Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie

Ingredients

Crust:

Directions

1 1/4 cups dry-roasted, salted peanuts

1/2 cup granulated sugar

Pinch ground cloves

1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted

6 ounces bittersweet chocolate

1/4 cup heavy cream

Filling:

1 1/2 cups milk

2 large eggs

1 cup confectioners' sugar

2 tablespoons cornstarch

Pinch fine salt

4 ounces cream cheese, cut into pieces

1/2 cup creamy peanut butter

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Topping:

2 ounces bittersweet chocolate

1 1/4 cups heavy cream, chilled

1 tablespoon confectioners' sugar

For the crust: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Pulse the peanuts, granulated sugar, and cloves in a food processor until the mixture resembles coarse sand. Pulse in the butter. Press the nut mixture evenly into the bottom of a 10-inch springform pan and bake until set, about 15 minutes. Set aside to cool slightly.

Melt the chocolate with the cream in a microwave, stirring every 30 seconds, until smooth, and then spread the chocolate over the crust. Freeze the crust while making the filling.

For the filling: Whisk the milk, eggs, confectioners' sugar, cornstarch, and salt in a medium saucepan. Cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, until boiling. Continue to cook until the consistency of mayonnaise, about 2 minutes more. Transfer to a bowl. Whisk in the cream cheese, peanut butter, and vanilla. Spread evenly over the chocolate and refrigerate until cold or overnight.

For the topping: Melt the chocolate in a microwave, stirring every 30 seconds, until smooth; cool slightly. Whip the cream with the confectioners' sugar until it holds slightly stiff peaks. Stir a large spoonful of the cream into the chocolate and then fold all the chocolate into the cream. Remove the pie from the pan. Spread the cream topping onto the pie with an offset spatula. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving.