Ultimate Brownie Pie

The essence of comfort! I've never had anyone say they didn't LOVE this pie. What's not to love? Everything you could dream of for a luscious dessert treat. Although the directions look long, this is a simple dessert recipe with a very special reward; it's delicious!!!

• Ready In: 1 hr 15 mins
• Serves: 8

Ingredients

• 3⁄4 cup pecans, finely ground
• 1⁄2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1⁄4 cup sugar
• 1  large  egg yolk
• 1⁄4 teaspoon  almond extract
• 1 1⁄2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3⁄4 cup  unsweetened dutch cocoa
• 1 1⁄4 cups butter, unsweetened (melted and cooled)
• 4  large eggs
• 2  cups sugar
• 1⁄2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3⁄4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1⁄2 cup pecans, coarsely chopped

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. CRUST: Place first three ingredients (ground pecans, butter, and sugar) in bowl of mixer and cream until light and smooth.
3. Add egg yolk and almond extract. Gently "pulse" to combine.
4. Slowly add in flour to above and gently mix until JUST holds together.
5. Press dough into bottom and sides of a 10 inch deep dish pie pan. (A quiche dish works nicely).
6. Line the crust with parment paper and weigh down with pie weights or dry beans.
7. Bake for 10 minutes.
8. Remove from oven and take out paper and weights.
9. Return to oven and bake an additional 5 minutes to crisp.
10. Let crust cool while making the filling.
11. FILLING: Whisk cocoa powder into butter until smooth. Set aside.
12. Beat eggs and sugar with electric mixer until light and fluffy (whitish).
13. Add vanilla.
14. Add cocoa mixture, alternating with flour in 3 batches, beating briefly to combine after each addition. Do not over beat.
15. Fold in pecans.
16. Pour filling into prepared pie crust and bake in preheated oven for 35-45 minutes. Pie should just begin to crack on the top but still to soft in the center.
17. Remove from oven and cool slightly before serving.