Chocolate Cinnamon Cream Pie

Preparation

1. Make crust:

   Step 1

   Preheat oven to 350°F with rack in middle.

   Step 2

   Stir together all crust ingredients. Press over bottom and up side of a 9-inch pie plate. Bake until set, 12 to 15 minutes, then cool.

2. Make filling:

   Step 3

   Melt chocolate in a large bowl.

   Step 4

   Stir together cornstarch and 2 tablespoons brown sugar in a small bowl.

   Step 5

   Whisk together whole eggs and yolks in another bowl, then whisk in cornstarch mixture.

   Step 6

   Stir together milk, cream, salt, and remaining brown sugar in a heavy medium saucepan and bring just to a boil over medium heat. Pour half of milk mixture into egg mixture in a slow stream, whisking, then pour egg mixture into remaining milk mixture. Bring to a boil over medium-low heat, whisking constantly, then boil, whisking, 1 minute. Remove from heat and whisk in butter and vanilla. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into melted chocolate and whisk to combine.

   Step 7

   Transfer hot filling to crust and chill, its surface covered with parchment, until filling is cold, about 3 hours.

3. Make whipped cream:

   Step 8

   Beat cream with confectioners sugar and cinnamon using an electric mixer until it holds stiff peaks. Spoon over chilled filling.

4. Make chocolate curls:

   Step 9

   Hold chocolate in your hands (or microwave on low power in 10-second intervals) until surface softens slightly. Using a vegetable peeler (preferably Y-shaped), "peel" large chocolate curls onto a paper towel. If curls are too brittle or don't form easily, rewarm chocolate just until surface softens.

   Step 10

   Sprinkle curls on pie.