Betsy Davis' Homemade Chocolate Cream Pie

Homemade Chocolate Cream Pie from Betsy Davis was a mouth-watering dessert served at the June Historical League meeting.

Try this recipe as well as Chocolate Lovers Delight Pie on page 152 of Tastes & Treasures cookbook.

Homemade Chocolate Cream Pie
Ingredients:
1 cup chocolate cookie crumbs
5 Tbs butter
2/3 cup sugar plus 1 tablespoon sugar
1/4 cup cornstarch
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 1/2 cups evaporated milk
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup whipping cream


Directions:
Crust: Melt butter in a microwave safe dish.  Mix with the cookie crumbs until well blended.  Reserve 1 Tbs of crust mixture for topping later.  Press the rest into a 9" pie plate to form the crust and place in the refrigerator.

Filling: In a medium saucepan, whisk together the 2/3 cup sugar, cornstarch, cocoa powder, and salt.
Whisk in the milk, stirring well. Cook over medium-high heat, whisking constantly until mixture begins to thicken, about 5 to 7 minutes.
Whisk in chocolate chips and vanilla until melted and well blended. Allow mixture to cool slightly.
Pour cooled mixture into the pie shell. Cool to room temperature and then chill for several hours.
Prior to serving, whip the cream and the remaining tablespoon of sugar in a medium bowl until soft peaks are formed. Spoon over the chocolate to form the topping.  Sprinkle with reserved cookie crumbs.
It's the evaporated milk that makes it killer :)

Tres Leches Cake

Leche means milk in Spanish. Tres Leches Cake is named for the three milks it is soaked in - sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk and heavy cream. The heavy cream is also whipped up to use as the topping.

Due to the rich ingredients, it is extremely dense and moist, almost like a custard.

Another favorite cake is Chocolate Icebox Cake, page 80 in Tastes & Treasures cookbook.

Tres Leches Cake

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups cake flour
1 pinch salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/3 cup oil
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
5 large eggs
1/2 cup whole milk

Directions:
Combine flour and baking powder and salt. In a separate bowl, combine the oil, sugar, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Add the eggs to the sugar mixture one at a time until well combined. Stir in the 1/2 cup of milk, then gently fold in the flour mixture a little at a time.
Pour batter into a lightly greased cake pan or baking dish and bake at 325 degrees for 30-40 minutes or until it feels firm and an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
Let the cake cool until it feels room temperature. Turn it over onto a platter with raised edges. Pierce cake with a fork 20-30 times. Let it cool in the refrigerator for an additional 30 minutes.

Cream Syrup
12 oz. evaporated milk
14 oz. sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon rum or brandy (optional)
Whisk together the three milks and the rum or brandy if you are using it. Slowly pour the liquid over the cooled cake. Refrigerate for 1 hour. Occasionally, spoon the milk runoff back onto the cake.

Whipped Topping
3/4 cup heavy cream
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 tablespoon sugar
In a chilled mixing bowl add heavy cream, vanilla and sugar. Beat on high speed until peaks form. Spread a thin layer over the cake.
Top with a sprinkle of cinnamon or garnish with fresh berries.