Jack Skellington Black Cocoa Pie (Print View)

Dark, dramatic cocoa treat with rich chocolate and a playful Jack Skellington face—perfect for a festive dessert table.

# Components:

→ Pie Crust

01 - 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed
03 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
04 - 1/4 cup ice water, plus more as needed

→ Chocolate Filling

05 - 1 cup granulated sugar
06 - 1/2 cup black cocoa powder or Dutch-processed cocoa powder
07 - 4 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
08 - 1/4 cup unsalted butter
09 - 1 cup heavy cream
10 - 3 large eggs
11 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
12 - 1/4 teaspoon salt

→ Decoration

13 - 1 large egg yolk
14 - Black food coloring gel, optional
15 - Extra pie dough for face cutouts

# Directions:

01 - Set oven to 350°F.
02 - In a large bowl, combine all-purpose flour and salt. Work in the cold, cubed butter using a pastry cutter or fingertips until coarse crumbs form. Drizzle in ice water and mix just until dough comes together. Divide dough in two, shape each into a disk, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
03 - Roll out one dough disk on a floured surface to fit a 9-inch pie pan. Lay the dough in the pan, trim excess, and chill until ready to fill.
04 - In a medium saucepan, combine granulated sugar, black cocoa powder, chopped bittersweet chocolate, and unsalted butter. Warm over low heat, stirring gently until fully melted and blended. Remove from heat and whisk in heavy cream, eggs, vanilla extract, and salt until smooth and glossy.
05 - Pour prepared chocolate mixture into the chilled pie crust. Smooth the surface with a spatula.
06 - Roll out the second dough disk and use a sharp knife or cutters to create Jack Skellington’s face pieces: two large ovals for eyes, small holes for nostrils, and a stitched mouth. If desired, mix the egg yolk with a drop of black food coloring gel and brush the pieces for extra contrast.
07 - Place Jack Skellington’s face cutouts gently on top of the filled pie, arranging to form the iconic features.
08 - Transfer pie to a preheated oven and bake for 45 minutes, until the filling is set but still slightly wobbly in the middle.
09 - Allow pie to cool completely on a rack, letting the filling firm up before slicing and serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Easy to customize with classic pie ingredients from most pantries
  • Impressive looks without complicated decorating skills
  • Rich chocolate taste with a dramatic black color
  • Perfect centerpiece for Halloween celebrations
  • Makes eight generous slices for sharing
02 -
  • High fiber and protein thanks to cocoa and eggs
  • Pie can be made a day ahead and holds shape well for transporting
  • Gluten free crust works without sacrificing flavor
  • Black cocoa really transforms the look and flavor for a true Halloween vibe
03 -
  • Chill your dough and pastry face pieces as long as you can for crisp definition and easy assembly
  • Let the pie cool fully before slicing, the filling needs time to set for tidy portions
  • Brushing the face cutouts with food colored egg yolk gives an intense black sheen that makes Jack's grin pop

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