarch, and kosher salt in a saucepan. Add heavy cream and whisk until smooth, then slowly add whole milk, whisking constantly. Warm the mixture over medium heat, stirring constantly, until it thickens and bubbles. Add chopped bittersweet chocolate and stir until smooth, then stir in pure vanilla extract. Divide the hot pudding among the cooled pie shells and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight.

The Finishing Touches

Just before serving, prepare the whipped cream by whipping heavy cream to soft peaks, then refrigerating until ready to serve. Top each mini pie with a dollop of whipped cream and garnish with chocolate shavings, if desired.

Tips and Variations

• Make the dough and refrigerate it for up to 1 day or store it in the freezer for up to a month.
• Prepare the whipped cream in advance by whipping to soft peaks and refrigerating for up to 2 hours.
• Experiment with different types of chocolate or flavorings, like nuts or coffee, to create unique variations.

With these luxurious mini chocolate pies, you’ll be the star of any gathering. So go ahead, indulge in the rich flavors and textures, and enjoy the oohs and aahs from your guests!