Gluten Free Crack Pie

Today I bring you; (drum roll please.......................) another dessert. But this is not just A dessert, it is THE dessert. I bring you Crack Pie, slightly modified for gluten free enjoyment. Crack Pie is the dessert that all other desserts will now be compared to. For example; a friend may say:"Wow, I had this amazing chocolate cake for my birthday! My husband made the chocolate himself from scratch using organic cocoa beans flown in from South America. It was soooo amazing!!!" Then you would say; "Was it better than Crack Pie?" Your friend; "no......no it was not."

Just for clarity, Crack Pie derives it name for the addictive nature of this dessert, not because of fissures forming as it bakes. I have never actually tried real crack cocaine, so I can't give you an accurate side by side comparison between Crack Pie and real crack. But here is my breakdown; real crack is a dirty little rock, crack pie is a brown monochromatic mess. I imagine real crack gives you a euphoric high, followed by crushing guilt and self loathing. Crack pie- same. Real crack-illegal, Crack Pie-legal for now. Real crack- need to find shady people to get a fix, Crack Pie- need to go to the grocery store. Enough already, lets make this thing.

I will warn you, if you are faint of heart, the butter and sugar quantities may cause palpitations.
Gluten Free Crack Pie
from Christina Tosi @ Momofuku Milk Bar modified to be GF
Oat Cookie for the Crust:
6 Tbs unsalted butter (room temp)
4 Tbs brown sugar
2 Tbs granulated sugar
1 egg
3/4 cup plus 2 Tbs GF oats (I use Bob's Red Mill)
1/2 cup GF flour mix
1/8 tsp baking powder
1/8 tsp baking soda
heaping 1/4 tsp salt
Crust:
Oat cookie- crumbled
3 Tbs unsalted butter- melted
1-1/2 Tbs brown sugar
Filling:
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 brown sugar- packed
1 Tbs non fat dry milk powder
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter- melted
6-1/2 Tbs heavy whipping cream
4 large egg yolks
1 tsp vanilla
powdered sugar for dusting
Makes one 9inch diameter pie
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Start by making an oatmeal cookie for the crust. Using a stand mixer, combine 6 Tbs of room temp butter with 4 Tbs of brown sugar and 2 Tbs of white sugar. Mix until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes. Next, beat in one large egg.
In a separate bowl, combine the gluten free oats, 1/2 cup of gluten free flour mix, 1/8 tsp baking powder, 1/8 tsp baking soda, and a heaping 1/4 tsp of salt. Stir the dry ingredients a little at a time into the mixing bowl with the butter, sugar, and egg. Mix thoroughly. Line a 9x13 metal baking pan with parchment paper and spray it with nonstick spray. Spread the batter out evenly in the pan. This can be a little tricky because everything wants to slide around and the batter is pretty gooey. Do the best you can, if you have gaps or holes in the batter it's OK, everything will melt together as it bakes. Pop the cookie in the preheated oven for 17-18 minutes or until golden brown. My cookie baked for about 12-13 minutes. Remove the cookie from the oven and allow it to cool completely in the pan on a cooling rack. I mean it, don't sit there and pick at it, I know you'll want to.
When the cookie is completely cool, crumble it with your fingers into a medium sized bowl. Next, add 3 Tbs of melted butter and 1-1/2 Tbs of brown sugar. Mix everything together with your fingers and then press the mixture evenly into a 9inch baking pan, go up the sides as well.
For the filling; in a medium bowl, whisk together 3/4 cup of white sugar, 1/2 cup of packed brown sugar, 1 Tbs of nonfat dry milk powder (you can find this in the baking section of most groceries stores and it's cheap) and 1/4 tsp salt. Add 1 stick of melted butter and whisk until blended. Finally, add 6-1/2 Tbs whipping cream, 4 egg yolks, and 1 tsp of pure vanilla extract. Whisk until well blended.
Pour the filling into the crust. Place the pie dish on a rimmed baking sheet and into a preheated 350 degree F oven for 30 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 325 degrees F and continue baking for 15-20 minutes or until the filling is brown in spots and set around the edges but the center should move slightly when shaken gently.
Remove from the oven and allow to cool on a rack for at least 20 minutes. Dust with powdered sugar. Refrigerate any left overs.
Crack Pie is meant to be served cold. However, if you have no will power like me, it may not make it to the refrigerator in one piece. I think this pie is actually served best a little warm. It's not very pretty but trust me, one bite and you'll be hooked. Enjoy!!!