🎄 Festive Peppermint Pie 🎄
Ingredients:
For the Crust:
9 oz crisp chocolate cookies (such as chocolate graham crackers or chocolate animal cookies)
2 tbsp granulated sugar
½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
For the Filling:
2¼ tsp (1 packet) unflavored gelatin
¼ cup cold water
½ tsp pure peppermint extract
2 cups heavy whipping cream, divided
1 cup finely crushed soft peppermint candies (plus extra for garnish)
For the Garnish (optional but recommended):
1 cup heavy whipping cream
⅓ cup powdered sugar, sifted
½ tsp peppermint or vanilla extract
Additional crushed peppermints
Instructions:
Make the Crust
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Pulse chocolate cookies and sugar in a food processor until fine crumbs form. Add melted butter and pulse until the mixture resembles wet sand. Lightly grease a 9-inch pie plate with nonstick spray, then press the crumb mixture evenly into the bottom and up the sides. Bake for 7–8 minutes. Let cool completely on a wire rack.
Prepare the Peppermint Base
In a small bowl, sprinkle gelatin over cold water and let bloom for 5 minutes. Meanwhile, heat ½ cup of the heavy cream in a small saucepan over low heat. Stir in 1 cup crushed peppermints and cook gently until fully melted—about 3–5 minutes. The mixture will turn pink or light red, depending on the candy used. Remove from heat, stir in the bloomed gelatin and peppermint extract until smooth. Cool to room temperature (do not let it set).
Whip & Fold
In a large chilled bowl, whip the remaining 1½ cups heavy cream to stiff peaks. Gently fold the cooled peppermint mixture into the whipped cream in two additions, using a spatula and folding just until streaks disappear—avoid overmixing to keep the filling light.
Assemble & Chill
Pour the filling into the cooled crust and smooth the top. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or until fully set.
Garnish & Serve
Just before serving, whip the garnish cream with powdered sugar and extract until soft peaks form. Pipe or dollop onto the pie, then sprinkle with extra crushed peppermints for color and crunch.
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