♥ For the Love of Pie! ♥

INGREDIENTS:

8 ounces bittersweet chocolate (preferably 61 percent cacao), chopped
1 1/4 cups heavy cream
2 tablespoons good-quality ground espresso beans
1 cup all-purpose flour, plus more for parchment paper
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
1/4 cup sugar
3/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
3 tablespoons heavy cream
1 1/2 cups mascarpone cheese
1 large egg

LET'S MAKE THE TART:

Make the ganache: Put chocolate into a medium heatproof bowl, and set aside. Bring cream and espresso to a boil in a small pan. Pour through a fine sieve over the chocolate; discard solids. Let stand 2 minutes, then whisk until smooth. Let cool to room temperature, 1 to 2 hours.
Make the tart shell: Sift flour, salt, and cocoa powder into a medium bowl; set aside. Put butter and sugar into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment; mix on medium speed until pale and fluffy, about 4 minutes. Add egg and vanilla, and mix until combined, scraping down sides of bowl as needed. Reduce speed to low. Gradually add the flour mixture in 3 batches, alternating with the cream. Shape dough into a thick rectangle; wrap in plastic. Refrigerate until cold, about 30 minutes.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Roll out dough between 2 pieces of lightly floured parchment paper to a 16-by-6-inch rectangle, about 1/4 inch thick. Press dough into a 14-by-4 1/2-inch rectangular flan frame set on a baking sheet lined with parchment. Trim dough flush with top edge. Prick all over bottom of shell with a fork. Bake until firm, 18 to 20 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack; let cool completely. Unmold.
Put ganache into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment; beat on medium-high speed until soft peaks form, about 4 minutes. Transfer to a pastry bag fitted with a large star tip (such as Ateco No. 828).
Smooth mascarpone cheese over bottom of tart shell with an offset spatula.
Pipe ganache rosettes, one next to the other, on top of mascarpone to cover.

INGREDIENTS:

For the Crust
- 8 tablespoons (1 stick) chilled salted butter, cut into pieces, plus more for pan
- 1/3 cup pecan halves
- 1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup firmly packed light-brown sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
For the Filling
- 12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) salted butter, room temperature
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 3 ounces unsweetened chocolate, melted and cooled
- 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 3 large eggs
- Whipped cream, for serving
- Chocolate curls, for serving

LET'S MAKE THE PIE:

Make the crust: Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Butter a 9-inch pie plate; set aside. Grind pecans in a food processor, or chop very finely with a knife. In a medium bowl, combine flour, pecans, sugar, and salt. Cut in cold butter with a pastry cutter until mixture resembles coarse meal. Press firmly into prepared pie plate. Bake until golden, 20 to 25 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.
Make the filling: In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. With machine running, gradually add melted chocolate and the vanilla. Add eggs, one at a time, beating at medium speed for five minutes after each addition. Pour filling into cooled pie crust. Cover with plastic wrap, and transfer to the refrigerator to cool for at least 4 hours and up to overnight.
Just before serving, top pie with whipped cream, and decorate with chocolate curls.

INGREDIENTS:

For the crust:
- 1 1/4 cups graham cracker crumbs
- 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- Pinch of salt
For the filling:
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 1/3 cup unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 cups whole milk
- 3 ounces bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
- 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
For the topping:
- 1 1/2 teaspoons unflavored gelatin
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 tablespoons light rum
- 4 large egg whites, room temperature

LET'S MAKE THE PIE:

Make the crust: Stir together graham cracker crumbs, butter, sugar, and salt in a bowl. Press into bottom and up sides of a 9-inch pie plate. Refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake until crust is set and begins to turn golden brown, about 12 minutes. Let cool completely on a wire rack.
Make the filling: Sift together sugar, cocoa powder, cornstarch, and salt into a medium saucepan. Gradually whisk in milk. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring constantly, until almost boiling. Reduce heat to medium; add chocolate. Cook, stirring constantly, until chocolate has melted and mixture is thick, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat; whisk in butter and vanilla until smooth. Spread chocolate mixture over crust. Refrigerate until cold and firm, about 1 hour.
Make the topping: Prepare an ice-water bath; set aside. Sprinkle gelatin over 2 tablespoons cold water in a small bowl. Let stand until soft, about 3 minutes. Whisk 1/4 cup sugar, the cornstarch, and salt in a medium saucepan. Gradually whisk in the milk. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is thick and boiling, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in gelatin mixture, and let cool completely. Stir in vanilla and rum. Briefly place pan in an ice-water bath to thicken slightly, if needed. Do not let it set completely. Set aside.
Put egg whites in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Beat on medium-low speed until soft peaks form. Reduce speed to low; continue beating while you make syrup.
Bring remaining 1/2 cup sugar and 3 tablespoons water to a boil in a saucepan, stirring to dissolve sugar. Brush down sides of pan with a wet pastry brush to prevent crystals from forming. Cook, without stirring, until syrup registers 240 degrees on a candy thermometer.
Raise mixer speed to high, and beat egg whites just until stiff peaks begin to form. Immediately pour syrup into egg whites in a slow, steady stream near side of bowl, avoiding whisk. Beat until glossy and cooled, about 7 minutes.
Fold meringue mixture into reserved gelatin mixture in 3 batches until just combined. Mound the mixture into the chocolate-filled crust. Refrigerate pie for 2 1/2 hours or overnight before serving.

INGREDIENTS:

All-purpose flour, for work surface
2 large eggs
1/2 recipe Pie Dough
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon almond extract
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1/2 cup dark corn syrup
2 cups pecan halves
4 ounces bittersweet baking chocolate (such as Ghirardelli 60 percent cacao), chopped

LET'S MAKE THE PIE:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. On a lightly floured work surface, roll out dough to a 15-inch round. With a dry pastry brush, sweep off the excess flour; fit dough into a 9 1/2-inch glass pie plate, pressing it into the edges. Trim to a 1-inch overhang all around. Fold under overhang so it extends slightly beyond the edge of the pie plate. Crimp edge as desired. Cover with plastic wrap; chill pie shell until firm, about 30 minutes.
In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, butter, and vanilla and almond extracts to combine. Add the sugar, mix until incorporated. Add corn syrups, and mix until thoroughly combined. Using a rubber spatula, stir in pecans and chocolate.
Pour filling into prepared pie shell, and bake until filling is set, 50 to 55 minutes. Cool on a wire rack at least 20 minutes before serving.

INGREDIENTS:

1/2 cup all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
1/2 recipe Pate Sucree
2 large eggs
1 cup sugar
1/2 tablespoon bourbon
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted and cooled to room temperature
6 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped
2 1/2 cups unsalted whole macadamia nuts, (10 1/2 ounces)

LET'S MAKE THE TART:

Heat oven to 400 degrees. On a lightly floured surface, roll pate sucree into a 14-inch circle. Fit pastry into an 11-inch tart pan; trim dough evenly along edges. Use trimmings to patch any thin spots in shell. Refrigerate 30 minutes. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, whisk eggs, sugar, and bourbon until combined. Whisk in flour, salt, and butter; stir in chocolate. Pour mixture into chilled tart shell. Cover top with nuts, pressing them halfway down into the filling.
Bake for 10 minutes. Reduce heat to 350 degrees and continue baking until crust and nuts are golden, about 35 minutes. If tart gets too brown, place aluminum foil over top for remainder of cooking time. Cool on wire rack.

INGREDIENTS:

For the crust
- 1 disk Chocolate Pate Sucree
- All-purpose flour, for parchment
For the filling
- 4 ounces bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped (3/4 cup)
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
- Pinch of coarse salt
For the topping
- 1 1/2 pounds raspberries (5 cups)
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 2 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon cornstarch
- Coarse salt
- 1/3 cup water

LET'S MAKE THE PIE:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Make the crust: Roll out pate sucree to a 1/8-inch thickness between 2 sheets of lightly floured parchment. Fit dough into a 9-inch pie plate, and trim crust to a 1-inch overhang using kitchen shears. Fold edges under, and press to seal. Crimp as desired. Prick bottom of pie all over with a fork. Freeze for 15 minutes.
Line crust with parchment, leaving an overhang on all sides. Fill completely with dried beans or rice. Bake for 25 minutes. Remove from oven, and remove beans and parchment. Bake crust until bottom is completely dry, 10 to 15 minutes more. Let cool for 30 minutes.
Make the filling: Place chocolate in a heatproof bowl. Bring cream to a simmer in a medium saucepan over medium heat; pour over chocolate, and add butter. Let stand for 5 minutes. Add salt; whisk until smooth.
Pour filling into piecrust. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
Make the topping: Combine 1 cup raspberries, the sugar, cornstarch, and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a small saucepan, crushing berries to release some juice. Stir in water, and bring to a boil. Boil, stirring, until mixture is thick and liquid is clear, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl, and let cool for 5 minutes.
Add remaining 4 cups raspberries; very gently stir to coat. Let stand for 15 minutes to cool slightly, then spoon over pie. Refrigerate for 15 to 30 minutes.

INGREDIENTS:

For the Chocolate Tart Dough
- 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon confectioners' sugar
- 1 large egg yolk
- 3/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for rolling
- 1/4 cup unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder
For the Caramel Filling
- 1/2 cup water
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup light corn syrup
- 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons creme fraiche
- 1 pinch of coarse salt
For the Chocolate Ganache Glaze
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 3 1/2 ounces extra-bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped

LET'S MAKE THE TART:

Make the tart dough: In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter and confectioners' sugar until combined, about 1 minute. Add egg yolk and vanilla, and beat until smooth. Sift in flour and cocoa powder, and beat on low speed until just combined. Scrape the dough onto a sheet of plastic wrap, and form it into a disk; wrap well. Chill until firm, at least 1 hour and up to 3 days.
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Between two sheets of lightly floured parchment paper, roll the tart dough into an 18-by-12-inch rectangle, 3/16 inch thick. Using a 2 3/4-inch round cutter, cut out 24 rounds of dough, and press them into 2 1/4-inch tart pans, trimming away any excess dough. Chill the tart shells in the refrigerator for 20 minutes.
Line each tart shell with a piece of plastic wrap, and fill with raw rice or dried lentils. Pull plastic together to form a small packet. Bake for 15 minutes. Remove the packets, and bake until the pastry looks dry and set, 5 to 10 minutes. Transfer pans to a wire rack to cool. (The tart shells can be made 8 hours ahead.)
Make the filling: Place 1/2 cup water in a large saucepan. Add sugar and corn syrup, and cook mixture over medium-high heat, swirling the pan occasionally, until it becomes a dark-amber caramel, about 10 minutes. Carefully whisk in butter, cream, creme fraiche, and a pinch of salt (the mixture will bubble up), whisking until smooth. (The caramel can be made up to 5 days ahead and refrigerated in a covered container.) Carefully transfer caramel to a glass measuring cup. Divide caramel among tart shells while still warm (or reheat caramel over low heat until it is pourable), and let stand until the caramel is set, at least 45 minutes.
Make the ganache glaze: Place the chocolate in a heatproof bowl. In a small saucepan, bring cream to a boil. Pour the hot cream over the chocolate, and let stand for 2 minutes, then stir with a rubber spatula until smooth. Pour some of the glaze over each of the tarts while still warm. Let the glaze set at room temperature for at least 2 hours before serving.

INGREDIENTS:

13 oz semisweet chocolate chips
1/3 cup coffee liqueur
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 lb silken tofu
1 tbsp honey
1 (9-in) prepared chocolate wafer crust (store-bought is fine)

LET'S MAKE THE PIE:

Place enough water in the bottom of a 4-quart saucepan to come 1 inch up the sides. Bring to a simmer over medium heat.

Place the chocolate chips and liqueur in a medium metal mixing bowl, set over the simmering water, and stir with a rubber or silicone spatula until melted. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract.

Combine the tofu, chocolate mixture, and honey in a blender or food processor and spin until smooth (about 1 minute).

Pour the filling into the crust and refrigerate for 2 hours, or until the filling sets firm.

Chocolate Tart with Chocolate Chip Cookie Crust

This recipe is by Martha Stewart.

INGREDIENTS:

For the Crust
- 16 chocolate chip cookies (3 inches; baked until crisp), finely ground (2 cups)
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
For the Filling
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 8 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped (1 1/3 cups)
- 1 large egg
- 1/4 cup whole milk
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- Creme fraiche, for serving

LET'S MAKE THE TART:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Make the crust: Stir together cookie crumbs and melted butter. Press into bottom and up sides of a 9 1/2-inch fluted tart pan with a removable bottom. Refrigerate until chilled, about 30 minutes.
Bake until firm and darkened, 10 to 12 minutes. Let cool completely on a baking sheet. Meanwhile, make the filling: Heat cream in a saucepan until just starting to boil. Pour over chocolate in a bowl. Let stand for 1 minute, then stir. Whisk in egg, milk, and butter. Pour into cooled crust.
Reduce oven temperature to 300 degrees. Bake tart until edges of filling are set but center still jiggles slightly, 20 to 24 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack. Serve warm or at room temperature. Top with creme fraiche.

Amsterdam's Mud Pie Tart

This recipe is by Martha Stewart.

INGREDIENTS:

3 1/2 tablespoons ground almonds
10 tablespoons sugar
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 1/2 teaspoons grated orange zest
8 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into large pieces, cold
14 ounces best-quality bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
10 1/2 ounces best-quality semisweet chocolate, finely chopped
2 1/4 cups heavy cream
1 1/4 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
3 large eggs, separated
1 1/2 tablespoons brewed coffee, room temperature
Chocolate Leaves, for garnish (optional)
Chocolate shovel, for garnish (optional)

LET'S MAKE THE TART:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In the bowl of a food processor, add almonds, 7 tablespoons sugar, flour, salt, and orange zest. Pulse until well combined. Add butter and pulse until dough comes together and there are no lumps.
Press dough into an 11-inch round tart pan with a removable bottom to create a crust about 1/4-inch thick. Transfer pie crust to oven and bake until golden brown, about 20 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.
Place 10 1/2 ounces bittersweet chocolate and 3 1/2 ounces semisweet chocolate in a large bowl; set aside. In a small saucepan, bring 1 1/4 cups heavy cream to a boil over medium heat. Strain hot cream through a fine mesh sieve over chocolate. Stir ganache until melted and smooth. Add vanilla and stir until well combined.
Strain chocolate mixture through a fine mesh sieve into the center of the cooled pie shell. Evenly spread chocolate with a spatula. Transfer to a refrigerator until chocolate has set.
In a heatproof bowl set over (but not touching) simmering water, melt remaining 3 1/2 ounces bittersweet chocolate and 7 ounces semisweet chocolate. In a small saucepan set over low heat, beat egg yolk mixture and 1 1/2 teaspoons of water together until thickened. Transfer melted chocolate to a large bowl, fold in egg yolks and coffee until well combined; set aside.
In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat heavy cream until soft peaks form. Add 2 tablespoons sugar and beat until stiff peaks form. Gently fold whipped cream into chocolate mixture.
In the clean bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat egg whites until soft peaks form. Add remaining tablespoon sugar and beat until stiff. Gently fold into chocolate mixture.
Spoon mixture on top of chilled ganache and spread evenly with a spatula. Transfer to refrigerator and chill overnight. Remove from tart pan and transfer to serving platter. Garnish platter with leaves and shovel, if desired. Serve pie at room temperature.

Rocky Road Tart

This recipe is by Martha Stewart.

INGREDIENTS:

FOR THE CRUST:
- 6 ounces graham crackers (about 11)
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
FOR THE GANACHE AND FILLING:
- 15 ounces bittersweet chocolate
- 1 3/4 cups heavy cream
- 2 large egg yolks, lightly beaten
- 2 cups mini marshmallows
- 1 cup salted almonds with skins, lightly toasted
FOR THE TOPPING:
- 3/4 cups mini marshmallows
- 1/4 cup salted almonds with skins, lightly toasted and coarsely chopped
- 2 ounces bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped (about 1/3 cup)

LET'S MAKE THE TART:

Make crust: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Process graham crackers, sugar, and salt in a food processor until finely ground. Transfer to a medium bowl, and stir in melted butter. Mix until combined.
Pour mixture into a 9-inch cake ring or springform pan set on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Press crumbs with your hand or the bottom of a glass to form an even layer on bottom and up sides of pan. Bake until crust just starts to turn golden brown, about 15 minutes. Let cool completely on sheet on a wire rack.
Make ganache: Melt 10 ounces bittersweet chocolate in a large heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water; keep warm. Meanwhile, bring cream just to a simmer in a medium saucepan over high heat; remove from heat. Whisk 1/4 cup hot cream into the beaten egg yolks, then whisk the yolk mixture into the remaining cream in saucepan. Whisk cream mixture into the melted chocolate, and set the ganache aside.
Coarsely chop remaining 5 ounces bittersweet chocolate, and transfer to a large bowl. Toss in 2 cups mini marshmallows and 1 cup whole toasted almonds. Scatter mixture all over bottom of cooled crust. Reserve 1 cup ganache for topping, and pour the rest evenly on top of the filling (do not overfill the crust). Refrigerate tart, uncovered, until firm, about 1 hour. Meanwhile, cover reserved ganache with plastic wrap, and set aside at room temperature.
Make topping: Toss together 3/4 cup mini marshmallows, 1/4 cup chopped toasted almonds, and 2 ounces chopped bittersweet chocolate; sprinkle over filling. Drizzle reserved 1 cup ganache over tart, and refrigerate 10 minutes more before cutting into slices.

Chocolate-Peanut Butter Pie

This recipe is by Martha Stewart.

INGREDIENTS:

1 3/4 cups chocolate wafer crumbs (from about 36 cookies)
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
3 tablespoons packed dark-brown sugar
Pinch of salt
6 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
3/4 cup confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon coarse salt
1 1/4 cups smooth peanut butter
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
2 cups heavy cream
1 ounce dark chocolate, melted, for decorating
2 tablespoons smooth peanut butter, melted, for decorating

DIRECTIONS:

Make the crust: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine wafer crumbs, butter, brown sugar, and salt. Press mixture firmly into bottom and up sides of a 9-inch deep-dish pie plate. Bake until set, 8 to 10 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack.
Make the filling: Beat cream cheese, confectioners' sugar, and salt with a mixer on medium speed until fluffy. Beat in peanut butter and vanilla.
Beat heavy cream until soft peaks form. Whisk 1/3d of the whipped cream into the peanut butter mixture, then gently fold in remaining whipped cream. Spoon filling into cooled crust. Freeze, uncovered, at least 4 hours (or overnight, covered with plastic wrap).
Place melted chocolate in a resealable plastic bag. Snip tip from one corner of bag to make a very small opening. Holding bag about 5 inches above pie, drizzle melted chocolate over top. Repeat with melted peanut butter. Let stand 10 minutes before slicing.

Chocolate Pecan Pie with Chocolate Crust

This recipe is by Martha Stewart.

INGREDIENTS:

2/3 cup sugar
1 cup light corn syrup
4 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped into 1/2-inch chunks
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
All-purpose flour, for dusting
Chocolate Crust Dough Chocolate Crust Dough
3 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups pecan halves
2 tablespoons fresh or dried lavender, for garnish (optional)
Whipped cream, or creme fraiche

DIRECTIONS:

Combine sugar and corn syrup in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil; reduce heat to low, and simmer 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Cool completely, about 45 minutes. Let thicken.
In the top of a double boiler, combine 2 ounces chocolate and butter over medium-low heat; cook until melted. Set aside to cool.
Heat oven to 400 degrees. On lightly floured surface, roll out chocolate-crust dough to a 13-inch circle, 1/8 inch thick. Place dough in pan, and crimp edges. Chill 15 minutes.
In a large bowl, beat eggs until foamy. Add chocolate and corn-syrup mixtures to eggs, and combine. Stir in vanilla and pecan halves.
Pour filling into crust. Bake 20 minutes. Lower oven temperature to 350 degrees and bake until filling has set, about 20 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining 2 ounces chocolate; bake 5 minutes more. Cool on a wire rack, 1 1/4 hours. Garnish with lavender, if using, and serve with whipped cream or creme fraiche.

Mississippi Mud Pie

This recipe is by Martha Stewart.

INGREDIENTS:

25 chocolate wafer cookies (about half a 9-ounce package)
1/2 cup pecan halves, plus more for garnish
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, plus 2 tablespoons, cold, cut into small pieces
2/3 cup plus 1 teaspoon sugar
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/3 cup cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 1/2 cups milk
4 large egg yolks
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup heavy cream

LET'S MAKE THE PIE:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a food processor, grind wafers and pecans until fine crumbs form. Add melted butter; process until moistened. Transfer mixture to a 9-inch pie plate; press into bottom and up sides (use the base of a dry measuring cup to help). Bake until fragrant, 8 to 10 minutes; let cool.
Place a large fine-mesh sieve over a medium bowl; set aside. In a medium saucepan, off heat, whisk together 2/3 cup sugar, cocoa powder, cornstarch, and salt. A few tablespoons at a time, whisk in milk, being sure to incorporate the cornstarch. Whisk in egg yolks.
Over medium heat, whisking constantly, cook mixture until the first large sputtering bubble forms. Reduce heat to low; continuing to whisk constantly, cook 1 minute. Remove from heat; immediately pour through sieve into bowl. Stir in teaspoon vanilla and 2 tablespoons cold butter.
Pour pudding into crust. Place plastic wrap directly on surface (to prevent skin from forming); chill at least 2 hours and up to 1 day. Just before serving, beat cream, remaining teaspoon sugar, and remaining teaspoon vanilla until soft peaks form. Spread whipped cream over pudding, and sprinkle with pecans.