Chocolate Covered Cream Pie (or Brazilian Dutch Pie)
Welcome to my moody photos phase!
I’ve been admiring moody food photography at Half Baked Harvest and White On Rice Couple for a while now… but it was only after getting a few tips and tricks from Diane and Todd at the Food Blog Forum earlier this month in Orlando that I finally decided to try my take on them.
Believe me, I’m nowhere close to the amazing photographers mentioned above, but I’m kinda happy with the results, especially because it was my first attempt! What do you guys think? Yay or Nay? Dark and moody or bright and colorful?
I absolutely don’t want to put myself in a box here. I’m only beginning my journey through food photography (a big passion of mine!) but it is kinda fun to try different styles. I also believe in letting each particular food or dish dictate the mood. This Chocolate Covered Cream Pie was asking for a dark, melancholic and somewhat sophisticated feel. Almost like a “I’m craving chocolate at midnight” kinda feel!
Oh, are you still confused about the title? I know, I know! I apologize. It is indeed confusing. Brazilian Dutch Pie? I explain: In Brazil we call this pie “Torta Holandesa”, which translates to “Dutch Pie”. However, after a little research, I found out that this pie is not even a little bit Dutch. You won’t find anything similar in the Netherlands or anywhere in Europe… Say what?!?!?
“But why do you crazy Brazilians call it Dutch Pie, then?”
Well, this dessert was created in 1991 in Campinas (São Paulo) by a chef called SÃlvia Leite. She named it Dutch Pie because of the good times she had when traveling through Europe.
I mean… Couldn’t SÃlvia celebrate her European good times by making an authentic Dutch Pie? I suppose she could… But then the world – or, at least us Brazilians – wouldn’t have had the opportunity to eat this delicious pie.
So, after all that, I decided to name this dessert Brazilian Dutch Pie. But then I thought it would be extremely confusing and ended up naming it “Chocolate Covered Cream Pie”, which is nowhere as fun as “Brazilian Dutch Pie”, I know…
But less about photography and crazy titles and more about delicious chocolate-y pie! Yes, Ma’am!
In fact, while I’m writing this post, I’m savoring yet another piece of this decadent dessert. I have a feeling my face is all covered with chocolate, but who cares?!? There are definitely worse things in life to be worried about. (If you see a crazy woman walking through the streets of Manhattan with chocolate on her face, please say hi to me!)
I’m thinking I’ll be making this pie once again for Easter. It would have been the third time in less than a month… Can you blame me? It’s so tasty!
I don’t know about you, but Easter for me is all about the chocolate. I mean, there’s the whole Jesus thing and all, and bunnies… and flowers… but… CHOCOLATE! I rest my case.
And can we please talk about the digestive cookies in this pie? Insanely delicious cookies, covered in chocolate! I think I’ve bought the whole stock of my local grocery store. I kept asking Tim to buy more on his way home from work, because I needed them for the pie, but I kept snacking on them. Until the day he sent me a picture from the store’s shelf, showing one single lonely pack of digestive cookies. I think it was his delicate way of telling me to stop eating them or there would be no pie to shoot and post on the blog.
Now, go make this! You won’t regret it and your friends and family will love you forever. And also, you now have an interesting story about the title of this pie to tell your guests. :) You’re welcome!
A few considerations about this recipe:
1) Don’t skip the chilling steps or you will end up with a very liquidy pie that won’t hold its shape!
2) Don’t be intimidated by this recipe just because it has 3 layers. It is VERY easy to make. I almost wanna call it foolproof! I would be curious to know if something goes wrong. So please, tell me! Also, tell me if you made it and it turned out great. Pictures are much appreciated! :)
3) I recently learned a cool trick to cut the slices without making a huge mess: dental floss! Unflavored, of course. Heating your knife under hot water (and then drying it off) also works.
Chocolate Covered Cream Pie (or Brazilian Dutch Pie)
Ingredients
For the crust:
- 30 squares Honey Flavored Graham Crackers
- 1 1/2 sticks of butter, softened
- 12 chocolate covered digestive cookies
For the cream filling:
- 3 egg yolks
- 1 (14 oz) can sweet condensed milk
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 (1/4oz) package unflavored gelatin (1 1/2 tsp)
- 1/2 cup cold water
- 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
For the chocolate ganache:
- 1 (12oz) bag of semi sweet chocolate chips
- 1 cup heavy cream
Instructions
To make the crust:
- Pulse the graham crackers in a food processor until finely crumbled.
- Transfer them to a large bowl and add the softened butter. Using your hands, mix the crumbs and the butter until a mass resembling wet sand forms.
- Press the mixture into a 9" Springform pan (with removable bottom), previously greased with nonstick spray.
- Line the digestive cookies around the edges of the pan, gently pressing them against the graham cracker crust.
- Cover and bring to the fridge for at least one hour.
To make the cream filling:
- Add the egg yolks (strained, if possible), the sweet condensed milk and the milk to a sauce pan and bring to a boil over medium low heat. Cook for about 10 minutes, stirring constantly, until you obtain a thick cream.
- Add the gelatin package and the cold water to a microwave safe bowl and bring it to the microwave, 5 seconds at a time, until dissolved.
- Add the dissolved gelatin to the cream mixture and stir until combined. Remove from heat and let it cool.
- In the meantime, whip the heavy cream with the aid of a hand mixer, until firm peaks form.
- When the cream mixture is cool, fold the whipped cream in with a spatula.
- Pour the mixture in the Springform pan, smoothing the surface with a spatula.
- Cover with plastic and bring to the fridge for at least 3 hours, or overnight.
To make the chocolate ganache:
- In a saucepan, heat the heavy cream, over medium heat, for about 5 minutes or until it begins to boil.
- Combine the hot heavy cream and the chocolate chips in a bowl and stir until the chocolate has melted.
- Pour the chocolate ganache on the cream pie.
- Cover with plastic and bring to the fridge for at least one hour.
- Your pie is now ready to be served! :)
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