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I have a romantic history with chocolate pies. It doesn’t matter if it’s my grandmother’s microwave chocolate pie, chocolate chess pie, chocolate pudding pie, or brownie pie. I never discriminate. However, this satiny, creamy, light-as-a-feather French silk pie may have just nudged itself to my winner’s circle.
French silk pie, unlike the name suggests, is quite American. Word on the street is that it was the runner-up in the 1951 Pillsbury Bake-Off competition, but don’t hold me to that. At its core, French silk pie is just a chocolate mousse consisting of eggs, cream, chocolate, sugar, and butter (the building blocks of life!). Its title is accurate: yes, this pie really does have the texture of silk, albeit delicious silk.
This pie does have some characteristics worth mentioning. There is no cornstarch or flour thickener like in other cream pies, and it is does use raw eggs. (If this concerns you, feel free to use pasteurized, or find a recipe that cooks them at a low temperature.) Butter and sugar are beaten, melted chocolate is incorporated, and finally eggs are added and whipped into a glorious cloud. Lastly, fresh whipped cream is folded in to add even more airiness to the recipe.
Trust me, it will take a lot of will power to not crawl into the mixing bowl and pretend you are sleeping in Egyptian cotton sheets. But if you are willing to hold out, your efforts will be rewarded. After a nice long chill, the filling transforms itself into a sultry, firm dessert worthy of its “French” name.
Key Ingredients in French Silk Pie
How to Make French Silk Pie
Lightly cover leftovers with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 1 day.
More Chocolate Pie Recipes to Try
The fluffy, light texture of the filling in this pie really does remind me of silk, and it’s such a showstopper too. Based on comments from those who have made this pie, the vanilla is now beaten into the butter and sugar rather than the chocolate so that there’s no risk of the chocolate seizing up. Make sure to whip up plenty of extra whipped cream for topping!
Dining and Cooking