A creamy chocolate pie with a hint of whiskey? What more could you want!?
What is Tennessee Silk Pie you may ask? Well, being from Tennessee I decided to improve on my mother’s classic recipe for French Silk Pie and add a bit of Jack Daniels – because everything is better with a little bit of Jack, right? The addition of the charcoal filtered whiskey gives the pie a hint of smokiness and caramel, a perfect compliment to the chocolate. Unveiling the pie at a recent party, I had multiple requests for the recipe – so I knew a hit had been born!
This is a really easy to make recipe but it does take time. The key to making good french silk pie is spending the time to beat the mixture after the addition of each egg. Whisking the eggs for the length of time called for in this recipe is what gives French Silk Pie it’s delicate fluffiness, don’t cut corners! I love this recipe and make it for just about any function where I have to bring a desert. It’s usually gone in minutes!
How to Make Tennessee Silk Pie
First, start by gathering your ingredients. I’d say high quality eggs and chocolate will go a long way in the quality of the pie you make.
- Pre-heat the oven and bake your pie crust according to the instructions given. When the crust has baked, let it cool
- Note: It is important to poke holes in the crust before baking!
- Meanwhile, take the softened butter and cream it with the sugar in a mixer
- Add the melted chocolate , vanilla, and whiskey (0ptional). I melt the chocolate using a sauce pan floating in a pan of hot water to avoid burning it, let it cool for a bit before adding to the mixture
- Begin adding the eggs, I start with the yolks first. Remember it’s extremely important to beat the mixture for 20 minutes after adding each egg & egg yolk. Remind me to add a stand mixer to my wedding registry….
- Finally, add the mixture to the cooled pie crust
Put the pie in the fridge overnight to set and you will be rewarded with a delicious, easy to make Tennessee Silk Pie!!
Tennessee Silk Pie Ingredients and Instructions
- 1 Pre-made Pie crust. I use Trader Joe's when they have it
- 1 stick of butter (unsalted)
- 2 egg yolk
- 2 eggs
- ¾ cup of sugar
- 2 oz of high end, unsweetened chocolate
- 1.5 tsp of vanilla
- 2 tbs of Jack Daniels (optional)
- 1 cup of heavy whipping cream
- 2 tbs of powdered sugar
- 1 tsp of vanilla
- Bake the pie crust according to directions on the box. Remember to poke holes in the crust before baking it to prevent the crust from bubbling.
- Soften the butter (Let it sit out for a few hours or with a microwave - careful we want it softened but not liquid!)
- Meanwhile soften the chocolate using a double boiler (or in the microwave) and let cool
- When the butter has softened cream it with the sugar using a beater
- Mix in the cooled chocolate, whiskey (optional) and vanilla
- Mix in the egg yolks one at a time, beating for 5 minutes each. Repeat for each of the two eggs for a total whisking time of 20 minutes. Don't skimp! The long whisking time gives the silk in French Silk Pie 🙂
- Pour the mixture into the cooled, baked crust and let it sit the fridge, covered, overnight
- The next day serve with the whipped cream and enjoy!
- In a metal bowl pour in the heavy whipping cream and add the vanilla
- Using a whisk, begin whipping using wide strokes. The key is to try and introduce air into the milk.
- When the cream starts to thicken add the sugar.
- Continue whipping the cream until soft peaks begin to form, typically about 5 minutes
For best results, the whipped cream should be made right before serving.
The song Whip It, by Devo played twice is the perfect length of time for making the whipped cream, no joke! Careful though, go any longer and you risk turning the whipped cream into butter!
While the whiskey is what transforms the pie from French Silk into Tennessee Silk, you can easily leave it out and still have an extremely delicious pie!
You should note that the eggs in this recipe are uncooked. While I'm personal ok with eating raw eggs (I mean how many of us snack on cookie dough?) I'd say that this recipe should be avoided by those that are pregnant, very young, very old, or with a compromised immune system. Also I'd try and use the best quality of eggs you can get your hands on.
That looks awesome. I am totally going to try this recipe out.
It is! Let me know how it works out!
You don’t COOK the eggs? Does the bourbon do that?
Traditional French Silk pie (which this recipe is based on) uses raw eggs. While eating raw eggs is generally safe, as I say in my notes section, it be avoided by those that are pregnant, very young, very old, or with a compromised immune system. Also I’d try and use the best quality of eggs you can get your hands on.