I mean I stinkin love it. It is the pie of Thanksgiving this year. Like THE pie. It is so good. First there is the pie crust, that in my opinion is one of the best. Then there is an entire layer of thick fudgy brownies. Then for the best part, the boozy, silky smooth chocolate Crème Brûlée layer. It is definitely a pie for chocolate lovers or lovers of pie. It’s just a darn good pie.
So, for as much as I love this pie, I also hate it. I made it three times over the course of three days. Yes, that is three full pies in three days. Ok, the middle pie was never fully finished, but it was a half pie complete with the brownie layer.
The first pie turned out great. The crust looked perfect and the pie was delicious, but it was 3:30pm by the time I got everything all cooled and ready for photos. The sun sets behind the mountains by 4:10pm and basically, I just lost the light and took some seriously horrible photos. They were so bad. I do not even like thinking about it.
For the second pie I totally screwed the crust up. I tried to get all fancy with it and spent like a good thirty minutes on it. It looked awesome, until I put the pie in the oven and pulled out a sunken-in pie crust. Ugh. This one was a bummer. I threw in the towel on that pie and did not even attempt to add the Crème Brûlée layer. I just gave the brownie pie to they boys. They loved it… they’re like dogs, I know I can count on them with anything sweet (or with bacon) to lick the dish clean and make it disappear. Bye bye bad pie!
The third pie? Yeah, I still messed it up, but it was workable and just as delicious as the first. This is what I am calling a rustic pie. It may not look perfect, but it tastes better than any picture perfect store-bought pie out there.
Oh, but wait, I almost forgot to tell you about the big incident with the third pie. Ahh, well actually I did not almost forget. I have just been debating in my head whether or not to tell you guys. I mean, I cook for a living so you would think I would have the smarts to not do stupid stuff. But seriously, I should not be allowed anywhere near open flames.
See, I have this blow torch thing, and it’s not a kitchen torch, it is a real torch. I was brûléeing the top of the pie and set the torch down on the counter, flame still on. Oh man, never leave the flame on. Like NEVER.
I almost burned my whole head of hair off. Alright, that is a major exaggeration, but it so could have happened if I did not smell the ends of my hair fringing. There was even a tiny flame for like a millisecond on the end of my hair. Lucky for me, my head and my long hair (that I would be not very attractive without) that I was able to blow the flames out. There is just a little bit of the end of my hair missing. I really need to get it cut anyway, it is ridiculously long. Fudge, that one was just too close. I need a brain and to never play with torches again….NAH! I need the brain, but I have to say I am loving being able to brûlée things. I feel pretty bad ass while doing it. Just sayin.
So this pie. Like I said, it is a chocolate lover’s dream, gorgeous for that Thanksgiving table and believe it or not, pretty quick and easy for a pie. So do not be afraid of the Crème Brûlée layer. I promise it is SO easy and nothing to fret about. If you do not have a kitchen torch (get one!!) you can brûlée the top under the broiler, but be super watchful of it!! The broiler and I, we are not always the best of friends either. Oh, and the pie crust. You can use your favorite crust recipe or even a store-bought one, but I have to say that I LOVE this crust. I do use all butter, which I know some people will highly disagree with. But we like butter over here and shortening kind of grosses me out a bit. Promise though, this crust it so incredibly flakey. It is actually so good and so flakey that I am thinking of doing a “how to” on it. What do you think. Yeah? Nah? Oh, and the booze! Yes! I used a hazelnut liqueur, which smells incredible! Seriously, it just screams holiday dessert! Ok, I am done now.
Bring on the pie!
