I just love layers. I don’t know, maybe I am influenced by the Legos and Lincoln Logs of my youth; but there’s something about stacking that intrigues me.
So when it comes to stacking flavors, I’m particularly interested. And if those flavors happen to be pumpkin and chocolate, well I’m in hog heaven!
Now some of my recipes fall into the make-and-turn-out-perfect-the-first-time category. Whereas, others seem to fall more into the trial and error (with emphasis on error) category. This is one of the latter.
I knew I wanted something creamy and chocolate/pumpkin. So I started with a pumpkin layer stacked directly on top of the chocolate, nestling them both into a lovely pastry crust.
The taste just fell flat.
I added more spice to the pumpkin.
Nah, still no pizazz.
I switched the crust to Biscoff cookies. Now before I joined the blogging world, I had never heard of Biscoff cookies. After doing some research, I discovered the steadfast heritage of these delightful little tasty, all-natural Belgian “biscuits”. If you want more information about them, click here: Biscoff Cookies. I found them to be a bit tricky to find though, while finally locating them at Walgreen’s–go figure.
My next tweaks included a cream cheese layer and an overall overhaul of whipped cream to make the pie more mousse-like (If you want to know more about making fresh whipped cream, watch my video: How to Make Fresh Whipped Cream). But the mousse slid into a heap after cutting it, thus warranting the inclusion of a little gelatin to stabilize things just a bit.
Finally, a dessert I could hoop de doo about! I love when that happens.
- 1 (8.8-ounce) pkg. Biscoff cookies, crushed
- 5 tablespoons butter, melted
- ½ cup chopped pecans (optional)
- 4 egg yolks (well beaten)
- 2 heaping tablespoons flour
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup firmly packed light brown sugar
- 2 cups milk, divided
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- pinch salt
- 3 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, chopped
- 1½ cups canned pumpkin
- 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- 3 teaspoons unflavored gelatin
- 6 tablespoons water
- 1½ cups cold whipping cream
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1¼ cups powdered sugar
- sweetened whipped cream and chocolate shavings for garnish
- To Make Crust: Preheat oven to 325˚F. Butter a 9-inch diameter springform pan with 2¾-inch sides. Mix cookie crumbs, melted butter and nuts in a medium bowl until crumbs are evenly moistened. Press crumb mixture firmly onto bottom and up 1 inch of the sides of the pan. Bake at 325˚F for 15 minutes. Cool completely.
- To Make Filling: Make a paste of the egg yolks, flour, sugars and small amount of the milk in a heavy medium saucepan. In a microwave-safe bowl, heat remaining milk 1 minute. Slowly add milk to the egg mixture and, stirring constantly, cook over medium low heat 7-10 minutes or until thickened (mixture will thicken more as it cools). Remove from heat and stir in vanilla and salt.
- Measure out 1 cup of the filling and put into a separate bowl. Add chocolate to the remaining filling and stir to melt. In reserved bowl, add pumpkin and pumpkin pie spice. Pour chocolate filling into a medium bowl, then press plastic wrap onto the surface of both of the fillings, to eliminate a skin. Refrigerate about 30 minutes. Soften the gelatin in the water for about 5 minutes in a microwave-safe dish.
- In a medium chilled bowl, whip cream until stiff peaks form. Microwave gelatin until it dissolves and starts to bubble around the edges, around 30 seconds. In a small bowl, cream together cream cheese and powdered sugar. Stir in ⅓ of the dissolved gelatin into each of the 3 filling bowls (about 2½ tablespoons each) and combine well. Fold in ⅓ of the whipped cream into each of the 3 fillings.
- Spread chocolate pudding onto cooled crust. Place in freezer for 10 minutes to become firmer. Layer with the cream cheese filling, then place into the freezer for another 10 minutes. Top with the pumpkin layer.
- Cover and refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight. Garnish with sweetened whipped cream and chocolate shavings before serving.
Watch video here:
Can’t see video? Watch it here: Chocolate Pumpkin Mousse Pie
Linked to these fabulous parties.
Mom always said it is nice to share!
Oh My Gosh! This is so yummy looking! I have not only pinned it, but I also posted it on my facebook page! I want a slice right now!
Thank youso much for sharing your wonderful recipe on Foodie Friends Friday! It is great to have you here!
Cynthia at http://FeedingBig.blogspot.com
Thank you, Cynthia! FFF is a fabulous party–thanks for hosting!
I’m glad you found the perfect combination for all of us too! This looks fantastic!!!
Oh my. This sounds divine. What is that fancy vanilla you have?
Hi Jenn, Danncy Vanilla is a Mexican pure vanilla that doesn’t contain coumarin. I love it!
Thanks! I love trying out new vanillas.
Great project !
I would love you to come and share it at my Craft, Create & Inspire Linky party
http://polkadotpretties.com/2012/10/craft-create-inspire-linky-party-2/
Hope to see you there:)
Claire@ Polkadot pretties
Hi Sherry, I’m Anne from Life on the Funny Farm (http://annesfunnyfarm.blogspot.com), and I’m visiting from the Pinteresting Party.
This looks sooo delicious. I might just have to make this for Thanksgiving!
Anyway, thanks for posting this. I hope you can pop by my blog sometime to say hi…
So yummy, I had to pin it!!
I’m a fan of layers to–especially all yummy ones 🙂
This pie looks delish. I need to try this recipe. Thanks for sharing…
This pie looks simply delish.. I need to try this recipe. Thanks for sharing!
Oh how yummy!! Almost sinful 🙂 Thanks for sharing at Church Supper. Have a blessed week & come back soon.
I think you actually managed to get all the baked things I love into one pie. thanks for sharing this on foodie friday.
WOWWWW – this is scrumptious looking cake !:)
This looks amazing! I can’t wait to try it! Nettie
Thank you so much for linking up to Sunday’s Sweet Confessions over at mommy’s sweet confessions! Have a great day!
Oh yum…this looks delish! I would LOVE for you to link this up at my Ginger Jamboree Link Party!!
Thanks for the invite! I just linked up. Looks like a great party!
So glad you tried this again to share to with all of us!! What a wonderful dessert!! The layers look amazing! Wish I could try this now, guess I’ll have to get in the kitchen and attempt my own!
Thanks Tanya, I wish I could bring you a piece! If you do try it, please let me know how it turned out and/or post a photo on my FB page if you want. https://www.facebook.com/jazzygourmet
This looks beautiful! I would love to know your secret to such a clean slice!
I am visiting from Marvelous Mondays – I am a co-host this week. If you would like to learn more about what goes on in my Milwaukee Kitchen, please visit MilwaukeeKitchen.blogspot.com.
Sara
Thanks, Sara. The key to success on the clean slice was the addition of a little gelatin to the mousse. I can tell you that I have spent many a day stewing over sloppy looking slices, and this turned out great! I popped over to your FB page and gave you a Like. Looking forward to your posts!
This looks amazing! Thanks for sharing your Chocolate Pumpkin Mousse Pie! We are so happy that you linked up to our “Strut Your Stuff Saturday!” Hope to see you back soon! -The Six Sisters
Oh my goodness, this is fabulous!! Thank you so much for sharing at A Bouquet of Talent! I love adding your great recipes to my collection. 🙂
That looks absolutely fabulous – and I almost wish I hadn’t seen it. lol
Ha, thanks. I know what you mean!
Wow- this looks SO good.
Thanks for linking up with us at Wonderful Food Wednesday!
Jessica @ At Home Take 2
Everyone of those layers looks delicious!
Oh! What a yummy looking pie! Thanks for linking up with me for Friday Favorites. I’m featuring you this week. Come by and grab my featured button if you’d like one.
Thank you so much for featuring my recipe, Jerri. I just grabbed a button. Have a great week!
Oh goodness. This looks AMAZING! I’ve pinned it for later!!!
I would love it if you would link up at Martha Mondays, open every Monday morning through Wednesday night!
http://www.watchoutmartha.net
~Amanda
Thanks, Amanda. You bet, I will definitely be at the party tomorrow!
Hi Sherry,
What a lovely dessert, we would just love this recipe. Hope you are having a great fall weekend and thank you so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday.
Come Back Soon!
Miz Helen
Thanks, Miz Helen. I will definitely be back to party next week. Thanks for hosting!
I can’t wait to try this pie! Thanks so much for sharing it with us at ‘Or so she says…’. I would love to have you back again to share even more of your great recipes. There’s a link party kicking off in the morning (every Sat. through Tues.) Hope to see you there! http://www.oneshetwoshe.com
Thanks, Mariel, I will be back for sure next Saturday!
This looks so scrumptious! I just want to dig in right now!
Thank you for sharing this on Wednesday Extravaganza.
Come back tomorrow to vote and maybe win a spot on my Wall of Fame!
Sherry,
Thanks for sharing this at the ‘Or so she says…’ link party! Just wanted to let you know that it was chosen as one of the two favorite links. It’s featured again today on the blog and will also be featured on Facebook and Pinterest. Hope to see you back again!
~ Mariel http://www.oneshetwoshe.com
Thank you so much for featuring my recipe! I really appreciate it, and appreciate your hosting the party each week.
I am SO glad this turned out because, man. It’s a gorgeous pie! I want a slice (or three!)
Thanks, Dorothy. I’ll be right over with your slice (or 3)!
You, my friend, are well on your way to the less-traveled road of genius. This pie looks like something I’d be proud to make and bring to a potluck–and when that time comes (in about 2.53 seconds), I will let you know how it turns it!
Gosh, Ala, you are too kind. If you try it, let me know how it turns out. And you can even share a photo on my FB page if you want: https://www.facebook.com/jazzygourmet
Thanks for linking up to Tasteful Tuesdays at Nap-Time Creations. This is being featured at the new party. Come over and check it out and grab a featured button! http://www.nap-timecreations.com/2012/11/tasteful-tuesday-and-shabby-apple.html
Thanks bunches for featuring my recipe! Thanks for hosting and have a great week!
This pie looks so amazing! So amazing, that it was the most-visited link at the last Sweet Saturday link party! You’re featured today, stop by and grab a button: http://jessica-healthymommyhealthybaby.blogspot.com/2012/11/apple-pie-smoothie.html. Thanks for linking up 🙂 I’m so glad I found you’re blog, I am now subscribed via email 🙂
Jessica, thanks a million! Have a Happy Thanksgiving!
This pie just looks so incredible! I thought it would be perfect for the upcoming holiday. I added it to my Thanksgiving dessert round up here: http://www.grandbaby-cakes.com/2012/11/thanksgiving-everywhere.html
I am so thrilled! Thank you. Have a happy Thanksgiving, Jocelyn!
Hi there! I’ve been drooling over this pie for a couple of weeks and I’m excited to finally be making them tonight. However, I only have one springform pan and I need some advice on how to store these pies so that I can re-use my pan.. Please help!!
Oh my goodness, Sonja, I wish I lived close so that I could loan you an extra springform pan! This pie is pretty sturdy, so if there’s some way that you could scoot it off the base of the springform pan, I think it should stand pretty well on its own. Might I say tho, that I am SO flattered to hear that you are making this. Please let me know how it turned out!
This pie looks absolutely amazing!
Why thank you Ella. It’s pretty tasty!
This sounds absolutely wonderful.. pumpkin, chocolate and biscoff cookies… YUM. Will be making this soon. Thanks for sharing on Foodie friends Friday and I hope that you will join us again next week.
So this pie sounded so good that I’m making it for Thanksgiving! Just finished. I had a couple of issues. 1. The filling mixture did not thicken very well, and I had it on heat for almost 20 minutes. Not sure if I did something wrong there. Since “heaping Tbsp” can be relative, I added a bit more flour at the end, and it seemed to help a little. But I still wouldn’t say it thickened very much. 2. The bottom chocolate layer just didn’t seem firm enough after 20 minutes in the freezer. Sure enough, when I went to put on the cream cheese layer, it started sinking into the chocolate layer! I quickly tried to spread it around as best I could, but I’m sure the layers are not going to look as pretty as in your picture! Any suggestions on these? Thanks, and I’m sure it’s going to still taste wonderful. Can’t wait to try tomorrow!
Hi Catherine,
I’m so sorry you had troubles making the pie. Like you, I am guessing that it had to do with the amount of flour added to the pudding, since I usually heap my tablespoons pretty high. But even then, usually the gelatin makes it firm. The next time I make it, I will get a better measurement of the flour so that it is not so nebulous. Also, did you happen to use skim milk? I have had problems in the past with things not thickening when I use skim. Just a thought…Of course that doesn’t help you now, so I’m sorry!
Sherry