DIRECTIONS
To make the crust, crush Joe-Joe's in a food processor or blender and measure out 1½ cup of cookie crumbs. Butter a 9-inch glass pie plate. Melt about 3 tablespoons of butter (about 30 seconds in the microwave), and in a large bowl, stir it together with the cookie crumbs.
Using your fingertips, press the cookie and butter mixture firmly into the bottom and sides of the pie plate. Set aside.
To make the brownie filling, preheat oven to 350ยบ F.
Melt remaining stick of butter (1 minute in microwave or use a small saucepan). Melted butter should be creamy looking. Whisk eggs into butter until blended. Add brownie mix and stir until moistened with a rubber spatula. Place brownie mix into center of cookie crust and gently spread evenly from center to edges of pie plate.
Bake for about 30 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
Allow to cool for 30 minutes. While the brownie pie is cooling, prepare the ganache and pretzel toppings.
To make the chocolate ganache topping, heat cream in a pot just until it steams. Put chopped chocolate in a large bowl, pour hot cream on top, and stir until chocolate is melted and incorporated into cream. Roughly chop the 20 pretzels and set aside.
After the brownie filling has cooled, pour the chocolate ganache over the top and spread evenly from center to edges of pie crust. Sprinkle the chopped pretzels over the ganache.
Refrigerate the pie for at least 30 minutes before serving.
Recipe Credit:
Trader Joe's 2011 HiiP Recipe Showdown Winners - Sloane and Doreen Garelick.
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BTW!! Look what i found...below is worth the short read as well as this review from The Sweet Home on their findings and research on discovering and reviewing the absolute best pie plate! Thanks so much, saved all of us so much research and trial/error!!
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BTW!! Look what i found...below is worth the short read as well as this review from The Sweet Home on their findings and research on discovering and reviewing the absolute best pie plate! Thanks so much, saved all of us so much research and trial/error!!
Woohoo -- Amazon Christmas Wish List here 2 of those come (duh, every cook needs a pretty color and a traditional glass one too...sorry I am not sorry!) #WizardInTheKitchen
Santa, O' Jolly Saint Nick, I hope I've been good enough this year!! #Storytelling
Oh and we shouldn't forget to give proper dues to Trader Joe's once again rated best item in a taste test, good thing no one ever gets tired of winning :) love how you let your products speak for themselves. They are the brand and a solid one time and time again.
Congrats on the once again WINNER, the pound plus chocolate specifically chosen because of its ability to make unbelievable ganache...go figure?
THE WINNERS
TRADER JOE'S BELGIAN, 72%
This was the biggest crowdpleaser, not to mention the cheapest. First, to clarify, Trader Joe's has many chocolate offerings: this is the 72% one "imported from Belgium" sold in a 17-ounce slab (pictured) for $4.99, or as a three-pack with smaller 1.67 ounce bars for $1.50. Talk about the best bang for the buck. It's one of those TJ's products that turns shoppers into diehard TJ's-worshiping groupies.
Smooth, nicely balanced, and not intensely bitter, it's better than you think it's going to be. Though a touch too sweet (cough, safe for the milk chocolate fans) it still satisfies as a robustly dark chocolate. Easy to nibble on alone (not abrasive at all), but it also has enough character for fondue, ganache-making, and baking projects.
