German Chocolate Cream Pie

9" Pie

1 recipe Cheerios Chocolate Pie Crust

1-1/2  cups Sugar
1/3     cup Cornstarch
1/2     teaspoon salt
3        cups whole milk
4        each egg yolks, slightly beaten
1        tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon vanilla
2        oz. melted unsweetened chocolate
1        scant teaspoon coffee crystals

Prepare pie crust.  Stir together sugar, cornstarch and salt in saucepan.  Blend milk and egg yolks, gradually stir into sugar mixture.  Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens and boils.

Yes the pudding is not perfectly smooth, this does not affect the taste.

Boil and stir 1 minute.  Remove from heat; blend in coffee crystals vanilla and melted chocolate. Immediately pour into pie shell:  press plastic crap onto filling.  Chill pie thoroughly, about 2 hours.

Topping
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
1/4 cup butter, cubed
2 egg yolks
1 cup flaked coconut
1 teaspoon McCormick® Pure Vanilla Extract
1/4 cup chopped pecans

In a small heavy saucepan, combine brown sugar, cream and butter. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring to dissolve sugar. Remove from heat.
In a small bowl, whisk a small amount of hot mixture into egg yolks; return all to pan, whisking constantly. Cook 2-3 minutes or until mixture thickens and a thermometer reads 160°, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Stir in coconut, pecans and vanilla; cool 10 minutes.

Carefully pour over chilled filling; sprinkle with additional pecans.

Refrigerate 4 hours or until cold. Yield: 8 servings.

Recipe for the topping from Taste of Home Magazine.