Secret Chocolate Strawberry Pie

Total Time: 30 mins Preparation Time: 30 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 8
• 3 cups sliced fresh strawberries, divided (about 2-1/2 pts.)
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 teaspoons cornstarch
• 1 (3 ounce) package strawberry gelatin
• 1 tablespoon butter or 1 tablespoon margarine
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1/4 cup hershey's semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 4 tablespoons whipping cream, divided
• 1 baked 9-inch pie shell, cooled
• 1 (3 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• sweetened whipped cream (optional)
• 1 whole strawberry (optional)

Recipe

• 1 reserve 2 cups sliced strawberries. mash remaining 1 cup sliced strawberries; add enough water to make 2 cups. stir together sugar and cornstarch in medium saucepan; stir in mashed strawberries. cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture comes to a boil; cook and stir 2 minutes. remove from heat.
• 2 add gelatin, butter and lemon juice; stir until gelatin is dissolved. strain mixture; discard seeds,. refrigerate until partially set.
• 3 meanwhile, place chocolate chips and 3 tablespoons whipping cream in small microwave-safe bowl. microwave at high (100%) 1 minute; stir.
• 4 if necessary, microwave at high an additional 15 seconds at a time, stirring after each heating, just until chips are melted when stirred. spread chocolate mixture onto bottom of prepared crust; refrigerate 30 minutes or until firm.
• 5 beat cream cheese and remaining 1 tablespoon whipping cream in small bowl until smooth; spread over chocolate layer. refrigerate filled crust while gelatin mixture is cooling. when gelatin mixture is partially set, fold in reserved sliced strawberries; spoon mixture over cream cheese layer.
• 6 cover; refrigerate several hours or until firm. just before serving, garnish with sweetened whipped cream and whole strawberries, if desired. cover; refrigerate leftover pie. 8 servings.