Category Archives: Desserts

Old Fashioned Chocolate Cream Pie

Chocolate Cream Pie

 

Fantastic Chocolate Cream Pie!  Try it today!

I’m sharing with you my Mother-in-law’s Old Fashioned Chocolate Pie recipe. This is the pie my husband has been raving about all these years that his Mom would make when he was growing up.  There is nothing instant about this Old Fashioned Chocolate Pie.  No instant pudding, no pre-made whipped topping, but I did opt for a pre-made frozen pie crust.  And that’s OK, because Judy said she did it that way too!  So if you don’t mind a little bit of effort, give this Old Fashioned Chocolate Pie a try and taste a bit of history. This pie is worth it!

Old Fashioned Chocolate Pie Ingredients:

2 squares baking chocolate (or 1/2 cup cocoa + 2 tablespoons melted butter)
2 tablespoons butter
1/3 cup flour
1 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 1/2 cup scalded milk
3 eggs, separated
3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
BAKED 8″ deep dish pie crust
1/3 cup sugar
Chopped nuts, if desired

Old Fashioned Chocolate Cream Pie Instructions:

Melt chocolate and butter over hot water in top of double boiler.  (Alternatively if using cocoa powder instead, melt all 4 tablespoons butter, stir in cocoa powder.)

Mix flour, sugar and salt and stir into chocolate; add milk slowly and whisk constantly until mixture is smooth and thickened, about 15 minutes over low heat.  Beat egg yolks well, stir in a little of the chocolate mixture, then pour into rest of the hot mixture and cook 2 minutes, stirring constantly.  Remove from heat, cool partially then stir in vanilla.  Pour into pie shell.

Beat egg whites until stiff, then slowly beat in the 1/3 cup sugar until stiff.  Swirl meringue over pie filling so it touches edges of crust all around.  Sprinkle with chopped nuts if desired and place in a moderate oven (350° F) 10-12 minutes, or until golden brown.  Remove to wire rack to cool before cutting.

* When I made this old fashioned chocolate cream pie, I used the cocoa powder and additional butter instead of melting bakers chocolate.  I didn’t use nuts because my husband said he didn’t remember his mom using nuts in her pie.

Chocolate Cream Pie

 Old Fashioned Chocolate Cream Pie

Sharon Springfield

Sharon Springfield

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Cherry Cheesecake Trifle Recipe

Cherry Cheesecake Trifle

Cherry Cheesecake Trifle

This delicious Cherry Cheesecake Trifle recipe was something I threw together one year for our family Christmas dinner party.  I saw something similar in a magazine but they used a different kind of filling.  Since we all love cheesecake, I knew this would be a big hit in our family.  This cherry cheesecake trifle recipe is fast and easy to put together.  It only takes a few minutes to mix up the filling and layer it in the trifle dish.  I prepare this cherry cheesecake trifle recipe at least one day ahead and let it chill out in the refrigerator, so that the croissants soften up and the flavors have time to mingle.  Of course, you could use different pie fillings to change this to your liking.  I have only tried the cherry but I’m sure this could be made with whatever kind of canned pie filling you love.  I hope you enjoy this Cherry Cheesecake Trifle Recipe!

Cherry Cheesecake Trifle Recipe Ingredients:

5 medium croissants
1 box instant no-bake cheesecake filling
1 3/4 cup milk
1 8-oz. tub of Cool Whip, thawed
2 cans cherry pie filling

Cherry Cheesecake Trifle Recipe Directions:

Tear the croissants into small pieces, about an inch in size.  Layer the bottom of your trifle dish with half of the croissants.

Mix together the cheesecake mix and milk until thoroughly blended.  Add the cool whip and mix just until combined.  Layer about half of the cheesecake filling over the croissant layer in your trifle dish.

Top the cheesecake layer with one can of cherry pie filling.

Repeat the layers, ending with the cherry pie filing on top.  Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate.  This tastes best if you make it a day ahead so the croissants become softened.

I hope you enjoy this Cherry Cheesecake Trifle and experiment with other variations.  It’s such an easy and elegant dessert that will make you look like a cooking goddess!

Cherry Cheesecake Trifle

Sharon Springfield

Sharon Springfield

Sharon Springfield on Facebookhttp://sharonspringfield.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/youtube-150x150.jpgSharon Springfield on Pinteresthttp://sharonspringfield.com/images/cooking-blog-logo.jpg 

Basic Cake Mix And Variations

  • 2 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 1/2 cups white sugar
  • 1/2 cup shortening
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • For a Yellow Cake: Sift together flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar. Cut in shortening until fine crumbs are formed. Add eggs, milk, and vanilla. Beat at low speed for 1 minute, then high for 2 minutes, scraping the bowl frequently.
  • Pour batter into greased and floured 9×13 inch pan. Bake in preheated 350 degree F oven (175 degrees C) for 25 to 30 minutes.
  • Variation for a White Cake: Prepare as for the basic cake except use 3 egg whites for the 2 whole eggs. Whites may be beaten separately and added for a lighter cake.
  • Variation for a Chocolate Cake: Add 1/4 cup cocoa powder to the basic cake mix prior to adding the milk.
  • Variation for a Spice Cake: Add 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves, and 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice to the basic cake mix.
  • Variation for a Pineapple Upside Down Cake: Melt 1/2 cup butter in the bottom of a 9×13 pan. Add 2/3 cup brown sugar, stirring into the butter. Arrange pineapple slices in the pan. Top with the basic (yellow cake) mix recipe. Bake 30 to 35 minutes, cool 5 minutes, and invert to serve.

Silky Pumpkin Dip

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
2 cups confectioners’ sugar or 1/2 cup brown sugar
1 (15 ounce) can solid pack pumpkin
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice

In a medium bowl, blend cream cheese and confectioners’ sugar until smooth. Gradually mix in the pumpkin. Stir in the cinnamon, and pumpkin pie spice, until smooth and well blended. Chill until serving.

Serve with gingersnap cookies & vanilla wafers.

It’s a nice idea to seve this dip in bowl that sits in a bowl of ice.

S’more’s Cookie Bars

This easy and delicious bar cookie recipe is a must try!

3/4 cup margarine
3 cups graham cracker crumbs
1 pkg (6 oz.) semi-sweet chocolate chips (1cup)
1 cup butterscotch chips
1 cup mini marshmallows
1 can (4 oz.) sweetened condensed milk

Preheat oven to 350F. In a 13×9″ baking pan, combine margarine with crumbs. Press to form an even layer. Evenly sprinkle with chocolate and butterscotch chips then mini marshmallows. Pour condensed milk evenly over mixture. Bake 25 minutes or until bubbly. On wire rack, let cool completely. To serve, cut into squares. For easier cutting, refrigerate 1 hour.