Campfire Pie

Ingredients

For the crust:

• 9 ounces finely ground dark chocolate cookies
• 2 1/2 ounces butter, melted

For the filling:

• 8 ounces dark chocolate cookie chunks

Directions

3 1/2 ounces almond ding, chopped, recipe follows

• 4 ounces semisweet chocolate chips

6 ounces bitter chocolate sauce, recipe follows

For the marshmallow:

• 4 sheets gelatin, soaked in water
• 3 ounces water
• 5 ounces egg whites
• 1/8 teaspoon cream of tartar
• Pinch salt
• 8 ounces sugar
• 1 1/2 ounces corn syrup
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

For the crust:

Mix cookie crumbs with melted butter and press into the bottom and sides of the pie plate. Place piecrust in the freezer for 5 minutes to set.

For the filling:

Place the cookie chunks, chopped almond ding and semisweet chocolate chips in small bowls on your workstation. Spread 2 ounces of the bitter chocolate sauce on the bottom and the sides of the pie crust. Set aside.

For the marshmallow:

Hydrate the gelatin sheets in a small saucepan. Gently warm the gelatin on the stove until dissolved and set aside. Place egg whites, cream of tartar and salt in the bowl of an electric mixer and a whip attachment. In a medium saucepan, bring the sugar, corn syrup and water to a boil. Using a candy thermometer, bring the syrup to 230 degrees F. Start whipping the egg whites on high speed and continue to boil the syrup to 240 degrees F.

Pour syrup into the egg whites in a thin stream while whipping the egg whites and until all the syrup is incorporated. While continuing to whip, add the gelatin and vanilla. Whip for 1 minute longer.

For assembly:

Immediately spread 1/3 of the marshmallow on the crust. Sprinkle with half the cookie chunks, almond ding and chocolate ships. Drizzle 2 ounces of the bitter chocolate sauce over the pie. Spread another 1/3 of marshmallow and sprinkle with the remaining cookie chunks, almond ding and chocolate chips and bitter chocolate sauce. Top with the remaining marshmallow and shape the top with dips and swirls using a metal offset spatula. Refrigerate pie for 4 hours or overnight.

*Cook's Note: It is very important to start layering the filling with the marshmallow as soon as it is ready. If over whipped or held too long, the gelatin will begin to set and the texture of the marshmallow will become grainy.

To serve:

Cut the chilled pie into 8 pieces and place each slice on an ovenproof plate. Bake at 400 degrees F for 5 minutes until golden brown. Serve immediately.

Bitter chocolate Sauce:

4 ounces unsweetened chocolate

2 ounces semisweet chocolate

2 1/2 ounces corn syrup

7 ounces butter

5 ounces heavy cream

Combine the chocolates, corn syrup and butter over a double boiler and gently melt. Stir in cream.

Almond Ding:

3 ounces whole blanched almonds

2 ounces sugar

5 ounces butter

Pinch salt

Mix ingredients in a saute pan and cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until almonds are toasted and caramel is a light brown.