Chocolate Espresso Pie Bars

Chocolate Espresso Pie Bars

These are a wonderful way to have chocolate pie without rolling out a pie crust!
Course Thanksgiving
Servings 45 bars

Ingredients
  

Crust

  • 1 cup unsalted butter melted, plus more for brushing pan
  • 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
  • ¼ cup light brown sugar packed
  • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt

Filling

  • ¾ cup unsalted butter cut into large cubes
  • ½ cup dark chocolate chips
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon espresso powder
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
  • 3 eggs

Instructions
 

Crust

  • Preheat the oven to 350°.              
  • Brush a 13" x 9" rimmed cookie sheet with melted butter.  Line the baking sheet with parchment paper, leaving a 1" overhang.
  • In a large bowl, combine the flour with brown sugar and salt, mixing with a fork.
  • Drizzle in the 2 sticks of melted butter and stir with a fork until a lumpy dough forms.
  • Press the dough evenly over the bottom and up the sides of the prepared baking sheet.  Refrigerate until firm, about 15 minutes.
  •  Line the pie crust with parchment paper and fill the top with pie weights.
  • Bake in the center of the oven for 20 minutes.  Remove the pie weights and parchment paper and continue baking until very light brown.  Transfer the crust to a wire rack to cool for one hour.

Filling

  • Reduce the oven to 325°.
  • Make the filling in a double boiler over simmering water.
  • Melt the diced butter with the chocolate chips, stirring occasionally until smooth.
  • Stir in the vanilla and remove the bowl from heat.
  • Whisk in the granulated sugar, espresso, cinnamon, and salt until blended.
  • Whisk in the eggs one at a time.
  • Pour the filling into the cooled crust.  Bake for about 30-45 minutes or until the center is set and the top begins to crack.  
  • Transfer the pie to a wire rack to cool completely, about 2 hours.  Cut into bars.

Notes

Recipe adapted from Food and Wine Magazine.