1 9" pie crust...whatever kind you like. I make a press-in tart crust and put it in an 11" quiche pan that I think my husband and I got as a wedding gift a zillion years ago. But this recipe works just fine in a 9" pie pan. If you're using a refrigerated crust, make sure it's been baked for about 10 minutes but no more. If it's a crumb crust (Oreo, graham, whatever) that you're making yourself, bake it for about 5 minutes. The crust does not need to be cooled before you fill it. If you're buying a prebaked crumb crust, you'll all set.
Filling:
1 1/2 cups chocolate chips (semisweet, bittersweet, dark) OR 9 ounces chocolate (not more than 60% cacao, though), finely chopped
3 egg whites without so much as a trace of yolk in them, in a very clean bowl
1/4 tsp. cream of tartar (yes, this matters)
1 teaspoon vanilla
6 tablespoons sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt (yes, this matters too)
Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Meanwhile, melt the chocolate chips or chopped chocolate in a large bowl or saucepan until smooth and, well, melted. (The microwave is the best place to melt chocolate, BTW.) Make sure there is NO water on them or in the bowl or you will have a mess. Set aside.
In a very clean bowl with very clean beaters (wipe down with a little vinegar if you're not sure...are you sure?), beat the egg whites, vanilla, and cream of tartar until they form soft, droopy peaks. Add the sugar and salt and beat until they form stiff peaks but are NOT dry. Pour the whites over the melted chocolate and GENTLY fold in until you don't have big streaks of chocolate. Pour/spoon into your prepared pie shell and smooth the top. Bake at 350 for about 10 minutes until the surface looks dry and starts to crack a little. Don't overbake! Remove from oven and cool at least a little or all the way. Can be served warm, at room temp, or chilled. Serve with decorations and adornments.
Adornments and decorations:
whipped cream (any "version")
shaved chocolate or chocolate syrup or mini chocolate chips or raspberry sauce or strawberry sauce or fresh berries or whatever
Makes 1 9" pie.
http://guiltychocoholicmama.blogspot.com/2017/01/life-by-chocolate-pie.html