Mocha Meringue Pie

Decadent dinner party dessert

This grown-up twist on the classic is sure to become your go-to dinner party pud. It is best eaten on the day it’s made.

Hands-on time 35min, plus chilling and cooling. Cooking time about 1hr 15min. Serves 12

for the pastry ◆ 175g (6oz) plain flour, plus

extra to dust ◆ 25g (1oz) cocoa powder ◆ 75g (3oz) unsalted butter,

chilled and cut into cubes ◆ 50g (2oz) caster sugar ◆ 1 medium egg, beaten for the filling ◆ 150g (5oz) dark chocolate

(about 70% cocoa solids) ◆ 125g (4oz) unsalted butter ◆ 3 medium eggs, at room

temperature ◆ 125g (4oz) light brown

muscovado sugar ◆ 150ml (¼pint) double cream, at

room temperature ◆ 2tsp espresso powder dissolved

in 100ml (3½fl oz) hot water for the meringue topping ◆ 4 medium egg whites ◆ 200g (7oz) caster sugar ◆ 2tsp cornflour 1 To make the pastry: Pulse flour and cocoa together in a food processor. Add butter and pulse until mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Add sugar and pulse to incorporate. Add the egg and pulse again until mixture begins to clump together (if it looks dry, add a few drops of cold water and pulse again). Tip on to a work surface, bring together into a disc, wrap in clingfilm and chill for 30min. If you don’t have a food processor, sift flour and cocoa powder together, then rub butter into the flour mixture. With a blunt-ended knife, mix in the sugar followed by the egg, and then bring together before chilling. 2 Lightly flour a work surface and roll out pastry. Use it to line a fluted 23cm (9in) round, loose-bottom tin (about 3.5cm/1⅓in deep). Prick base all over with a fork, then chill again for 20min. Preheat oven to 190°C (170°C fan) mark 5. 3 Line the pastry case with baking parchment and fill with baking beans or raw rice. Bake for 20-25min or until sides are set. Carefully remove paper and beans/rice and return to oven for about 5min or until base is sandy to the touch. Set aside. 4 Reduce oven temperature to 180°C (160°C fan) mark 4. Make the filling: gently melt chocolate and butter in a bowl over a pan of simmering water. Set aside to cool a little. With an electric hand whisk, beat eggs and sugar for 5min until light and creamy. Fold the chocolate mixture into the egg mixture, followed by the cream and espresso. Spoon into the tart case and bake for 35-40min until puffed up and just set. 5 When the filling is nearly cooked, make the meringue topping. Beat the egg whites in a large, clean bowl with a handheld electric whisk until they hold stiff peaks. Gradually add the sugar, beating constantly, until thick and glossy. Whisk in cornflour. Remove pie from oven, and working from the outside in, pipe or spoon over meringue. Turn oven up to 230°C (210°C fan) mark 8. Return the pie to the oven for 3-4min, until meringue is tinged brown. Remove from oven and set aside for at least half an hour to cool slightly before removing from the tin and serving warm. PER SERVING 466cals, 6g protein, 26g fat (16g saturates), 51g carbs (39g total sugars), 1g fibre GH TIP This recipe contains partially cooked eggs, so be sure to look for the British Lion stamp.