Fudgy Caramel Pie!

This "Fudgy Caramel Pie" is another of my Aunt Ann's creations.  She makes pretty food that tastes really good also.  Have you ever seen pretty food and then tasted and it and it's not as good as it looks?  That's not  the case with this one.  It tastes every bit as good as it is pretty! 

  It's also two of my favorite things...chocolate and caramel in one pie.  How could that be wrong?  Here is what you will need for this one:

2 squares (1 ounce each) semi sweet chocolate

1 Tbs. butter

1 (9 inch) pie shell, baked

Caramel Layer

20 caramels

1/3 cup heavy cream

1  1/2 cups salted peanuts

Chocolate Layer

6 squares semisweet baking chocolate

2 Tbs. butter

1 cup heavy cream

2 tsp. vanilla

2 Tbs. confectioner's sugar

Topping

5 caramels

1 Tbs. cream

1 Tbs. butter

whipped cream and salted peanuts (optional)

For the first layer, melt the chocolate and the butter, stir.  It's easy if you microwave this for 1-2 minutes in the microwave.   Spread on the bottom and up the sides of the pie crust.  Refrigerate to set.

For the next layer, melt the caramels and cream, stirring until smooth.  It's easiest to microwave for 1 minute intervals, stirring after each minute until melted.  Stir in the peanuts.   Spoon into the pie shell.

For the chocolate layer, melt the chocolate with the butter and stir in a saucepan or in the microwave for 1-2 minutes.  Let cool for about 15 minutes.  In a mixing bowl, whip the cream, vanilla and confectioner's sugar until soft peaks form.  Gently fold the whipped cream into the chocolate.  Spread over the caramel layer.  Refrigerate until set for several hours.  

To garnish, melt the remaining caramels with 1 Tbs. butter and Tbs. cream and drizzle over the top. You can also garnish with whipped cream around the edges and peanuts as shown here.