Torie Cox is a food stylist and recipe developer with a passion for baking and all things sweet. She enjoys traveling for sporting events and going for walks with her BFF, a senior dog named Lacey.
Chocolate lovers' dreams are made of Mississippi mud pie! This is a case where too much of a good thing is just right: A chocolate cookie crust is layered with dense brownie, silky chocolate pudding, clouds of whipped cream, a sprinkle of even more chocolate, and crunchy, nutty toasted pecans. The triple layered treat is guaranteed to hold a permanent spot on the list of your favorite chocolate desserts. You can even buck tradition by including it on your Thanksgiving dessert table with the usual apple, pumpkin, and pecan Thanksgiving pies.
Why is it called Mississippi mud pie?
The recipe originated in Mississippi, but no actual mud was involved! The name comes from the rich chocolate color of the pie filling, which was said to look like the mud on the banks of the Mississippi river.
What is considered a deep-dish pie plate?
Deep-dish pie plates will be 2 to 2 1/2 inches deep while regular pie plates typically have a depth of 1 1/2 inches. If you're not sure which kind of plate you have, grab a ruler and measure! With all those beautiful, tall layers, you'll definitely need a deep-dish pie plate for this recipe.
What does the percentage on a chocolate bar mean?
This percentage is the amount of the bar by weight that's made up of just what comes from the cocoa bean. A 70% chocolate bar will be made of 70% cocoa and cocoa butter and 30% added sugar, milk, and other flavors. The higher the percentage, the darker the chocolate.
Are heavy cream and whipping cream the same?
Whipping has a little less milk fat than heavy cream, but you can use either in this recipe. Half-and-half (half cream and half milk) doesn't have enough fat to whip well—save this for your coffee.
Can you make Mississippi mud pie ahead of time?
You sure can! You can make everything except the whipped cream topping a few days ahead. In fact, the crust and brownie layer can be made up to three days before the pie is served, and the pudding layer made and added up to two days before serving. But wait until just before you're ready to serve it before topping it with whipped cream, chocolate shavings, and pecans so the cream doesn't deflate.
- Yields:
- 8 - 12 serving(s)
- Prep Time:
- 30 mins
- Total Time:
- 7 hrs 5 mins
Ingredients
For the Crust:
- 1
(14.3-oz.) package of chocolate sandwich cookies, such as Oreos, about 32 cookies
- 6 tbsp.
salted butter, melted
For the Brownie Layer:
- 1/2 c.
salted butter
- 1
(3.5 oz.) 70% chocolate bar, chopped
- 3
large eggs, at room temperature
- 2/3 c.
granulated sugar
- 1/2 c.
chopped toasted pecans
- 1 tbsp.
instant espresso granules
- 1 tsp.
vanilla extract
- 1/4 c.
all-purpose flour
- 1/4 c.
unsweetened cocoa powder
For the Pudding Layer:
- 3/4 c.
granulated sugar
- 2 tbsp.
cornstarch
- 1/4 tsp.
salt
- 1 1/2 c.
whole milk
- 2
large egg yolks
- 1
(3.5-oz.) 70% chocolate bar, chopped
- 1 tsp.
vanilla extract
- 2 tbsp.
salted butter
For the Topping:
- 2 c.
heavy cream
- 2 tsp.
vanilla extract
- 6 tbsp.
powdered sugar
Chopped toasted pecans, for garnish
Chocolate shavings, for garnish
Directions
- Step 1For the crust: Process cookies in a food processor until finely ground. Add the melted butter, and pulse until combined. Press the crust into the bottom and up the sides of a 9-inch deep-dish pie plate. Freeze the crust while preparing the filling.
- Step 2For the brownie layer: Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Melt the butter and chocolate in a small microwavable bowl on high, stirring every 30 seconds, until melted. Whisk together the eggs and sugar in a large bowl until lightened in color and slightly thickened, about 2 minutes. Whisk in the pecans, espresso granules, vanilla, flour, and cocoa powder until combined. Add the melted chocolate mixture and whisk until just combined. Pour the filling into cold crust. Bake for 25 minutes or until puffed and set (center may still jiggle slightly). Cool completely on a wire rack, about 2 hours.
- Step 3For the pudding layer: Combine the sugar, cornstarch, and salt in a medium saucepan, whisking well. Pour in the milk and egg yolks, and whisk to combine. Cook, whisking, over medium heat until the mixture comes to a boil and becomes thick, about 3 to 4 minutes. When it starts to bubble and thicken, remove it from the heat. Add the chocolate, vanilla, and butter, and stir until everything is combined. Pour the pudding on top of the cooled brownie layer in the pie dish and let cool 20 minutes. Place in the refrigerator, uncovered, to chill for at least 4 hours or up to overnight.
- Step 4To make the topping, beat the heavy cream, vanilla, and sugar with a mixer at medium high speed until soft peaks form, about 1 minute. Spoon on top of the pie. Garnish with chopped pecans and chocolate shavings.
Tip: The crust and brownie layer can be made and held, covered, at room temperature up to 1 day before topping with the pudding layer. Once you add the pudding layer, the pie can be held, refrigerated and loosely covered, up to 2 days before topping with cream.
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