Chocolate Fudge Pie

This is so decadent and delicious, but then again when don't I like something chocolate. It is like a big brownie with a crust and an orange cream cheese frosting which makes it all that much better. I did not have any orange liqueur but I used orange extract. If you look at the package it has some 40% alcohol in it and only requires 1 teaspoon extract to equal the 1 tablespoon of orange liqueur. I found this recipe searching my mom's recipes; it comes from AmericanProfile.com, Perry Schwartz of Cornersville, Tennessee.



A slice of this decadent pie


2- 9 inch deep dish pie crusts
FILLING:
1 c. (2 sticks) butter
4 oz. semi-sweet chocolate
2 c. sugar
4 eggs
2 tbsp. vanilla extract
3/4 c. flour
2/3 c. cocoa powder
TOPPING:
4 oz. cream cheese, softened
1/3 c. heavy cream
2 tbsp. orange liqueur = 1 tsp. orange extract or 1 tbsp. lemon juice
3/4 c. powdered sugar

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Bake pie crusts for 5 minutes, remove and reduce heat to 325 degrees.
2. To prepare filling, melt butter and chocolate in double boiler on low heat. Mix well and remove from heat.
3.Combine sugar and eggs in a medium bowl; beat with mixer at medium-high until ribbons form, about 10 minutes. Add vanilla.
4. Combine flour and cocoa in medium bowl, mix well. Use firm spatula, fold melted chocolate into egg mixture. Add flour mixture and stir just until blended. Pour into pie crusts. Place on baking sheet and bake 50 minutes. Pie is done when it is puffed and cracks all over the top. Remove from oven and cool on wire rack 30 minutes.Put 10-inch piece parchment paper on top and place large plate on it's surface. Refrigerate over night.
5. To prepare topping, combine cream cheese and liqueur in medium bowl; beat with mixer at medium speed until blended. Reduce speed to love and gradually add powdered sugar; beat until smooth. Transfer to large zip-lock bag and cut off corner and drizzle topping over each piece before serving. Or you could just do what I did and drizzle it over with a spoon.

2 pies, 8 servings each; 16 servings total

NUTRITIONAL INFO: 400 calories, 25g fat, 5g protein, 45g carbohydrates, 1g fiber, 210mg sodium.