Chocolate Velvet Pie

Heavenly rich chocolate pie came from my mother's coveted recipe box. I guarantee chocolate lovers will be asking you to make again and again and again!!

• Ready In: 25 mins
• Serves: 10-12

Ingredients

• Crust

• 1  box  chocolate wafer
• 1⁄3 cup  melted margarine

• Filling

• 8  ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1⁄4 cup sugar
• 1  teaspoon vanilla
• 2  eggs, separated
• 1⁄4 cup sugar
• 6  ounces  semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1  cup heavy cream, whipped
• 3⁄4 cup pecans, chopped (optional)

Directions

1. Crush chocolate wafers, finely, to make 1 1/2 cups of crumbs.
2. Combine with melted margarine and press into bottom of pie plate.
3. Bake at pie crust 325 degrees for 10 minutes.
4. Cool pie crust.
5. While pie crust is baking-- Soften cream cheese and add 1/4 cup sugar and vanilla, mixing until well blended and set mixture aside.
6. Melt chocolate chips in sauce pan, constantly stirring so not to burn the chocolate.
7. Also, seperate (keeping the whites on the side) and beat 2 egg yolks.
8. Stir beaten egg yolks, and chocolate chips which have been melted into set aside mixture.
9. Beat egg whites until soft peaks form, then gradually beat egg whites into 1/4 cup sugar.
10. Fold into chocolate mixture.
11. Fold whipped cream into the mixture.
12. Pour over crust.
13. Refrigerate or freeze.
14. Can top with pecans or include the pecans inside the mixture.
15. Can also top with"chocolate leaves" or chocolate shavings.