RECIPE OF THE WEEK: Chocolate Crumble Pie

Entertaining opportunities abound during the holiday season. Whether you are hosting a small group at home or have been invited to someone's house to socialize, offering a homemade treat can show others how much you care.

Few people can resist the combination of chocolate and nuts, and that's what dessert lovers will get in this recipe for Chocolate Crumble Pie, which features toasted pecans along with amaretti cookies in the topping. Enjoy, courtesy of Chocolate (Love Food) by the editors at Parragon Books Ltd.

To make the pie dough, sift the flour and baking powder into a large bowl, rub in the butter, and stir in the sugar, then add the egg and a little water to bring the dough together. Turn the dough out, and knead briefly. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and let chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.

INGREDIENTS:

Pie Dough

Scant 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 cup unsalted butter, cut small

1/4 cup superfine sugar

1 egg yolk

1 to 2 teaspoons cold water

Filling

2/3 cup heavy cream

2/3 cup milk

8 oz. semisweet chocolate, chopped

2 eggs

Crumble Topping

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

3/4 cup toasted pecans

4 oz. semisweet chocolate

3 oz. amaretti cookies

1 teaspoon unsweetened cocoa

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat the oven to 375 F. Roll out the pie dough and use to line a 9-inch loose-button tart pan. Prick the pastry shell with a fork. Line with parchment paper and fill with dried beans or baking beans. Bake in the oven for 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and take out the paper and beans. Reduce the oven temperature to 350 F.

To make the filling, bring the cream and milk to a boil in a saucepan, immediately remove from the heat, and add the chocolate. Stir until melted and smooth. Beat the eggs and add to the chocolate mixture, mix thoroughly and pour into the shell. Bake for 15 minutes, remove from the oven, and let rest for 1 hour.

When you are ready to serve the pie, place the topping ingredients in a food processor and pulse to chop. (If you do not have a processor, place the sugar in a large bowl, chop the nuts and chocolate with a large knife, and crush the cookies, then add to the bowl with the cocoa and mix well.) Sprinkle over the pie, then serve it in slices.