Sunday, August 21, 2011

Chocolate Cheesecake Trifle


I was in the middle a pie frenzy when my hand mixer crapped out on me.  Smoke.....angry sounds...it was toast.  After wacking it on the counter a few times.....rage plus percussive maintenance can occasionally work some magic.....I gave up and chucked that puppy into the trash.

I now had unwhipped cream cheese.  Translate this to tiny chunks of cream cheese throughout my pie filling.  Not a good look.  I tried working them out by hand and it was taking foooooorever so that was a no go.  I could have gotten away with this chunk style filling if I had planned a whipped topping over the pie filling, but no, I was only planning a chocolate drizzle top with some chocolate covered pretzels here and there.

Solution, toss pie filling and crust into pretty glasses and move on.  I will make a gorgeous pie next time...I promise.  Friggin mixer.

Technical difficulties aside....this treat tastes amaaaaaazing.


Chocolate Cheesecake Trifle

Graham Pretzel Crust

1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs (one sleeve)
1 cup pretzels crumbs
3/4 cup butter, melted
1/3 cup brown sugar

Mix together graham cracker crumbs, pretzel crumbs, and brown sugar.  Stir in melted butter.  Set aside.
 
Chocolate Pie Filling
3 cups skim milk
4 egg yolks, beaten
1/3 cup cornstarch
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 tbls vanilla
12oz milk chocolate chips, melted
2 - 8oz blocks reduced fat cream cheese

In a saucepan mix together cornstarch, salt, and sugar.  Whisk the yolks and milk together.  Add the milk mixture to the saucepan and stir everything together.  Heat over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture boils.  Boil for one minute before removing from heat.  Stir in vanilla and melted, milk chocolate.  Pour into a bowl, press plastic wrap to the top of the chocolate filling, and refrigerate for a couple hours. 

Mix chocolate filling with cream cheese.  Fold crust mixture gently into pie filling.  Spoon into cups.  Garnish with chocolate and pretzels.


41 comments:

  1. These look so good and decadent. I want to lick my screen right now. Thanks for sharing.

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  2. Great save...these look fantastic. I looooove chocolate and pretzels, I'm a big sweet & salty fan =)

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  3. This looks amazing, excellent design on top.

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  4. Sorry that your mixer died, but your trifles were a great solution. They look perfect with the pretzels and chocolate on top!

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  5. These look amazing, who needs pie? Love them!

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  6. They look very beautiful with chocolate drizzled pretzels.

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  7. Oh, my! You worked magic with adversity! Lovely, decadent trifles :)

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  8. Great creation in the moment of mixer failure! I would love to have this decadent trifle for dessert-yum!

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  9. LOL percussive maintainance. At least it didn't go to waste!

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  10. Your trifles look-to-die-for!! I love the presentation with the wine glasses, it's a very nice touch.

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  11. These are incredible!! So decadent and sinfully delicious, love the addition of the pretzels, yum!! :)

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  12. "When the mixer dies, improvise." My new mantra. I like the adaptation.

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  13. Way to improvise! These trifles do look so very rich and decadent! The perfect chocolately treat!

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  14. Wow! These are a chocoholics dream come true! And I think they look great in the wine glasses! :)

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  15. Equipment failure is the mother of invention! Absurdly good dessert! Sorry your hand mixer went south, but we are all the beneficiaries...

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  16. Wow It looks truly divine! I want some!

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  17. Great save when your mixer died! As long as it tastes good, that's what I always say.

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  18. I hope you get a new mixer soon. But if it wasn’t for that you wouldn’t make this delish dessert! So I guess it was good for something =)

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  19. ::drools:: OH MY WORD....these are like....dangerously delicious looking!

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  20. It looks really decadent! I'm glad you did not let technical difficulties stop you :)

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  21. I'm glad you had the malfunction because these look seriously amazing! You did a fantastic job in spite of the difficulties!

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  22. Great outcome in idea while some thing did not go right and looks very interesting.

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  23. so sorry to hear your mixer died :(
    the cheesecake looks great, one can never tell was the result of a technical problem

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  24. Oh girl, I need a spoon. These look delicious.

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  25. I think you completely saved the day. These look amazing! That had to be hugely annoying to lose your mixer but I think you may have invented a new dessert with those cups of bliss. :) I want one!!

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  26. Ok, this looks amazing! Mixer problems or not, I would make this again!

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  27. What a great idea to make this delicious trifle when your mixer died! Yummy! :)

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  28. They don't make anything like they used to, do they. I've had a couple of items in a row quit on me. I'd take one of these trifles as a consolation. I'd probably end up licking the glasses though. Hope you are having a great week.
    -Gina-

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  29. Great idea in the moment of hand mixer failure. Well done!

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  30. Wow! These look so awesome! I love the addition of the pretzels - the perfect combo of salty and sweet! Thank you for sharing with your fellow foodies:)

    Holly

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  31. Way to improve1 I bet it was just a fabulous as the pie would have been. I certainly wouldn't have turned it down. :)

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  32. Some of my greatest (and worst) cooking comes from having to make due or make amends for an error.

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  33. So sorry about your mixer, but hey I would be all over these beauties! They look amazing :)

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  34. Good save and think of the arm workout you had whacking that old mixer on the counter!

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  35. Great save! Even without a mixer these look perfectly decadent!!

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  36. I like the way you think!! Chocolate and cheesecake in a glass with a spoon . . . what could be better?

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  37. Sorry for your mixer woes, but this sounds delicious! I think my husband would prefer this in a glass because he is not a big fan of crusts :) Love the pictures and presentation too :)

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  38. Love this!!!! I will have to try!

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  39. Wow very impressive no mixer and all!! :)

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