No-Bake French Silk Pie

Famous for being both feather-light and indulgently rich at the same time, French silk pie entered the American dessert canon upon winning the Pillsbury bake-off in 1951. It's one of the only dessert recipes that calls for eggs straight from the fridge; you'll whip them with melted chocolate for quite a while before chilling the pie--but rejoice, there's no baking whatsoever!

• Preparation Time: 30 mins
• Cooking Time: 5 mins
• Total Time: 35 mins
• Calories: 541 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 tablespoon instant coffee granules
• 4 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped
• 4 tablespoons salted butter, melted
• 40 creme-filled chocolate sandwich cookie thins (such as Oreo® Thins)
• 2 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 1 ½ cups caster (superfine) sugar
• 4 eggs, chilled
• 2 tablespoons chocolate shavings, or to taste (Optional)

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Grind chocolate sandwich cookies into fine crumbs in a food processor. Transfer to a bowl and mix in melted butter until combined. Press into the bottom and sides of a 9-inch pie plate. Chill crust while you make the pie filling.

Step 2

Melt chocolate in a small heatproof bowl in the microwave. Start with 1 minute, stir, and then return for 15 to 30 second increments until melted. Let fully cool to room temperature, at least 20 minutes.

Step 3

Whip butter and sugar together in a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment until smooth, about 3 minutes. Stir in vanilla extract and instant coffee. Add the cooled chocolate and mix until combined.

Step 4

Add eggs one at a time, whisking on medium speed for 5 minutes and scraping down the bowl after each addition. The pie filling should be fluffy and silky like chocolate mousse.

Step 5

Transfer filling into the pie crust, cover, and chill for at least 6 hours, or overnight.

Step 6

Beat heavy cream, confectioners' sugar, and vanilla on medium speed with a handheld mixer until soft peaks form.

Step 7

Top the French silk pie with the whipped cream and garnish with chocolate shavings.