German Chocolate Pecan Pie

What a way to make a good thing better!

We will be making this pie for the holidays :)

ingredients
1 1/4 cups flour

1 teaspoon salt

1 4 ounce stick plus 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, 1 stick chilled and cut into small pieces

1/4 cup ice water

2 large eggs

1/2 cup dark brown sugar

1/2 cup light corn syrup

2 1/2 cups (about 10 ounces) pecan halves, coarsely chopped

3/4 cup sweetened flake coconut

3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips

directions
In a food processor, pulse the flour with 1/2 teaspoon salt. Add the chilled butter pieces and pulse until coarse crumbs form, about 5 seconds. Drizzle in the ice water and pulse just until the dough comes together. Wrap in plastic wrap; flatten to form a disk. Refrigerate until firm, about 15 minutes.

On a lightly floured work surface, roll out the dough into a 12-inch round; transfer to a pie pan. Cut the excess dough to leave a 1/2-inch overhang. Using your fingers, roll the dough edge under and crimp. Prick the bottom of the pie shell with a fork; refrigerate for 15 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

Line the shell with foil and pie weights or dried beans; bake for 15 minutes. Remove the foil and beans, reduce the heat to 375 degrees and bake for another 12 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, whisk the eggs. In a heavy, medium saucepan, whisk together the remaining 5 tablespoons butter and 1/2 teaspoon salt with the brown sugar and corn syrup over medium heat until melted and smooth. Whisk the sugar mixture into the beaten eggs. Stir in the nuts and coconut.

Spread the chocolate chips in the pie shell. Pour in the filling and bake until set, about 25 minutes. Let the pie cool completely before slicing.

Tip

Keep a baking sheet in the freezer when you're rolling out dough. If the dough gets too soft to handle, just place the frozen baking sheet on top to firm it up again. 

When cooking sugar, use a heavy saucepan to prevent burning. 

To avoid messy oven spills, bake the pie on a rimmed baking sheet. 

Sprinkle chocolate chips on the bottom of the crust to create a gooey pie layer.

Source:  Rachael Ray Magazine

German Chocolate Pie

4 oz. German chocolate
1/4 cup butter
1-1/2 cups sugar
3 Tbs. cornstarch
1/8 tsp. salt
2 eggs, beaten
1-1/2 cups evaporated milk
1 unbaked 10-inch pie crust

TOPPING:
1-1/3 cups shredded coconut
1/2 cup chopped pecans


Heat oven to 375.

In microwave, melt chocolate and butter on a low setting in a medium-size microwave-safe bowl. Stir several times during melting process to prevent burning.

When chocolate is melted, stir in sugar, salt, vanilla, cornstarch and beaten eggs until well blended.

Stir in evaporated milk until smooth.

Pour into pie shell.

Mix coconut and pecans together.

Sprinkle them evenly over the chocolate mixture.

Use a knife to cut through the coconut into the chocolate mixture in several places.

Bake 45-50 minutes or until center is set.

(The pie center puffs slightly and the top begins to crack when it is done. If the crust becomes too brown, place a piece of foil over the top of the entire pie for the final 15 minutes of baking.)

A dollop of whipped cream can be added if desired.

Source: 53rd Annual Cookbook - The Parkersburg News & Sentinel, 11/2007