food
Recipe: Quick Chocolate Malt Pie
Should a family birthday be celebrated with a gift of love from my kitchen or a beautifully decorated cake from the bakery? I yearn to create a splendidly decorated cake, yet my decorating skills are limited. I dutifully went to the store to purchase a cake for my son’s birthday and I … could … not. Our family of four would be celebrating after dinner and a large cake didn’t fit the intimate dinner planned. I also felt like I was cheating by purchasing a cake rather than preparing it at home.
I recently inherited an out-of-print cookbook, The Farm Journal’s Complete Pie Cookbook copyright 1965 and I thumbed through to Chocolate Malt Pie. I was delighted to find that I had the ingredients at home for this quick and easy refrigerated pie that was sure to satisfy as it was listed under “Exciting Chocolate Pies.”
It was a breeze to make this pie. I used the microwave rather than the double boiler as the original recipe recommended. I further reduced the preparation time by using a graham cracker pie crust—I like to keep one in my pantry for quick desserts like this. The result was a smooth, mousse-style pie with a surprisingly rich chocolate flavor for only half a cup of chocolate chips. Enjoyed with cold glasses of milk, this Chocolate Malt Pie was a homemade birthday hit.
The recipe called for heavy cream and I highly recommend it. I tried the recipe with fat-free evaporated milk, which an internet site guaranteed me would whip into stiff peaks. While the milk whipped up nicely, once additional ingredient were added, it made a fizzing sound reminiscent of high school science lab experiments and turned back into a liquid. New research indicates that the fats found in milk and milk products are not as harmful to our health as once thought, so it’s worth sticking to the original recipe. Plus, with a small pie like this one, fewer servings of pie keep your family’s overall calories in check.
Chocolate Malt Pie Recipe
Ingredients:
- 9 " Graham cracker pie crust
- One-half pound large marshmallows (32)
- One-half cup fat-free milk
- One-eighth teaspoon salt
- One-half cup semisweet chocolate pieces, one half of a 6-ounce package
- 1 cup heavy cream
- One-quarter cup chocolate malted milk powder
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- One-third cup chopped walnuts (optional)
Directions:
Combine marshmallows, milk, and salt in microwave on 80% power for three minutes or until marshmallows are melted, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat when marshmallows are melted.
Add chocolate pieces, stirring until they are melted. Cool.
Whip cream until stiff peaks form. Fold malted milk powder and vanilla into cream. Then fold into marshmallow mixture and pour into pie crust. If desired, sprinkle walnuts over top.
Chill several hours before serving.
Cook's Notes
Remove chilled pie from the refrigerator about 20 minutes before serving to soften. Nutrition analysis does not include walnuts. They add about 50 calories and 4 grams of polyunsaturated fats.
Recipe Details
Number of Servings: 8
Total Preparation Time: 15 to 30 minutes
Actual Cooking Time: No Cooking Required
Special Features: Quick to Prepare (under 30 minutes) and Make Ahead
What do you stock in your pantry for an easy dessert?
Trina Robertson, MS, RD is a registered dietitian with a master’s degree in nutrition. As a HealthyEating.org Mom she shares her positive approach to healthy eating with the goal of inspiring others to prepare and enjoy foods from each of the food groups. As a Project Manager with the Dairy Council of California, Trina develops, evaluates, and promotes nutrition education materials for students and adults. At home she enjoys cooking and sharing meals with her family. Her most rewarding accomplishment is that her boys are good eaters and are learning to cook. Follow Trina on Twitter @TrinaR_RD and find more Healthy Eating ideas on Facebook.
Trina Robertson
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