Crack pie.
I have made this before, in a larger version, a year or two ago now, after reading an article about it. I mean, who wouldn’t want to try something that is called “crack” pie?
I remember taking a slice of it, along with a few other treats, to a friends house when I went over for coffee. And her family fought over it, each vying for the last bite, while all the other baked goods got left behind.
So this year, when her birthday came along, I knew that this was probably the thing to make for her.
I made them little this time, so I could easily transport them, and I gave her a giftbox full of crack pies when we met up for dinner.
We went to her house afterwards, and as soon as we walked in, her mum opened up the box and started eating a little crack pie. Then her dad got in there. And her uncle. And her sister.
All the pies were gone before I left to go home.
I guess they really are delicious, and addictive. I don’t even know what it is about them. That they are so gooey? The combination of textures in the crunchy base and chewy, sticky filling? The caramel tones? The fact that the filling sinks right into the crust?
I don’t know what it is. I just know that they are good.
- FOR THE OATMEAL COOKIE
- 110g unsalted butter (1/2 cup)
- ⅓ cup brown sugar
- 3 tbsp white sugar
- 1 egg
- ⅔ cup + 1 tbsp plain flour
- ⅛ tsp baking powder
- ⅛ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 cup rolled oats
- FOR THE COOKIE CRUST
- oatmeal cookie, crumbled
- 55g unsalted butter, melted (1/4 cup)
- 1½ tbsp brown sugar
- ¼ tsp salt
- FOR THE FILLING
- 1½ cups white sugar
- 1 cup minus 1 tbsp brown sugar
- ½ tsp salt
- ⅓ cup + 1 tsp milk powder
- 220g unsalted butter, melted (1 cup)
- ¾ cup heavy cream
- ½ tsp vanilla
- 8 egg yolks
- FOR THE OATMEAL COOKIE
- Preheat the oven to 190 C (375 F) and line a 9 x 13 inch tray with baking paper.
- Cream the butter, brown sugar and white sugar until light and fluffy. Add the egg and beat well until incorporated.
- Stir in the flour, baking powder, soda and salt until just combined. Mix in the oats.
- Spread evenly into the prepared tray and bake for 20 minutes, until golden brown.
- Allow the cookie to cool completely, then crumble finely.
- FOR THE COOKIE BASE
- Grease 2 x 12 hole muffin tins well. Do yourself a favour and don't line the tins with cupcake liners. I learned the hard way.
- In a stand mixer, food processor or by hand, combine the crumbled cookie, melted butter, brown sugar and salt.
- Divide the crust evenly between the 24 muffin holes, about a ¼ cup per hole.
- Press down into the base and sides to line each hole with an even layer of the cookie crust.
- Set aside as you prepare your filling.
- FOR THE FILLING
- Preheat the oven to 180 C (350 F).
- Mix together the sugars, salt and milk powder.
- Whisk in the melted butter, cream and vanilla.
- Whisk in the egg yolks gently.
- Divide the mixture between the 24 mini crusts. Do not fill them right up to the top. I did and they kind of exploded a little. You may have a little filling left over.
- Bake the pies for 15 minutes, then reduce the heat to 170 C (325 F) and bake for a further 10 minutes or so, until the filling is golden brown and slightly wobbly.
- Allow the mini pies to cool for a few minutes before removing them from the muffin tins and letting them cool on a wire rack.
- Makes 24 mini crack pies. Recipe can be halved.
Adapted from Momofukufor2