Chocolate Easter Bunny Pie

When I got a last minute invitation to Easter dinner with family and friends, I didn't want to go empty handed, even though I wasn't expected to bring anything. So I adapted a Hershey's recipe, plunked on some ears from a chocolate bunny and said the rest was in the pie. It was a hit, and a topic of conversation and teasing. It is easy, delicious and could easily be adapted to other occasions. Could be fun for children to help prepare and decorate. The cook time is actually chill time.

• Ready In: 1 hr 20 mins
• Serves: 6-8
• Yields: 1 pie

Ingredients

• 2  ounces  ghirardelli bittersweet chocolate
• 1  ounce  hershey's  milk chocolate
• 1⁄4 cup butter or 1⁄4 cup margarine, softened
• 8  ounces  neufchatel cheese or 8  ounces light cream cheese, softened
• 3⁄4 cup sugar
• 1  teaspoon vanilla
• 1  teaspoon milk or 1  teaspoon half-and-half or 1  teaspoon  cream
• 2  cups  frozen whipped topping, thawed ( nondairy is okay, store brand is okay too)
• 1 (9 inch)  prepared  chocolate crumb crusts

• Toppings

•  pastel colored  M&M', for sprinkling on top (plus head and ears from a small chocolate rabbit for decoration)

Directions

1. Chunk chocolates and put together in a small microwaveable bowl; heat on high power in thirty second increments until chocolate is melted and smooth when stirred together, about 1 1/2 minutes.
2. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and cream cheese; cream in the sugar, vanilla and milk until all is smooth and well incorporated.
3. Stir the melted chocolate into the cheese mixture until well blended.
4. Fold in the thawed whipped topping until thoroughly mixed, being careful not to beat out the fluffiness of the topping.
5. Scoop the filling into the prepared crust, mounding and smoothing to fit it all inches.
6. Stand the ears in the center, at a little angle if desired; sprinkle some of the M & M's around to give it some color.
7. Chill the pie at least one hour before serving and refrigerate any leftovers.
8. Can be made ahead and frozen up to a couple of months.
9. *The better the chocolate, the better the result! Use bittersweet or unsweetened here, anything else is too sweet.