ARKANSAS POSSUM PIE

I just had to include this hilariously named Arkansas favorite as part of my American Eats series.  Not only is it incredibly popular and found all over the state of Arkansas, but my curiosity was immediately piqued by the name possum pie.  As soon as I saw this on a list of popular Arkansas recipes I was simultaneously repulsed and intrigued.

Did it really have possum in it?  Do people really eat roadkill in the South?

Truthfully, I was both relieved and a little disappointed to find out that possum pie is NOT a savory meat pie made with actual possum after all, but rather a delicious dessert recipe with a sandy pecan shortbread crust and layers of cream cheese, chocolate pudding, and sweetened whipped cream.

One theory behind the unusual and shocking name is that possum pie is so-named for pretending to be something that it’s not – in this case hiding the chocolate filling underneath a layer of whipped cream.  Another theory is that it’s just called possum pie because of it’s similar coloring to the only marsupial in North America.

Possum pie is sometimes called by other names as well, like Chocolate Layer Pie, Chocolate Lush, or Four Layer Delight.

No matter what you call it, it’s a delicious dessert for anybody who loves chocolate cream pies!  And really, I think my favorite part might be the pecan shortbread crust that tastes more like a pecan sandies cookie than a pie crust.

There’s an interesting article all about the many places around Arkansas that serve possum pie over on the Arkansas Life blog, in case you are planning a trip there and want to know where to pick up a slice of this pie rather than making it at home.

Ingredients
Pecan Shortbread Crust

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 3/4 cup pecans, chopped
• Cream Cheese Layer
• 6 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 2 tablespoons heavy cream
• Pudding Layer
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/3 cup cocoa powder
• 3 tablespoons cornstarch
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• Pinch of salt
• 3 egg yolks
• 2 cups whole milk
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• Whipped Cream Topping
• 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
• 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 1-2 tablespoons chopped pecans
• grated chocolate

Instructions

1. Crust
2. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.  Melt the butter, then combine the butter, flour, brown sugar and pecans by stirring with a fork.   
3. Bake for about 15-20 minutes, just until the crust begins to brown around the edges. Remove from oven and cool completely.  
4. .............................................

for full instruction please see : houseofnasheats.com

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