Carla Hall's Mississippi Mud Pie

Total Time: 1 hr 20 mins Preparation Time: 45 mins Cook Time: 35 mins

Ingredients

• 8 ounces butter
• 8 ounces bittersweet chocolate or 8 ounces semisweet chocolate
• 4 eggs
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup dark brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 cups milk
• 2 eggs (separated)
• 2 tablespoons butter (softened)
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1/3 cup cocoa powder
• 2 cups chocolate sandwich style cookies (crushed, chocolate cookie part only plus more to garnish)
• 1/4 cup butter (softened)
• 2 cups heavy cream
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

Recipe

• 1 for the brownie batter: gently melt butter and chocolate together in a glass bowl in the microwave or over a pot of simmering water. in a separate bowl whisk together eggs, salt, sugars and vanilla.
• 2 stir egg mixture into chocolate mixture, and then add flour. stir just until combined.
• 3 for the chocolate pudding: combine 3/4 cup granulated sugar, salt, cocoa powder and flour in a medium bowl. slowly stir milk into dry mixture.
• 4 put mixture in medium sauce pot and cook until mixture begins to thicken.
• 5 beat egg yolks in a small bowl, then briskly stir a small amount of the hot mixture (about 1/2 cup) into this mixture. add egg yolk mixture back into the hot mixture in top of double boiler and stir in butter and vanilla. cook until mixture thickens again. set aside.
• 6 to build pie: preheat oven to 350°. in a small bowl, combine the crushed chocolate sandwich cookies with the butter until thoroughly mixed. press into a lightly greased springform pan. bake for 15 minutes to set the crust.
• 7 scrape brownie batter into the chocolate crust, forming an even layer. bake for 20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out somewhat clean. allow to cool slightly, and then pour pudding over the brownie layer, spreading into an even layer.
• 8 combine the heavy cream and vanilla and whip until peaks form, and use to top the chocolate pudding layer. garnish with more crushed chocolate sandwich cookies.