Chocolate Pecan Pie

When you just need to indulge, pick pie, pecans and chocolate. You won't be disappointed!

Makes: 8 servings

Best Flaky Pastry:
1 cup Gold Medal all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon shortening or 1/3 cup lard
2 to 3 tablespoons cold water

Pecan Filling:
2/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup butter or margarine, melted
1 cup corn syrup
2 tablespoons bourbon, if desired
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 eggs
1 cup pecan halves or broken pecans
1 bag (6 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips (1 cup)

1. Heat oven to 375 degrees F.

2. In medium bowl, mix flour and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Cut in shortening, using pastry blender or crisscrossing knives, until particles are size of small peas. Sprinkle with cold water, 1 tablespoon at a time, tossing with fork until all flour is moistened and pastry almost leaves side of bowl (1 to 2 teaspoons more water can be added if necessary).

3. Gather pastry into a ball. Shape into flattened round on lightly floured surface. Roll pastry, using floured rolling pin, into circle 2 inches larger than upside-down pie plate, 9 x 1 1/4 inches. Fold pastry into fourths; place in pie plate. Unfold and ease into plate, pressing firmly against bottom and side. Trim overhanging edge of pastry 1 inch from rim of pie plate. Fold and roll pastry under, even with plate; flute as desired.

4. In large bowl, beat sugar, butter, corn syrup, bourbon, 1/2 teaspoon salt and the eggs with hand beater. Stir in pecans and chocolate chips. Pour into pastry-lined pie plate. Cover edge with 2- to 3-inch strip of foil to prevent excess browning; remove foil during last 15 minutes of baking.

5. Bake pie 40 to 50 minutes or until set. Cool 30 minutes. Refrigerate about 2 hours until chilled.

Nutrition Information: 1 Serving: Calories 630 (Calories from Fat 315); Total Fat 35g (Saturated Fat 14g, Trans Fat ncg); Cholesterol 105mg; Sodium 350mg; Total Carbohydrate 76g (Dietary Fiber 3g, Sugars ncg); Protein 6g

Percent Daily Value*: Vitamin A 8%; Vitamin C 0%; Calcium 2%; Iron 10%

Exchanges: nc Other Carbohydrate; nc Vegetable Carbohydrate Choices: nc

*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

Time Saver
Use Betty Crocker pie crust mix for the scratch pie crust in this recipe and save time.

Health Twist
Decrease the butter to 1/4 cup and use only 1/2 cup pecans.

Special Touch
Garnish with whipped cream and Betty Crocker Dessert Decorations chocolate leaves.

Recipe and photograph provided courtesy of Betty Crocker 2008/TM General Mills