black bottom

Black Bottom Pumpkin Pie

Black Bottom Pumpkin Pie is a creamy baked fall custard pie with a fudge chocolate bottom and pecan pie crust ready made from Diamond nuts. Topped with whipped cream and chocolate shavings this is a great holiday / Thanksgiving alternative for chocolate lovers. This pie is a simple one to make and bakes up without cracks! Learn more about the recipe on thewoodandspoon.com

What are the traditions you’re looking forward to in the coming months? Is there a recipe or a feeling that you anticipate this time of year? Some kind of moment that just kinda makes it feel like home? I recently had an editor at a magazine ask me a similar question, and it got me thinking. Growing up there was coffee cake on Christmas morning, leftover slices of cake for breakfast the day after my birthday, and eggs stuffed with coins hidden in the backyard on Easter, but now, as an adult with my own family, I kinda get to call the shots. I’m finally in the position to be the tradition creator in my own house, so what do I pick? What foods and songs and formalities are going to stick around for the long haul?

Black Bottom Pumpkin Pie is a creamy baked fall custard pie with a fudge chocolate bottom and pecan pie crust ready made from Diamond nuts. Topped with whipped cream and chocolate shavings this is a great holiday / Thanksgiving alternative for chocolate lovers. This pie is a simple one to make and bakes up without cracks! Learn more about the recipe on thewoodandspoon.com

My guess is a lot of Moms feel worn out by the pressure to create these Pinterest-worthy parties and moments and foods for their kids around the holidays. We have access to so much; it’s impossible not to look around and feel compelled to keep up with everyone around us. To be honest, the performer in me has a hard time with just enjoying the moments that arise. Instead, I really struggle with this inner drive to do more, make things better, and spin this web of magic for my kids, especially around the holidays. In an effort to be more mentally and emotionally present, I really want to loosen my grip these few months and make more of the time by sharing me. Less garland, fewer appetizers, a messier house, but a happier Mom. A less frazzled Kate.

Black Bottom Pumpkin Pie is a creamy baked fall custard pie with a fudge chocolate bottom and pecan pie crust ready made from Diamond nuts. Topped with whipped cream and chocolate shavings this is a great holiday / Thanksgiving alternative for chocolate lovers. This pie is a simple one to make and bakes up without cracks! Learn more about the recipe on thewoodandspoon.com

Black Bottom Pumpkin Pie

I love this black bottom pumpkin pie. Growing up, my Mimi made two pumpkin pies every Thanksgiving. We’d fight over the leftover slices in the days following the holiday. Here, as a self-proclaimed Southern transplant, I took a note from all of the old charity league and church cookbooks and added a black bottom to an otherwise normal pie. What we’re left with is a fudgy layer of chocolate topped with traditional pumpkin pie filling. The good news is it’s all wrapped in snug to my favorite shortcut of the holiday season: Diamond Nut’s Pecan Crust.

Black Bottom Pumpkin Pie is a creamy baked fall custard pie with a fudge chocolate bottom and pecan pie crust ready made from Diamond nuts. Topped with whipped cream and chocolate shavings this is a great holiday / Thanksgiving alternative for chocolate lovers. This pie is a simple one to make and bakes up without cracks! Learn more about the recipe on thewoodandspoon.com

Similar to the graham cracker crusts you’ve seen in stores for ages, Diamond’s pecan and walnut crusts are pre-made crusts made with their premium nuts. Each crust is adaptive in flavor and can up the ante on your favorite pie recipes. Because each are ready to use, the pie making process is so much more simple, leaving you with less hours to log in the kitchen and more time to just be present.

Black Bottom Pumpkin Pie is a creamy baked fall custard pie with a fudge chocolate bottom and pecan pie crust ready made from Diamond nuts. Topped with whipped cream and chocolate shavings this is a great holiday / Thanksgiving alternative for chocolate lovers. This pie is a simple one to make and bakes up without cracks! Learn more about the recipe on thewoodandspoon.com

This black bottom pumpkin pie is mildly spiced and perfectly sweetened. I prefer to serve mine with large dollops of whipped cream, but you could very well skip that if you’d prefer. As a garnish, I opted for some chocolate shavings and candied pecan pieces, but again, totally unnecessary. The pecan pie crust and yummy autumnal filling is all the flavor this black bottom pumpkin pie requires.

Making the Pie

To make it, we start with the black bottom. A simple chocolate ganache made with chopped semisweet chocolate and heavy creamy comes together to be spread into the bottom of the ready-made pecan crust. Next, a filling made with pumpkin puree, eggs, sugar, and just enough spice mixes in a single bowl. Pour it on top of the set ganache bottom. Finally, this black bottom pumpkin pie bakes in a preheated oven in about thirty minutes. Allow it to cool in the fridge over the course of an hour. I like to serve slices at room temperature with a cloud of fresh cream. YUM.

Black Bottom Pumpkin Pie is a creamy baked fall custard pie with a fudge chocolate bottom and pecan pie crust ready made from Diamond nuts. Topped with whipped cream and chocolate shavings this is a great holiday / Thanksgiving alternative for chocolate lovers. This pie is a simple one to make and bakes up without cracks! Learn more about the recipe on thewoodandspoon.com

Many thanks to Diamond for sponsoring this post. I want to hear about the traditions you guys are dreaming up for your families this time of year. Our time is limited, and I so desperately want to be intentional with every minute. I hope this season is full of lots of love for you all, and I can’t wait to hear how you enjoy this black bottom pumpkin pie. HAPPY BAKING!

If you like this black bottom pumpkin pie you should try:

Pumpkin Cheesecake Tartlets

Sweet Potato Pie with Meringue Topping

Pumpkin Pecan Tart with Maple Whipped Cream

Pumpkin Pull-Apart Bread

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Black Bottom Pumpkin Pie

This black bottom pumpkin pie has a chocolate ganache layer topped with a simple pumpkin filling and is baked in a pecan pie crust!

  • Author: Kate Wood
  • Prep Time: 20
  • Cook Time: 40
  • Total Time: 1 hour
  • Yield: 9 Servings
  • Category: Pie

Ingredients

For the ganache:

  • 3 ounces heavy cream
  • 3 ounces semisweet chocolate chips or chopped chocolate

For the pie:

  • 1 Diamond Pecan Pie Crust
  • ¾ cup pumpkin puree
  • ¾ cup evaporated milk
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 1/3 cup brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 11/4 teaspoons cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon ginger
  • 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
  • pinch of cloves

Instructions

  1. Start by preparing the ganache. Gently heat the cream on the stove or in the microwave until it is steaming and almost bubbling. Pour the cream over the chocolate in a medium-sized bowl. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and allow it to sit for 5 minutes. Remove the plastic wrap and whisk gently until smooth. If there are still chunks of chocolate, gently heat in the microwave in 15 second increments. Pour the mixture into the bottom of the prepared pie crust and put it in the fridge or freezer to firm up to fudge consistency.
  2. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Combine the pumpkin, evaporated milk, and eggs in a large bowl. Add the sugars and vanilla and stir to combine. Add the flour and spices and stir just until smooth. Pour the mixture over the firm chocolate in the pie crust. Bake the pie in the preheated oven until the edges are set and the center wiggles like jello, about 40 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely prior to serving with whipped cream, if desired.

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Meyer Lemon Cheesecake

Blackberry Farm for Meyer Lemon Cheesecake Post Recipe by the wood and spoon blog by kate wood blogger. this is a simple citrus cheesecake with a chocolate black bottom and homemade chocolate cookie crust made without Oreo's. Follow the instructions perfectly to get a cheesecake with a flat, smooth top without cracks every time. Drizzle with extra chocolate sauce or top with Meyer lemon slices for decoration. This is what to do with you Meyer lemons! Find the recipe for this easy cheesecake prepared with a water bath in a springform pan on thewoodandspoon.com

New Year’s Eve is slowly inching its way up my list of favorite holidays. Birthdays, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, yes… but New Year’s Eve? There’s never any shortage of party.

Blackberry Farm

For the second year in a row, we earned our New Year’s Day hangovers in the hills of the Smoky Mountains at Blackberry Farm in Walland, TN. A luxury hotel boasting strong culinary offerings and a James Beard Award winning wine and dining program, Blackberry Farm is a cozy, Southern retreat for those in need of a good meal and R&R. We visited Blackberry Farm this time last year (you may remember this post about it), and enjoyed it so much that we made reservations to visit again only a week or two after returning home. The resort, just as I recalled, was nothing short of magnificent, and we had a terrific time ringing in the New Year.

2017-01-04_0011Blackberry Farm for Meyer Lemon Cheesecake PostBlackberry Farm for Meyer Lemon Cheesecake Post

A Glimpse of Our Trip To BF

Much like last year, Brett and I made the trip north with our friends Rayne and James. Leading up to the trip, Rayne and I spent an obnoxious amount of time preparing our packing lists, which included shopping for glamorous outfits to wear to the New Year’s Eve party. After searching everywhere for the perfect cocktail dress, I ended up raiding my sister’s closet, borrowing her black lace dress from last year’s homecoming.

All of the trip preparation ended up being totally worth it because the New Year’s Eve party did not disappoint. I spent the evening fangirling some country music stars that were at the party (*cough* Little Big Town and Rascal Flatts *cough*), tripping over the dance floor with Brett, and eating my feelings at the dessert bar (see below for exhibit A). The party was rad, but honestly, who wouldn’t feel like a million bucks dancing the night away with their man-friend and sipping champagne cocktails with their BFF. Also, let’s not forget that I had managed to shimmy myself into my teenage sister’s LBD- a little fact that made me fist pump every time I thought about it.

Blackberry Farm for Meyer Lemon Cheesecake PostOverall: FANTASTIC!

The weekend was incredibly relaxing, complete with some walks around the property, morning yoga, a trip to the spa, and a few hours each day spent cuddled around the fire. The only downside was the two (or seven) pounds I gained while there from day drinking consuming so much food. WORTH IT.

Blackberry Farm boasts some of the best food and dining I’ve ever experienced in my life, so I spared no calorie, sip, or bite in making sure that I got the best of what the resort had to offer. I meant to bring my camera to share some images of the trip, but I saved my luggage space for all the pairs of Spanx I needed, so you’ll have to settle for these iPhone shots instead. Even so, there’s no denying the beauty of Blackberry Farm and the fun that we tucked under our belts there. If you ever get the opportunity to visit, I urge you to do so- it’s fab.

Meyer Lemon Cheesecake

So are you ready to hear about this Meyer lemon cheesecake yet?

Meyer Lemon Cheesecake

Meyer lemons are the sweeter, more floral tasting sister fruit to the regular old lemons you might commonly buy. They usually pop up in the grocery stores throughout the winter, so if you see them, GET THEM. They are a prize to be honored in your kitchens, and add wonderful flavor to sweet and savory dishes alike.

Making the Cheesecake

This Meyer lemon cheesecake features a rich chocolate crust and a thin layer of chocolate cheesecake on the bottom. We start by preparing the crust which zips together quickly before being pressed into the bottom of a springform pan. The recipe for the cheesecake filling is no fail, in my opinion, because it never cracks, is always creamy, and is the perfect balance of sweet and tart. With a bit of cream cheese, eggs, and sugar, the filling beats together to create a thick and luscious filling that is so tasty, you may find yourself licking the bowl.

Take care while preparing the cheesecake filling to follow the instructions closely, because there’s nothing worse than pulling your cheesecake out of the oven only to find that it’s burned, cracked, runny, or soggy crusted from a leaky waterbath. #beenthere #donethatBlackberry Farm for Meyer Lemon Cheesecake Post

Meyer lemon cheesecake, with its fancy citrus, black bottom, and rich, decadent taste, feels like a fancy dessert fit for celebrating the new year. Maybe throw on your little sister’s dress, eat some cheesecake, and feel like a rockstar for a minute. Maybe make this Meyer lemon cheesecake and dream about all the good stuff this coming year has for you. My prayer is you’ll find lots of joy, love, and cake in 2017. Happy New Year!

Meyer Lemon Cheesecake

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Meyer Lemon Cheesecake

This meyer lemon cheesecake is a black bottom cheesecake with a chocolate crust. Tart and creamy, this cheesecake is a great make ahead dessert option, and is a rich and lemony treat, perfect for the chocolate and fruit lovers in your life!

  • Author: Kate Wood
  • Prep Time: 30
  • Cook Time: 90
  • Total Time: 2 hours

Ingredients

For the chocolate crust

  • 1 cup (130 gm) powdered sugar, sifted
  • 3/4 cup (65 gm) cocoa powder, sifted
  • 2/3 (80 gm) cup flour, sifted
  • A pinch of salt
  • 1/2 cup (115 gm) butter, melted

For the cheesecake

  • 6 ounces (170 gm) semisweet chocolate, chopped
  • 11/2 pounds/ 3 blocks (680 gm) of cream cheese, softened to room temperature
  • 3/4 cup (155 gm) sugar
  • 3 large eggs (170 gm), room temperature
  • 6 tablespoons (90 ml) heavy cream, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 41/4 tablespoons (65 ml) of meyer lemon juice (about the juice of 11/2 large meyer lemons)
  • 1 tablespoon of packed meyer lemon zest (about the zest of 2 large meyer lemons- avoid the white pith)

Instructions

To prepare the chocolate crust

  1. Prepare a 9″ springform pan by wrapping it in sheets of aluminum foil. I use 3 layers of extra wide foil wrapped to the top lip of the pan. Spray the inside walls and bottom of the pan with cooking spray.
  2. Stir together the dry ingredients until combined. Add the melted butter and stir just until combined. Gently pat out your chocolate mixture evenly into the bottom of the pan. Set aside while you prepare the cheesecake filling.

To prepare the cheesecake

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and get some water boiling in a kettle or saucepan for your water bath.
  2. Set a glass bowl over a pot of simmering water and melt chocolate. Set aside to cool slightly.
  3. Beat cream cheese in the bowl of a stand mixer at medium speed (I use 4 on my Kitchen Aid Mixer) for 2 minutes to remove all clumps. Do not overbeat, but scrape the sides of the bowl as needed. If many clumps remain, ensure that your cream cheese has softened to room temp.
  4. Add the sugar and beat on medium for an additional 1 minute. Add eggs, one at a time, and beat to combine an additional 1 minute. Scrape the sides of the bowl and then add the heavy cream, vanilla, and lemon juice. Beat to combine.
  5. Strain the cheesecake batter through a mesh strainer into a reserved bowl and then fold in the lemon zest. Remove 3/4 cup of the cheesecake batter and stir it into the melted chocolate. Spread the chocolate cheesecake over the top of the chocolate crust. Next, pour the remaining cheesecake batter over top of the chocolate layer. Gently rap the pan on the counter to help any air bubbles escape.
  6. Place your springform pan into a slightly larger baking dish/pan and fill the larger pan with the boiling water you prepared for the water bath until the water reaches about halfway up the sides of the springform pan.
  7. Carefully place both pans in the preheated oven and bake for 1 hour. After an hour of baking, the edges and top of the cheesecake should be set but still slightly jiggle in the center. Turn the oven off and allow the cheesecake to bake for an additional 30 minutes in the oven. Prop the door of the oven open slightly with a wooden spoon and continue to cool the cheesecake for another 30 minutes in the cooling oven.
  8. Discard the water bath, remove the foil and then place the cheesecake in the fridge to chill for several hours or overnight. The cheesecake can be stored in the fridge for several days.

Notes

Notes

  • I wrap my springform pan with three layers of heavy duty aluminum foil. This is to protect your crust from any water leakage of your springform pan. Many pans will claim to be waterproof but your crust will get soggy and inedible if water leakage happens. Don’t take any chances!
  • I use a 11″ round cake pan for my water bath but you can use any oven-safe dish that you have. Once of my readers used a roasting pan and that works just fine!
  • The cooling process seems lengthy and unnecessary, but it helps to prevent drastic temperature changes that can cause structural issues with your cake.

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