Mississippi Mud Pie

This recipe will make a rich and luscious Mississippi Mud Pie - An Oreo cookie base layer, topped with brownie, and finished off with chocolate pudding and caramel decorations. Fresh fruit, such as strawberries, can be used as a garnish to finish off the dish. Enjoy!

Base:

• 20 Oreos
• 100g Salted Butter
• Cooking Spray or Extra Butter (for greasing)

Brownie Layer:

• 225g ~75% Cocoa Baking Chocolate
• 200g Unsalted Butter
• 100g Caster Sugar
• 300g Brown Sugar
• 4 Eggs
• 125g Flour
• 1-2 Teaspoon(s) Vanilla Extract
• ½ Teaspoon Salt

Chocolate Pudding Layer

• 500ml Milk
• 150g Caster Sugar
• 50g Cocoa Powder
• 50g Flour
• 25g Unsalted Butter
• 2 Egg Yolks
• 1-2 Teaspoon(s) Vanilla Extract
• ½ Teaspoon Salt

Caramel Decorations

• 200g Caster Sugar
• ¼ Teaspoon Lemon Juice
• 60ml Cold Water
• Ice

Optional: Fresh Fruit to Garnish (e.g. Strawberries).

- Gather the supplies necessary.

- Use the cooking spray / extra butter to grease a 9-inch spring-form pan.

- Take the Oreos, and using the back of a butter knife, scrape off the filling.

- Put the filling-less cookies into a bag.

- Using a rolling pin, crush the cookies until the pieces are between the size of peas and breadcrumbs.

- Pour the crumbs into a small bowl.

- Melt the butter - this can be done in a microwave, or using a bain marie.

- Pour the melted butter into the Oreo bowl and stir until it has an equal consistency.

- Pour the crust mixture into the bottom of the spring-form pan.

- Use a spatula to flatten and cover the entire bottom of the pan, but not the sides.

- Gather the supplies necessary.

- Preheat oven to 180°C / 350°F.

- Melt the butter and chocolate in a bain marie.

- Meanwhile, continue through the recipe.

- Combine white sugar, brown sugar, vanilla and salt in a large bowl.

- Mix in the eggs.

- Stir mixture until light and foamy.

- Once the chocolate/butter mixture is fully melted, remove from heat and allow to cool for a few minutes.

- Pour the chocolate/butter into the other mixture.

- Add the flour into the mixture.

- Stir until the flour is dissolved.

- Use a spatula to pour the mixture onto the crust in the spring-form pan.

- Put the pan into the oven.

- Bake until a skewer/toothpick halfway between the edge and centre comes out clean (about 45-60 minutes).

- Leave to cool before continuing.

- Gather the necessary supplies.

- Put a large bowl of cold water into a fridge.

- Put the flour, salt, cocoa powder and sugar into a small saucepan.

- Stir together until a uniform colour is reached.

- Add the egg yolks and a few tablespoons of milk to the powder and stir until a thick paste is formed.

- Add the remainder of the milk and sir until mostly smooth.

- Put the mixture onto a stove at medium heat.

- Stir the mixture until the mixture thickens and bubbles (about 10 minutes).

- Stir in the butter until it is melted.

- Stir in the vanilla.

- Take the now cool spring-form pan and put it on a plate.

- Pour the pudding onto the brownie layer.

- Use a spatula to smooth out and spread the chocolate pudding over the brownie layer.

- Put the plate with the spring-form pan into a fridge.

- Leave to set (at least 3 hours, and up to a day).

- Gather the necessary ingredients.

- Put ice into the bowl of water that is in the fridge

- In a saucepan, combine the sugar, water and lemon juice.

- Stir until a consistent texture is reached.

- Put the saucepan on high heat.

- Do not stir, but wait until the edges start changing colour.

- Take out the bowl of water/ice from the fridge.

- Then, swirl the pan a few times.

- Keep the caramel on the burner until it is consistently medium amber.

- Take the hot saucepan and plunge it into the water/ice bowl - make sure that no water enters the pan.

- Remove from the water once the sizzling has stopped and use a spoon to take the caramel and create patterns.

- Leave the decorations to cool for at least 15 minutes.

- Use a spatula and slide around the edge of the pan to seperate it from the side of the pie.

- Remove the ring from the spring-form pan.

- Place the caramel decorations on top of the pie and serve.

- Fresh fruit can be used to garnish if desired.

- Enjoy!