Friday, September 18, 2009

Chocolate and Hazelnut Pie with Vanilla Cream



I hope you're ready for a treat. This pie is chocolate, rich and decadent. It's also easy to make. As with all things chocolate, the better the poison the better pie. Spring for the best chocolate you can get your hands on. If you can't get hazelnuts use toasted almonds or pecans instead. Toasting the nuts, whatever type you use, is important because it really does improve their flavor. When the pie is taken from the oven it has the crackle crust of a brownie, but it's texture is more like a cross between a chocolate mousse and a brownie. It's almost a confection. Delicious doesn't begin to describe how good this really is. The recipe was developed by Giada De Laurentis who is an admitted chocolate addict and she has taken no shortcuts here. While the pie is simple to make there is a fairly significant wait time before it can be served. By my estimate, it takes 20 minutes to make but needs 3 hours to cool and chill. I suspect you'll like this one - a lot.

Hazelnut and Chocolate Pie...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite

Ingredients:
Pie:
8 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup hazelnuts, skinned and toasted
1/4 cup all-purpose flour, plus more to dust the pie dish
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup hot water
4 eggs
1 stick butter, cut into 3/4-inch pieces, at room temperature, plus more to grease the pie dish
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Vanilla Cream:
1 cup heavy whipping cream
2 tablespoons powdered sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Directions:

1) Position an oven rack in lower 1/3 of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F.
2) Put 1/2 of chocolate chips, hazelnuts, and flour in bowl of a food processor. Pulse until hazelnuts are coarsely chopped. Pour hazelnut mixture into a small bowl and set aside. Combine remaining chocolate chips and sugar in food processor. Blend until mixture is finely ground. With machine running, gradually add hot water until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth. Add eggs, butter, vanilla and cinnamon. Pulse until mixture is blended. Return hazelnut mixture to food processor and pulse to incorporate. Pour mixture into a buttered and floured 9-inch pie dish.
3) Bake for 35 minutes. Place pie on a cooling rack and cool for 1 hour. (Top may crack during cooling.) Refrigerate for 2 hours. (Pie can be made 1 day in advance and stored in the refrigerator). Allow pie to return to room temperature for 30 minutes before serving.
4) In a large mixing bowl, beat cream until it forms soft peaks. Add powdered sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon. Continue to beat until cream holds stiff peaks.
5) To serve, cut pie into slices and dollop with the vanilla cream. Yield: 8 servings.

This recipe is being linked to:
Designs By Gollum - Foodie Friday
My Toes are Claustrophobic

49 comments :

Rattlebridge Farm said...

When a cake looks this great, I'm willing to wait three hours to eat it, that's for sure! I'm finding all kinds of great recipes for autumn meals. This pie one will be great for Thanksgiving. I may have to make a test pie just for my greedy self. :-)

Jaynie said...

I am hosting my Home-Extension club meeting next month and this is going to be dessert. I'm sure the girls will love this.

La Cuisine d'Helene said...

I'm always ready for a treat. This one looks great for the Fall season.

Jersey Girl Cooks said...

Just decadent!

From the Old InkWell said...

OH! You got me on chocolate or was it hazelnut!? Both are my favorite!!!

Elaine said...

I don't know how I could go wrong making this for the holidays. I love the taste of hazelnuts so I don't think I'll do any substituting. For some reason this just seems like the perfect autumn desert!
Elaine :)

My Little Space said...

The pie looks so moist and lovely! Is it a soft type recipe? You know, the kind that melt in your mouth!

Karen at Nittany Inspirations said...

All I need to do is print this out and leave it on the kitchen counter and I know my DH will end up making it. He is a slave to chocolate. Sneaky aren't I?

P. said...

Wow! It must be good!
Alfazema

Poppedijne said...

Whow, this looks so delishous!!!! Have to write this one down. Thanks for sharing it!

Donna-FFW said...

This looks like such a rich decadent dessert,, right up my alley. I think the vanilla cream sounds just lovely too!

The Blonde Duck said...

That looks so rich and perfect for fall.

Inspired by eRecipeCards said...

The hazelnut is a great addition...Gonna save this one

Joyce said...

I need a good recipe for my cooking group and this is it for our October meeting. Thanks for sharing. I love all your recipes and photos. I am off to meet another blog cooking gal today for lunch.
Joyce

Cathy said...

Hi Mary, your sidebar pictures are wonderful. What a beautiful family you have!

I agree with the others. This pie looks fantastic. Giada seldoms disappoints. I'm looking forward to trying this.

a quiet life said...

oh what a pic, it could just glide right down my throat for breakfast please...

Shellbelle said...

Well your suspicions are correct, I know I'll love this pie! Might have a little trouble waiting three hours after smelling it baking, but I'll try.

Lori E said...

We haven't even had breakfast here yet and I am dreaming of this.

Kathy Walker said...

This looks fabulous! The picture is so good it makes me want to grab a fork and reach in for a bite!

Chocolate and hazelnut...wonderful combo...

Patricia @ ButterYum said...

Oh Mary, why do you torture me so?

:)
ButterYum

Patricia @ ButterYum said...

You know the easy trick to getting hazelnut skins off, don't you?

susan said...

Mary--I believe I will have to do this one with pecans! It looks heavenly and I think I will serve it at Thanksgiving. Your recipes never diappoint me! ps--I am late visiting; I have "the bug" :(

Ann said...

OMG!! this looks soo mouth watering. I love all your recipes:)

Sasha said...

OMG Mary, this pie looks divine. It would be a crime for me not to make it.
Thanks for sharing : )

Lisa said...

I do have a soft spot for Brownie Pies. This looks amazing and I love that you made it with hazelnuts. It gives the pie a local edge.

Diann @ The Thrifty Groove said...

Oh my, this pie looks so rich and yummy! I think I may make it for thanksgiving as a special treat!

Alea Milham said...

I bet the waiting is the hardest part! I can't wait to surprise my family with this recipe.

Lori said...

Oh my!

Debbie said...

That looks so good. My kind of pie!

Unknown said...

Oh does that ever scream "I dare you to taste me!" It is one perfect bite.
Happy Twirls

Sandy Smith said...

This looks delicious! Chocolate and hazelnut is such an elegant combination. Nicely done!

pigpigscorner said...

The texture looks great, so fudgy and chocolatey! yum...

Kari said...

Oh my, this looks good. And I do like many of Giada's recipes, too. Thank you for the comment on my blog. I'm finding so many great blogs through these Friday Food festivals and yours is definitely one of them!

Kim said...

This sounds wonderful! I cannot wait to try it out. Have a great weekend!

~ ~ Ahrisha ~ ~ said...

Mary, I just love stopping over for my foodie fix! This one is a keeper but we love pecans here so I will make the switch.
Love Michael Lees comment about making a test pie for the holidays, sounds good to me.
~ ~Ahrisha~ ~

bj said...

O, Mary girl...I always know I am going to find something so so good over in your kitchen. I swear I would weight 500 lbs if I lived next door to you cause I'd be "stopping by" every single morning!!
This just sounds so good I don't know what to do.....I will try this..maybe at Thanksgiving. Ummm

Heather S-G said...

OH. MY. GOODNESS! This is amazing! If I had the things on hand, I would make it right this instant! Delicious :D

2 Dogs said...

Oh this looks way, way, way too good!! I must make it soon. I may not comment very often but I am always looking at your post. Thanks and hugs

Tracey said...

Oh my - this looks dangerously delicious!

figtree said...

I want to make this NOW, but its almost 10 at night..will have to wait till the morning. It sounds just perfect.Figtreeapps

Michelle said...

What a truly lucious chocolate torte! Perfect for this time of year too!

L'Chicken said...

Oh WOW. I'm in.

And I love the new family pics!!

Red said...

I was looking for something sweet to take to a friends house on Sunday and I think this is it!
Thanks!

Karen @ Mignardise said...

I am so bookmarking this. Can't wait to make it.

PS - I have a Lara too.

Anonymous said...

You just made my Friday night with this post... Sunday will be oh-so good!

Unknown said...

Your posts are always such a treat for the mouth and the eyes. Thanks again for sharing. I hope it's a great weekend for you.

Katy ~ said...

Perfect; would make the most discerning diner absolutely swoon in ecstasy, I think.

Darina said...

This cake looks wonderful. I love the combination of chocolate and nuts best. This cake looks really rich and delicious. I am definitely book marking this one.

Unknown said...

Thank you for your lovely comment on my blog. I really appreciate comments like yours. Your own blog is quite informative. I love the clean layout. This pie looks absolutely delicious. I love anything chocolate and this definitely looks like something worth trying.

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