Chef Tom brings the sweetness with this Chocolate Custard Pie with Peanut Butter Whipped Cream prepared on the Yoder Smokers YS640s Pellet Grill.
WHAT YOU'LL LOVE
- Blind-baking the crust with pie weights: Weighing down the crust with beans while it bakes keeps it from puffing up or sliding down the sides, giving you a flat, sturdy base for the custard.
- Blooming the cornstarch and sugar before adding the liquid: Whisking them together dry, off the heat, before slowly whisking in the milk and eggs prevents lumps that would form if cornstarch were added directly to a hot liquid.
- Straining the custard before chilling: Passing it through a strainer catches any bits of overcooked egg or undissolved cornstarch, giving the finished custard a perfectly smooth texture.
- Torching the banana slices instead of just laying them on raw: Caramelizing the sugar on top of each banana slice with a torch builds a brûléed crust and warm caramel flavor that raw banana wouldn't have, adding contrast to the cold pie underneath.
Chocolate Custard Pie with Peanut Butter Whipped Cream
Tom Jackson
Rated 4.4 stars by 5 users
Category
Dessert
Cuisine
American
Servings
8
Prep Time
30 minutes
Cook Time
30 minutes
Calories
641
Indulge your sweet tooth with Chef Tom's recipe for delicious Chocolate Custard Pie with Peanut Butter Whipped Cream, baked on the Yoder Smokers YS640s Pellet Grill. Enjoy the perfect combination of rich chocolate and creamy peanut butter for a uniquely smoky dessert!
Ingredients
- 9 oz (2 cups) Biscoff cookies (or graham crackers), crumbled
- 1/2 cup unsalted Butter
-
1/4 cup Noble Saltworks Smoked turbinado
-
1/2 tsp Smoked salt
- 2 cups half and half
- 1 cup dark chocolate chips
- 4 large egg yolks
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
-
Pinch of kosher salt
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 3/4 cup creamy peanut butter
- 3 tbsp white sugar
- 1 cup + 2 tbsp heavy cream
-
Pinch Noble Saltworks Whiskey Barrel Smoked Salt
Cookie Pie Crust:
Dark Chocolate Custard:
Peanut Butter Whipped Cream:
Directions
- Preheat your Yoder Smokers YS640s Pellet Grill to 375ºF, set up for indirect grilling.
- Combine all ingredients for the pie crust in a food processor, and process until the mixture begins to hold together. Turn out into a Lodge Cast Iron Pie Pan and press into the bottom of the pan to compact the crust.
- Place a sheet of parchment paper over the crust. Weigh down the paper with dry beans or pie weights. Transfer to the second shelf of the grill and bake for 30 minutes. Remove from the grill and cool to room temperature. Then, remove the beans and parchment paper and place the crust (in the cast iron pan) in the refrigerator to chill.
- In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs and half and half.
- In a dutch oven (off the heat), whisk together the sugar, cornstarch and salt. Slowly whisk in the milk and egg mixture. Heat over medium heat until the mixture thickens. When large bubbles start to bubble up from the bottom, cook one minute longer, stirring constantly, then remove from the heat.
- Add the chocolate, vanilla extract and butter to the custard and whisk to melt. Strain into a medium sized bowl. Cover with plastic wrap, placing the wrap directly on the surface of the custard. Transfer to the refrigerator to chill.
- To make the peanut butter whipped cream, combine the peanut butter and sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer. Whisk over high speed until lightened in color and texture. Scrape the sides. Whisk over medium speed while slowly adding the heavy cream. When all of the cream is in the bowl, add a pinch of Noble Saltworks Whiskey Barrel Smoked Salt, then crank up the speed to high. Whisk until stiff peaks are formed. Transfer to a piping bag fitted with a star tip and transfer to the refrigerator to chill.
- When all components are cold, spread the dark chocolate custard evenly in the pie crust. Then pipe the peanut butter whipped cream in dollops on top of the custard to cover the surface of the pie.
- Slice a banana into 8-10 medallions. Cover the top sliced surface with 1-2 tbsp white sugar. Melt the sugar with a torch to caramelize the sugar. Let cool, then place the bruleed slices of banana on top of the peanut butter whipped cream, spacing them evenly.
- Store in the refrigerator until ready to serve. Slice and serve cold.
Recipe Note
Recipe FAQ
Why weigh down the crust with beans while it bakes?
Blind-baking with pie weights keeps the crust from puffing up or sliding down the sides of the pan as it bakes, giving you a flat, even base to hold the custard once it's filled.
Why whisk the cornstarch and sugar together dry before adding the milk and eggs?
Combining them off the heat first, then slowly whisking in the liquid, keeps the cornstarch from clumping. Adding cornstarch directly to a hot liquid is what causes lumps in a custard.
Why strain the custard before chilling it?
Straining catches any bits of overcooked egg or undissolved cornstarch, so the finished custard comes out perfectly smooth instead of grainy.
Why cover the custard with plastic wrap pressed directly onto its surface?
Pressing the wrap right onto the custard prevents a skin from forming as it cools, which would otherwise leave a rubbery layer on top once sliced.
Why torch the banana slices instead of adding them raw?
Caramelizing sugar on top of each slice builds a brûléed crust and warm caramel flavor that contrasts with the cold pie underneath — raw banana wouldn't add that same textural or flavor layer.
Is it safe to eat the custard with only four egg yolks cooked this way?
Yes — cooking the custard on the stovetop until it thickens and bubbles fully cooks the egg yolks, unlike a raw-egg preparation. This is a fully cooked custard, safe to chill and serve cold.
How indoor-friendly is this recipe?
5 out of 5 — every component here is made on the stovetop, in a stand mixer, or with a kitchen torch; the pellet grill is only being used as an outdoor oven for the crust, which bakes identically in a regular oven.
Recipe Highlights
Weighted blind-bake: Keeps the crust flat and structurally sound.
Dry-bloomed cornstarch: Prevents lumps in the custard base.
Strained custard: Removes any texture issues before chilling.
Torched banana garnish: Adds warm caramelized contrast to a cold pie.
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Nutrition
Nutrition
- Nutrition Serving Size
- 10.07 oz
- per serving
- Calories
- 641
- Carbs
- 57 grams
- Protein
- 7 grams
- Fat
- 45 grams
- Sodium
- 327 milligrams
