Zebra Cream Pie-- no stove or oven required
Just like many of you, my day job doesn’t consume all my creative urges, so the kitchen is my outlet. Not long ago I read about a zebra cake on The Whimsical Cupcake and a tiger cake on Daily Salt that caused me to imagine a pie using a similar technique.
Apparently, God was in a creative mood himself when he made zebras. Not only are they strikingly beautiful but every zebra has a unique, one-of-a-kind stripe pattern comparable to our thumbprints.
And just like zebras, every time I put this pie together, it looks a little different. But no matter. The taste is the same– a mild chocolate in the same way chocolate and vanilla swirled ice cream tastes mostly chocolate. I experimented with various crusts but my husband deemed the chocolate cookie crust the perfect foil for the light and creamy filling so that’s what I went with– just so you know who the boss is around here.
No two pies look exactly alike.
Take note. Making this pie does not have to heat up your kitchen. Instead of baking the crust, refrigerate it for an hour or buy a prepared chocolate cookie crust. The cream filling goes together quickly in the blender and is cooked in the microwave resulting in a lump-free, silky-smooth texture in 6 minutes. Be sure to allow adequate time for the pie to chill or the layers won’t be so pretty when you serve it.
Use a shallow circular motion with a spatula to gently press and spread cream toward the edge.
| Zebra Cream Pie |
|
- Oreo Pie Crust:
- 2 cups mini Oreo cookies or 14 regular size Oreo cookies
- 1/4 cup melted butter
- Cream Filling:
- 2-3/4 cups milk (I use 2-1/2 cups nonfat milk + 1/4 cup whipping cream but any type will work)
- 2/3 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 4 egg yolks
- 2 tablespoons melted butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 ounces bittersweet chocolate, melted 1 minute in microwave in 4-cup glass bowl
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Place cookies in bowl of food processor and pulse repeatedly until you have fine crumbs. (You can also use a rolling pin to crust cookies inside of a closed plastic bag.) Add melted butter and work evenly through crumbs. Press into a 9-inch pie plate using a spoon to smooth and pack crumbs to a uniform thickness.
- Bake for 10 minutes and allow to cool.
- Summertime variation: Instead of baking, chill formed pie crust 1 hour before adding filling.
- Add milk, sugar, cornstarch, salt, and egg yolks, (in that order) to blender. Blend 5 seconds and pour into 2-quart glass microwave-safe bowl. Microwave 6 minutes on HIGH, whisking till smooth after 3 minutes, then every minute thereafter. Pour through strainer if you see any lumps.
- Add butter and vanilla, whisking ’til smooth. Pour half of filling into bowl holding chocolate, stirring until smooth.
- Pour half of vanilla batter into pie crust, carefully spreading it across the bottom and up the sides of the crust. Add half of the chocolate filling on top by pouring in the middle, carefully spreading it over the top of the first vanilla layer leaving a vanilla margin around the outside. Work fast before the cream can cool and thicken. Continue alternating flavors, adding the filling to the center of the pie. It will begin to make a mound. When all filling is used, cover with plastic wrap and use your hand to gently push the cream filling from the center toward the edges until it’s flat, being careful not to disturb the rings. Chill at least 4 hours before serving.
If you think you have totally messed up the layers, use a knife to gently swirl the cream filling and cover with whipped cream. It will look like you planned it that way from the beginning….maybe….hopefully.
Plan B
PDF 
{ 23 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi – Is there a link to the recipe somewhere? Thanks.
Not sure why the recipe didn’t show up originally but I think it’s fixed now. Let me know if you still don’t see it.
What a fun pie!
Mimi
Mimi recently posted..Busy Bees
Wow! This is looking yummy by the minute to this pregnant mother of ten! I must find the ingredients and make this NOW!
I just found your site and I am looking through it. Mmmm. Good ideas and stuff here!
That would be so cool with meringue on top because when you cut into it it would be a big surprise.
Sharyn recently posted..Wordless Wednesday- This Made Me Chuckle
Paula, this is brilliant! Your creativity is so inspiring. Gorgeous top shot of that slice of pie! Yum! Who doesn’t love a no-bake pie and lord knows anything we can do to keep the heat down during the summer in Texas, is a good thing! xo
Nina recently posted..Tiger Cake
This is a perfect recipe for my “still without AC” kitchen. A girl needs her treats even when it’s too hot to cook! This pie looks scrumptious- I love the layers!
Betty @ scrambled hen fruit recently posted..Rocky Road Fudge Bars
Oh Paula, you continue to amaze me. This looks so so good. Something this lite and creamy is bound to be low calorie right?????? I know this is bound to be worth it no matter what the calorie count. I will have to make this soon when my sister Judy comes to visit. She won’t believe her eyes! Thanks for another enjoyable post.
Fabulous and so fun, Paula, I LOVE it! Wonderful pictures too!
This is beautiful! Every time I get a post from you via email, I am in awe of your beautiful, enticing photographs. And the pie recipe looks divine, too! But let’s face it, we eat with our eyes first.
Awesome. I’ve seen zebra cakes, but never pie. I could lick the picture!
Gary recently posted..Baked White Fish with Orzo- Tomatoes and Olives
Wow Paula! That first shot is awesome. Not only do you make everything look easy but so beautiful as well.
Paula recently posted..Bambi- Butterflies and Ladybug Baby Shower Cookies
It looks gorgeous from both the top and when cut! Wow! Cold and perfect!
Lorraine recently posted..Easy Parmesan Risotto
That is really cool looking Paula, what fun! You make it look easy. PS. I still haven’t made the honey wheat bread I’m out of town now for 3 weeks, but I will be making it soon.
Suzanne recently posted..BBQ Chicken Pizza on the Grill
Up to now, what I had seen was a zebra cake, but a zebra cream pie? It looks delicious, and the best of all: how easy to make!
Cheers!
cocidodesopa recently posted..CAKE DE CALABACÍN- CARDAMOMO Y LIMA
Looks fantastic! I am going to have to try this one out- perfect for bringing to a BBQ!
Wow, this looks so cool! Not to mention finger licking good. Love how you came up with the “zebra pie”.
Karen recently posted..Cantaloupe Salad
This looks too cool!!!!!! And it photographs well:+)
Genius! And I love the name
I love this. I always wanted to make the cake but just never have. I think I would like the pie better over the cake anyway and I’ll have to give this a try.
Love the first picture!
This pie has such great color contrast. Looks gorgeous. Well done!
Oh, this is a stunner. And what a plus that you can make it w/o turning on the oven.
Michelle recently posted..Oatmeal graham cookies
I love this idea! I’ve made zebra cake before, but I’m more than a little obsessed with pastry cream so this is perfect for me. My husband just saw your photo and said, “You’ve got to make that!” Done deal.
Annie recently posted..DIY Oreos- and a Giveaway!