Black-Bottomed Dulce de Leche Pie...oh my!!

  Every year several of my closest friends make a pilgrimage to Sylvania Ohio.  We descend on a rather large home complete with the perfect patio and pond view. The house is the home of one of my   longtime friend's little sister (also my friend). We all lovingly call this house Paula's B and B because she is the best hostess ever. This stay is always full of great food, awesome beverages, wonderful friends, tons of relaxation and laughter. And generally, she supplies all of the above in abundance! But I always enjoy making something to take with me on this grand trip.

  And this my friends is where the Black Bottom Dulce de Leche Pie comes into play. As some of you may remember, I have a part time job at Williams Sonoma. Now, this is a fun place to work full of awesome products and yummy food. Sometimes this is a problem.... like when the superb  Argentinian dulce de leche is on sale and you feel compelled to buy two jars. Then you find yourself eating almost a whole jar in less than a week. It is a problem. A big problem. The only solution is to make something out of the remaining yumminess before you explode in a cloud of milk caramel. Enter our star...the Black Bottom Dulce de Leche Pie!

Let me tell you... This is a deliciously easy pie to make. And it requires no baking. Give it a whirl. You will enjoy it - both the making and the eating!!

First make the Oreo crust. It only requires two ingredients. And just needs to spend a bit of time in the fridge before the filling is added.

Here's a simple way to shape the crust. Use the back side of a measuring cup to help press the crumble into the pie plate. It makes it super easy!

Make the ganache. I use a microwave but you need to be careful not to melt the chocolate to quickly.  In my tiny low powered microwave, I did about 45 seconds with a pause in between for whisking.

Add the ganache to the chilled pie crust. Chill. Try not to eat it all before it gets in there.

Whip the heavy cream and set it aside. This is when a second mixer bowl would come in handy!

In another bowl mix together the dulce de leche, cream cheese, vanilla and sugar. Blend until creamy. And again, try not to eat it all. You will make yourself sick!!

Fold the whip cream into the dulche de leche mixture. 

Carefully spoon the caramel cream on top on the ganache. 

Doesn't that look divine? 

Make some more ganache to top the pie. I like to spoon this mixture into a small ziploc bag.  Then I snip off the very end and use it to make designs on the top. 

For the crust:

24 whole oreos

1/4 cup unsalted butter

In a medium bowl or food processor,  add the Oreos and blend until the texture of coarse meal. Add the butter and blend until well combined. Place the mixture into your pie plate and press on the bottom and sides evenly. It helps to use the back side of a measuring cup. Refrigerate the crust for at least an hour before use. 

For the Pie:

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

1/3 cup heavy cream

8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature

1/2 cup dulce de leche, room temperature

1/4 cup sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

3/4 cup heavy whipped heavy whipping cream with 1 tbsp sugar added

For the Topping:

1/3 cup semisweet chocolate chips

1 tbsp heavy cream

Instructions:

Put 1 cup chocolate chips and 1/3 cup heavy cream in a microwave safe container. Heat for 45  seconds or so until smooth after whisking. Pour this mixture into your prepare pie crust and chill until you are ready to add the other layer.

Whip 3/4 cup heavy cream in the bowl of a stand mixer until the cream has fairly stiff peaks.  Adding  1 tbsp sugar just after the cream starts to form peaks. Set aside.

Beat the dulce de leche, cream cheese, sugar and vanilla in a mixture until smooth. Fold in the whipped cream. Spread this mixture on top of the ganache in the bottom of the crust.

Melt the remaining 1/3 cup chocolate chips and 1 tbsp heavy cream for about 20 seconds (Time will vary depending on microwave) being careful not to heat too quickly. Stir until smooth. Use this to make beautiful designs on the top of the dulce de leche layer.

Now eat and enjoy!!