Friday, November 12, 2010

I'M HOOKED-MOMOFUKO'S CRACK PIE


One of my favorite downtown stops is the Momofuko Milk Bar famous for its insanely delicious soft serve custard.The flavors are interesting and intense-you just don't come to the Milk Bar for vanilla.  On a recent visit while pondering a cup of gingerbread or caramel apple custard a cake stand with an unpretentious, homey pie caught my eye.  And so did its audacious name- Crack pie. Totally legal of course, but so addictive and delicious it should be outlawed, Crack pie is a brilliant update of the classic Chess Pie. Made with pantry staples like butter, eggs, sugar and vanilla, the magic of Crack pie is in its oatmeal crust made with a homemade oat cookie. The rustic crust melds beautifully with a gooey buttery filling-hungry yet?

Momofuko is selling the pies as quickly as they are being made at an eye-dropping $44.00 a pie but I found the recipe online and suggest you give it a try.  Make two-I promise you'll be hooked!I

Momofuko's Crack Pie
adapted by the LA Times

Cookie for crust
2/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon (3 ounces) flour
Scant 1/8 teaspoon baking powder
Scant 1/8 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) softened butter
1/3 cup (2 1/2 ounces) light brown sugar
3 tablespoons (1 1/4 ounces) sugar
1 egg
Scant 1 cup (3 1/2 ounces) rolled oats
1. Heat the oven to 375 degrees.
2. In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
3. In the bowl of a stand mixer using the paddle attachment, or in a large bowl using an electric mixer, beat the butter, brown sugar and sugar until light and fluffy.
4. Whisk the egg into the butter mixture until fully incorporated.
5. With the mixer running, beat in the flour mixture, a little at a time, until fully combined. Stir in the oats until incorporated.
6. Spread the mixture onto a 9-inch-by-13-inch baking sheet and bake until golden brown and set, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat and cool to the touch on a rack. Crumble the cooled cookie to use in the crust.
Crust
Crumbled cookie for crust
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter
1 1/2 tablespoons (3/4 ounce) brown sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
Combine the crumbled cookie, butter, brown sugar and salt in a food processor and pulse until evenly combined and blended (a little of the mixture clumped between your fingers should hold together). Divide the crust between 2 (10-inch) pie tins. Press the crust into each shell to form a thin, even layer along the bottom and sides of the tins. Set the prepared crusts aside while you prepare the filling.
Filling
1 1/2 cups (10 1/2 ounces) sugar
3/4 cup plus a scant 3 tablespoons (7 ounces) light brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup plus 1 teaspoon (3/4 ounce) milk powder
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, melted
3/4 cup plus a scant 2 tablespoons heavy cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
8 egg yolks
2 prepared crusts
Powdered sugar, garnish

1. Heat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together the sugar, brown sugar, salt and milk powder. Whisk in the melted butter, then whisk in the heavy cream and vanilla.
3. Gently whisk in the egg yolks, being careful not to add too much air.
4. Divide the filling evenly between the 2 prepared pie shells.
5. Bake the pies, one at a time, for 15 minutes, then reduce the heat to 325 degrees and bake until the filling is slightly jiggly and golden brown (similar to a pecan pie), about 10 minutes. Remove the pies and cool on a rack.
6. Refrigerate the cooled pies until well chilled. The pies are meant to be served cold, and the filling will be gooey. Dust with powdered sugar before serving.

8 comments:

Suburban Princess said...

I keep hearing about this pie - one of these days I will have to try it!

Stephanie @ La Dolce Vita said...

That looks sooo good! I am trying to behave though, so I'll save this post as a reward one day! Have a great weekend!

Town and Country House said...

My Nannie made the most delicious chess pie, so I will have to try this over the holidays. It sounds amazing!

The Buzz Blog said...

This pie could become a new Thanksgiving tradition! Sounds absolutely illegal, sinful and delicious...
Happy weekend!

Splendid Sass said...

I have heard about this pie and have been trying to find the recipe. THANK YOU!
Have a great weekend.
Teresa

quintessence said...

OMG - this looks delicious. Am printing out the recipe and will hope to have time to try over the holiday when all the kids are home to share!

Hamptontoes said...

Your review has me drooling into my computer keyboard! This sounds too good to not try...I'm thinking I'll have to make soon...thanks for sharing the recipe.

Bardot in Blue said...

haha crack pie! it looks like it is that deliciously addictive! thanks for the recipe and that ornaments on the lawn pic is just too funny!

xoxo Haleigh @ BB