Cookbook Challenge: Week 41, Celebration
Posted on | August 29, 2010 | 26 Comments
Unbelievably, we’re on to Week 41 of the Cookbook Challenge, and the theme this week is: celebration.
I don’t have a specific occasion to celebrate this weekend, but here are some things that I’d like to celebrate:
Peanut butter and chocolate is one of my favourite combinations (Reese’s peanut butter cups, anyone?) so I have been looking for an excuse to make this peanut butter pie for AGES. And celebration week seemed as good as an excuse as any!
The pie has a biscuit base (like a cheesecake) and is topped with a layer of peanut butter and cream cheese, and then finished with a thin layer of chocolate ganache. I was expecting something incredibly rich and sweet, so I halved the amount of the peanut butter layer and the chocolate ganache but kept the base the same. It made my pie look more like a slice since the other layers weren’t as thick.
It turns out that the pie actually isn’t that sweet, though it is rich. My biscuit base was quite crumbly, and I think that I would prefer a shortcrust pastry. Next time! It’s very straight forward to put together, as the only part that needs to be baked is the base. I think it could use a bit more sweetness, but perhaps I’m looking to recreate a peanut butter cup in pie form?! This pie is not quite there, but I reckon I could get it close in the deliciousness stakes with a few more tweaks!
But it’s not bad, and peanut butter and chocolate in any form is worthwhile of celebration. What about you – is there anything you’d like to celebrate today?
See previous Cookbook Challenge posts here.
Peanut butter pie
From Maggie’s Kitchen
Serves 16
Pie crust
180g wheatgerm crackers
90g unsalted butter, melted
3 teaspoons caster sugar
Filling
1 cup pouring cream
1/3 cup caster sugar
320g cream cheese, chopped, at room temperature
375g crunchy salt-free peanut butter
Topping
150ml double cream
150g dark chocolate, chopped
20g unsalted butter
Preheat a fan-forced oven to 160°C.
First, make the pie crust by processing the crackers in a food processor until they are crumbled. Add the melted butter and sugar, and pulse together until combined. Press the crumbs into the base of a 22cm springform cake tin. Bake for 10 minutes and then set aside to cool.
Make the filling by simmering the cream and sugar over low heat. Stir until the sugar dissolves. In a food processor, blend the cream cheese and peanut butter. Add the cream mixture and pulse to combine. Spoon the filling on top of the pie crust and leave to cool.
Make the topping by bringing the cream to a boil in a pot over high heat. Put the chocolate and butter into a separate bowl, and pour over the hot cream. Leave it for three minutes and then move the dish around to melt the chocolate and butter.
Pour the topping over the pie and refrigerate uncovered for 4 hours, or until set.
Related posts:
- Peanut butter topped brownies
- Cookbook Challenge: Week 7, Soft
- Cookbook Challenge: Week 24, Chocolate
- Cookbook Challenge: Week 36, Comfort Food
- Cookbook Challenge: Week 1, Citrus
Comments
26 Responses to “Cookbook Challenge: Week 41, Celebration”
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August 29th, 2010 @ 11:17 pm
Peanut butter pie is definitely a celebration pie. Is the holiday your UK holiday?! Maybe you can make a new pie and bring it to me!
[Reply]
Agnes Reply:
August 30th, 2010 at 10:00 pm
Lisa, yes it is! And I could, but I don’t think the pie would survive the flight over – unless it was in ma belly!
[Reply]
August 29th, 2010 @ 11:52 pm
It does look like a slice, but I’m sure it’s perfectly delicious nonetheless.
I’m celebrating being on a week’s leave and going to the Hunter Valley tomorrow!
mademoiselle délicieuse recently posted..Epicure Recipe Card 31- Baked Custard Tart
[Reply]
Agnes Reply:
August 30th, 2010 at 10:00 pm
Have a fantastic time in the Hunter Valley on your well deserved break!
[Reply]
August 29th, 2010 @ 11:59 pm
If you’d like something a little less elegant, but a little more intense, I recommend making a peanut butter pie on a shortbread base. I make mine in a pie dish, slather it with a layer of warmed, crunchy peanut butter (though I imagine that the cream cheese mix would be pretty nice here, too!) and drizzle it with dark chocolate, to make a lattice that snaps when you cut into it. Delicious!
[Reply]
Agnes Reply:
August 30th, 2010 at 10:01 pm
Megan, that is a damned good idea
It sounds super delicious!
[Reply]
August 30th, 2010 @ 2:19 pm
I’d like to celebrate the fact that I pick really, really, really perfect BFFs. Peanut butter pie. Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups. At this precise moment in time, you, Agnes, are my everything.
Hannah recently posted..Rawganic Chocolate with Hibiscus and Lucuma
[Reply]
Agnes Reply:
August 30th, 2010 at 10:01 pm
Hannah, I had you at peanut butter, right?
You are so cute! xx
[Reply]
Hannah Reply:
August 31st, 2010 at 12:06 pm
Yes, and you always will
Hannah recently posted..Rawganic Chocolate with Hibiscus and Lucuma
[Reply]
August 30th, 2010 @ 3:33 pm
I don’t mind eating your cooking and baking as well
penny aka jeroxie recently posted..Taste of Melbourne 2010
[Reply]
Agnes Reply:
August 30th, 2010 at 10:02 pm
Hehee, Penny I will keep that in mind!
[Reply]
August 30th, 2010 @ 4:53 pm
Oh yumm! I’d love to be able to try this. I think not being so sweet is a good thing, richness is way better than overly sweet anyways ;p
Celeste @ Berrytravels recently posted..Review- Tuki Trout Farm
[Reply]
Agnes Reply:
August 30th, 2010 at 10:02 pm
Oh I agree Celeste, and I hate it when things are both really rich and really sweet!
[Reply]
August 30th, 2010 @ 11:16 pm
Yes, I would like to celebrate looking at this tasty tasty pie! I would also like to celebrate not dying in yesterday’s City to Surf, and spending the rest of the day eating whatever I damned well pleased feeling like I had deserved it. Perhaps I should run 12km every day just for this feeling.
Three weeks to go?? WOO! I hope it goes super fast for you!
Conor @ HoldtheBeef recently posted..When my baby smiles at me we go to Ria
[Reply]
Agnes Reply:
September 1st, 2010 at 10:42 pm
Conor, congrats on surviving City to Surf! How awesome!
Go you! And yes, three weeks to go… and so much that I haven’t done yet… gak!
[Reply]
August 31st, 2010 @ 8:57 am
As various posts on my blog attest to, I think chocolate and PB together can do no wrong. Your pie looks amazing and I wish I had a slice! And thanks for the reminder to be grateful for all the things we are lucky to have, big and small.
Xiaolu recently posted..Farewell to Summer Tomato Panzanella Salad
[Reply]
Agnes Reply:
September 1st, 2010 at 10:43 pm
Xiaolu, I’m glad I’m not the only one who thinks that chocolate and PB can do no wrong!
[Reply]
September 1st, 2010 @ 12:50 am
I’d like to celebrate finding old friends!
how’ve you been?
[Reply]
Agnes Reply:
September 1st, 2010 at 10:43 pm
Dan – awesome!
Yourself?
[Reply]
dan Reply:
September 11th, 2010 at 3:08 pm
I’m doing really well.
It’s been way too long since we’ve spoken, how the heck is life treating you? What’ve you been up to for the last 5 years?
[Reply]
September 1st, 2010 @ 1:14 pm
What a great receipe. I tried it this afternoon and although it didn’t come out as good as your picture it certainly tasted beautiful!
[Reply]
Agnes Reply:
September 1st, 2010 at 10:44 pm
I’m glad you tried it, Spencer! It is pretty delicious
[Reply]
September 2nd, 2010 @ 3:12 pm
Thanks for this recipe Agnes. Perfect timing as I’m heading down to Anglesea with some friends this weekend and wanted something quick and yummy to take as a surprise – this is perfect!
Leigh recently posted..PRODUCT REVIEW- Bakers Delight Cape Seed Loaf
[Reply]
Agnes Reply:
September 3rd, 2010 at 11:32 am
Awesome! Have a great time in Anglesea – I’m sure the peanut butter pie will go down a treat
[Reply]
September 3rd, 2010 @ 5:34 am
yuuuum…love PB and choc combo!
pigpigscorner recently posted..Oddonos- Dri Dri- Morellis – Lifes Too Short to Eat Bad Ice-Cream
[Reply]
September 15th, 2010 @ 4:43 pm
I agree with every single one of your points, except the holiday part ofcourse!!
My only issue with this recipe is that it has peanut butter in it. Unfortunately I would HAVE to eat the whole thing…making for a temporarily happy me…followed by a sad depressed me. SIGH.
Maria@TheGourmetChallenge recently posted..Beer Doughnuts
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