Carrot Cake Pie

If you have ever made a "cake pie", I'm sure you would agree that they are very addicting.  A couple years ago for Thanksgiving I made a "cake pie" and it's one of my favorite types of pie desserts.  This carrot cake pie I made for Easter dessert, as well.  This was definitely the family favorite.  Between my sister and I, it's pretty safe to say that carrot cake is one of my favorite all-time desserts and red velvet is hers.  However, she may have converted {but probably not complete} after having carrot cake pie.  Everyone must give this recipe a try! 

Carrot Cake Pie
{Original recipe from: Crazy for Crust}

     1 premade pie crust {or you can use your favorite homemade recipe}

1 cup flour

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/8 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1 1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/8 tsp ginger

1/4 cup butter, melted

1 tsp vanilla

1 egg

1 cup shredded carrots

For the frosting:

1/4 cup white chocolate chips

5 oz cream cheese

1 Tbsp butter

1/2 tsp vanilla

3/4 cup powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 350ºF

Line a pie pan with pie crust, crimping the edges

Combine:  flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and ginger in mixing bowl. Then, cream together butter and sugar with mixer, then stir in eggs and vanilla until combined

Stir dry ingredients into wet until combined.  Fold in carrots

**Note: the batter will be very thick and it isn't a large amount, either. 

Pour batter into pie crust and bake for 25-30 minutes - until top is set and toothpick comes out nearly clean.  If edges of pie crust start to brown, cover with protector or aluminum foil. Cool completely before frosting.

Frosting:

Melt white chocolate chips in a small bowl in the microwave on 50% at 30 second increments, until melted.  Let cool slightly.

In a separate bowl, beat cream cheese and 1 Tbsp butter with mixer until creamy.  Then, beat in melted white chocolate.  Stir in vanilla.  Slowly beat in small amounts of powdered sugar, until well combined.  Frost the pie how you would like - you can either spread a layer on top, or use a piping tip to decorate.

*My photo was taken before I frosted it.  I used a piping tip to add the frosting.

Enjoy!!!

Coconut Cream {Easter} Pies

While hunting for what I was going to bake for Easter dessert, I came upon several recipes that sparked my interest.  I finally narrowed it down to 2 - Coconut Cream Pies and Carrot Cake Pie.  Deciding between the two recipes was near impossible because Chris's favorite dessert is coconut cream pie and my favorite dessert is carrot cake.  I asked my family what sounded good and their reply - "Both sound good!" I decided to make both.  The coconut cream pies were baked individually  which worked well for smaller portions.  You could put the recipe together and make one large pie, I guess.  

The recipe for the coconut cream pies can be found in the cookbook Desserts in a Jar.  Chris and Laney got me the cookbook for Christmas and is filled with all sorts of fun recipes!  I also found the recipe on Crazy for Crust's blog {love this blog, by the way!}.  I followed the directions step by step, but somehow my pudding mixture was still soupy after several hours of being chilled.  So, I had to adapt the recipe a bit.  I added in approx 1 1/2 pkg of coconut cream instant pudding mix {by Jell-O}.  So... if you encounter the same problem, just make sure you have some coconut cream instant pudding on hand to help thicken it up!  

Also, I did not make the meringue topping.  I simply used fat-free, sugar-free cool whip.  If you are interested in making the meringue topping, you can follow click on the link above to Crazy for Crust and find the instructions there. 

*The colored ramekins were purchased at World Market (only $1.95 for each).

Coconut Cream {Easter} Pies

1 pkg refrigerated Pilsbury pie crust

3 c. milk {I used skim}

2/3 c. sugar

5 large egg yolks

1/4 c. cornstarch

2 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 tsp coconut extract, optional

1 c. coconut, plus extra for toppings

Fat-free, sugar-free Cool Whip

Mini easter egg candy -

{I used Cadbury mini eggs for some and M&M eggs for others}

 6-8 Mini ramekins or glass jars

Roll out pie crust and bake in bottom of ramekins per instructions on box.

*I had some extra pie crust, so I baked it on a baking sheet and then crumbled it on the bottom of each ramekin

In a large {heatproof} bowl, whisk together egg yolks and sugar.  Whisk togehter {by hand} until smooth, will become light yellow in color.  Set to side.

In a medium sized sauce pan, add milk and cornstarch.  Set over medium heat until bubbles begin to form around the edges, stirring constantly {about 5 minutes}.  While the mixture is hot, pour approximately 1/2 cup into the bowl with the egg yolks and sugar - whisk together to temper the eggs.  Then, whisk in approximately another 1/2 cup of the hot milk mixutre into the eggs.  Pour the entire egg/milk mixture back in the sauce pan.  Place back on medium heat and continue heating until it thickens {approx 2 minutes}. 

Remove from heat and add in vanilla extract, coconut extract {if desired}, and coconut.  Place pudding mixture into fridge for several hours to continue to thicken and chill. 

If your mixture is not thick enough, or pudding-like, add some coconut cream instant pudding mix until it is thickened to your liking, I used approx 1 1/2 small pkgs of the instant pudding mix. 

In a small pan, over medium heat, add coconut - stirring constantly {can burn easily} until toasted and browned. 

Divide pudding mix evenly into ramekins.  Top with cool whip, sprinkle with toasted coconut.  Add mini easter egg candy, if desired. 

Enjoy!!!