French Silk Pie Bars
French Silk Pie Bars

French Silk Pie Bars



Recipe by: Willow Bird Baking adapted from Brown Eyed Baker
Yield: 9 bars

If you love French Silk pie, this is your kind of dessert! A buttery shortbread crust forms the base for creamy chocolate mousse and fluffy whipped cream. Use Pioneer Woman’s tutorial for making cute chocolate curls to boost the presentation!

Crust Ingredients:
1 cup (2 sticks) butter
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup icing sugar

Filling Ingredients:
1 cup heavy cream
8 ounces bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
3 eggs
¾ cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons water
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
8 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature, cut into ½-inch pieces

Topping Ingredients:
1 cup heavy whipping cream
1/2 teaspoon gelatin
2 tablespoons cold water
4-5 tablespoons powdered sugar
chocolate curls (optional)

Directions:
Make shortbread crust: Preheat your oven to 350°F. Prepare an 8-inch square baking dish by lining it with parchment paper. Cut the butter into the flour and icing sugar and press into the baking dish (I used a food processor to cut the fat into the flour — about 6-10 pulses — and then the bottom of a glass to press the mixture into the pan). Bake 18-20 minutes or until light brown. Set on a wire rack.

Make the filling: Melt your chocolate by heating in 30-second intervals on half power, stirring between each. Once melted, set the chocolate aside as you complete the filling. In a chilled bowl, beat the heavy whipping cream to stiff peaks. Place it in a bowl in the fridge to chill until it’s needed. In the heatproof bowl of a stand mixer, beat together eggs, sugar, and water for 5 minutes until pale yellow and slightly thickened. Set the bowl over a saucepan of simmering water to form a sort of double boiler. Heat, whisking occasionally, until a candy thermometer reads 160 degrees F.

Put the bowl onto the stand mixer carefully and beat on medium speed until cooled to room temperature and thickened, about 8 minutes. While beating, add in the chocolate and vanilla. My chocolate almost seemed to stick to the bowl and get difficult here, but I just turned the mixer up for a few seconds and all was well. Beat in the room temperature butter a piece at a time, mixing between each. Fold in the whipped cream until no white streaks remain, and then pour the mixture over your cooled shortbread crust and smooth the top. Cover and chill the bars for at least 3 hours or overnight.

Make the topping: In a small bowl, sprinkle the gelatin over the 2 tablespoons cold water to soften for 2 minutes. Heat for 15 or so seconds in the microwave, whisking to dissolve the gelatin. Whip 1 cup heavy whipping cream to stiff peaks, adding the gelatin and powdered sugar halfway through. Chill in the fridge until set.

Want to see some of my own “surprise inside” cakes? I’ll be honest: I use a special pan to craft my heart-shaped creations. Amanda’s book will help you to be much more crafty!

89 Comments on French Silk Pie Bars (and a Surprise-Inside Cakes giveaway!)

  1. Liz S.
    March 24, 2014 at 1:42 am (10 years ago)

    Love this pie/bar hybrid recipe!

    My favorite kind of cake is Chocolate Fudge Cake.

    Reply
  2. Kim G
    March 24, 2014 at 5:09 am (10 years ago)

    The bars look yummy!

    My favorite cake is carrot cake!

    Reply
  3. Sue
    March 24, 2014 at 5:37 am (10 years ago)

    Love the rainbow heart cake!!

    Reply
  4. Sue
    March 24, 2014 at 5:40 am (10 years ago)

    Lovexoxoxo

    Reply
  5. Ali
    March 24, 2014 at 6:20 am (10 years ago)

    My favorite cake is my great Grandma’s famous jimmy cake 🙂

    Reply
  6. fran
    March 24, 2014 at 7:16 am (10 years ago)

    I love all cake…

    Reply
  7. Samantha H
    March 24, 2014 at 7:42 am (10 years ago)

    My favourite cake is Chocolate Mud Cake, although I have yet to find a recipe that duplicates the moist, rich, dense, fudge heaven that I’ve tried in a cafe before…

    Reply
  8. June G.
    March 24, 2014 at 7:45 am (10 years ago)

    Mmmm, I love Black Forest cake!

    Reply
  9. Jessica L.
    March 24, 2014 at 8:23 am (10 years ago)

    I love yellow cake with chocolate frosting…so classic, but SO good!

    Reply
  10. Jenna O
    March 24, 2014 at 8:45 am (10 years ago)

    I love chocolate cakes 🙂

    Reply
  11. Luz
    March 24, 2014 at 8:51 am (10 years ago)

    I love buttermilk chocolate cake with cream cheese frosting mmmmm!

    Reply
  12. Abigail
    March 24, 2014 at 8:54 am (10 years ago)

    I’ve loved her blog for so long, how awesome! Also, this cake looks amazing.

    Favorite cake? My birthday cake is always either orange cake with lemon frosting, or lemon cake with orange frosting. (This year it’s the latter.)

    Reply
  13. Brandi Bryant
    March 24, 2014 at 10:26 am (10 years ago)

    My favorite now is thin yellow layers with cooked chocolate frosting. Thanks for the giveaway. Good luck everyone.

    Reply
  14. Kim Henrichs
    March 24, 2014 at 10:30 am (10 years ago)

    My favorite cake is chocolate with strawberry, bananas and whipped cream!

    Reply
  15. Kelster
    March 24, 2014 at 10:37 am (10 years ago)

    Chocolate cake. I haven’t made one in months. I also gave up chocolate for Lent. It’s a rough life.

    Reply
  16. alicia p
    March 24, 2014 at 10:56 am (10 years ago)

    I’m a lover of all cakes – but I can never deny how delicious chocolate cake is!

    Reply
  17. Megan
    March 24, 2014 at 11:07 am (10 years ago)

    Chocolate with chocolate frosting!

    Reply
  18. Barbi B
    March 24, 2014 at 11:12 am (10 years ago)

    Black Joe cake with Peanut Butter Frosting…..who am I kidding any home made chocolate cake!

    Reply
  19. Elizabeth
    March 24, 2014 at 11:35 am (10 years ago)

    These bars look fabulous.

    Anyways, my favourite cake would be either red velvet or carrot. Though there are not many cakes I would turn down.

    Reply
  20. Trudy
    March 24, 2014 at 11:55 am (10 years ago)

    I love most cakes, but anything chocolate would be at the top of my list.

    Reply
  21. Lacey B
    March 24, 2014 at 1:08 pm (10 years ago)

    Anything chocolate

    Reply
  22. Laura Van B.
    March 24, 2014 at 1:26 pm (10 years ago)

    If I had to choose one…Hungarian Dobos, exquisite all the way, hands down the best.

    Reply
  23. Terri B
    March 24, 2014 at 1:30 pm (10 years ago)

    My favorite is red velvet!

    Reply
  24. LauriM
    March 24, 2014 at 1:32 pm (10 years ago)

    I love pretty much any chocolate cake and anything that works well with it.

    Reply
  25. Lindsay Lee
    March 24, 2014 at 1:38 pm (10 years ago)

    Strawberry Cake with Strawberry Frosting YUM!!!

    Reply
  26. Birdiebee
    March 24, 2014 at 2:07 pm (10 years ago)

    I love chocolate mousse cake.

    Reply
  27. Rebecca
    March 24, 2014 at 4:25 pm (10 years ago)

    I love red velvet cake. This looks great too.

    Reply
  28. Egg
    March 24, 2014 at 5:56 pm (10 years ago)

    Red velvet cake is the best. 🙂

    Reply
  29. Stacia
    March 24, 2014 at 5:57 pm (10 years ago)

    My favorite type of cake is yellow with chocolate buttercream!

    Reply
  30. Steph
    March 24, 2014 at 7:24 pm (10 years ago)

    Chocolate cake! and Pumpkin Dump Cake…

    Reply
  31. Eileen A-W
    March 24, 2014 at 7:35 pm (10 years ago)

    Any cake that has chocolate in it!!

    Reply
  32. Jenny
    March 24, 2014 at 8:40 pm (10 years ago)

    I love a good mocha cake!

    Reply
  33. Keli
    March 24, 2014 at 9:56 pm (10 years ago)

    I absolutely love dark chocolate cake with Rich’s whipped vanilla icing! Will be my fave til I die!

    Reply
  34. Dorothea
    March 24, 2014 at 10:18 pm (10 years ago)

    My favorite cake is one I first made many, many years ago – it’s a chocolate layer cake with sweetened whipped cream in between the layers, and enrobed in a fudge-like frosting!

    Reply
  35. Tanya
    March 24, 2014 at 10:18 pm (10 years ago)

    Strawberry cream cake is my favorite 🙂

    Reply
  36. Traci
    March 24, 2014 at 10:31 pm (10 years ago)

    Mocha flavored cakes are my favorite.

    Reply
  37. Diane
    March 24, 2014 at 10:45 pm (10 years ago)

    My favorite cake is white almond cake with buttercream icing.

    Reply
  38. cheri
    March 24, 2014 at 10:56 pm (10 years ago)

    carrot cakes are my favorite!

    Reply
  39. Beth
    March 24, 2014 at 11:04 pm (10 years ago)

    Caramel!

    Reply
  40. Melissa Poling
    March 24, 2014 at 11:13 pm (10 years ago)

    My favorite cake is yellow cake w/chocolate icing!

    Reply
  41. Leslee
    March 25, 2014 at 12:27 am (10 years ago)

    Texas Sheet Cake

    Reply
  42. Laurel Wycoff
    March 25, 2014 at 12:31 am (10 years ago)

    Black forest cherry cake, pls!

    Reply
  43. jessica
    March 25, 2014 at 1:17 am (10 years ago)

    I would have to go with chocolate!!

    Reply
  44. Marje
    March 25, 2014 at 2:46 am (10 years ago)

    My favorite cake is anything with chocolate

    Reply
  45. Jess Z
    March 25, 2014 at 4:34 am (10 years ago)

    I love peanut butter chocolate chip or banana creme. Honestly, any type of cake! 🙂

    Reply
  46. Phyllis
    March 25, 2014 at 5:31 am (10 years ago)

    Favorite cake is chocolate with chocolate frosting & vanilla ice cream

    Reply
  47. Debbie K
    March 25, 2014 at 6:13 am (10 years ago)

    Peach Sunrise cake… or Triple Chocolate cake… or…. ANY cake, pretty much

    Reply
  48. MicheleW
    March 25, 2014 at 7:34 am (10 years ago)

    Chocolate frosting and cake

    Reply
  49. Denise McDonald
    March 25, 2014 at 8:25 am (10 years ago)

    I’ve never met a cake I didn’t like, but chocolate is always a favorite.

    Reply
  50. Heather
    March 25, 2014 at 10:16 am (10 years ago)

    Chocolate coke cake with fudge frosting

    Reply
  51. Jeanne
    March 25, 2014 at 10:58 am (10 years ago)

    I make a cake using Swiss Mocha Instant Coffee with a whipped cream icing that is to die for!!

    Reply
  52. Kim
    March 25, 2014 at 11:40 am (10 years ago)

    my fav kind of cake is coconut cake!!

    Reply
  53. Mercedes
    March 25, 2014 at 11:50 am (10 years ago)

    My favorite kind of cake is german chocolate!

    Reply
  54. Peggy Luna
    March 25, 2014 at 12:00 pm (10 years ago)

    Love German Chocolate Cake, it reminds me of my mother who use to bake it. Plus Boston Cream Pie, same reason…my mom use to make it.

    Reply
  55. nimbe
    March 25, 2014 at 12:01 pm (10 years ago)

    my favorite cake is chocolate or flan!

    Reply
  56. Tamika
    March 25, 2014 at 3:01 pm (10 years ago)

    My favorite cake is a classic pound cake.

    Reply
  57. keely
    March 25, 2014 at 4:03 pm (10 years ago)

    devils food with chocolate frosting! 🙂

    Reply
  58. Melinda
    March 25, 2014 at 4:11 pm (10 years ago)

    cheesecake

    Reply
  59. Amanda
    March 25, 2014 at 5:39 pm (10 years ago)

    Hmm…my favorite kind of cake? That’s such a toughie….. Maybe Yellow cake with chocolate Frosting!

    Reply
  60. stephanie
    March 25, 2014 at 6:09 pm (10 years ago)

    Any layer cake with pudding as layers! Or lemon curd.

    Reply
  61. Elizabeth
    March 25, 2014 at 7:03 pm (10 years ago)

    I just had lemon cake with blackberries–delicious!

    Reply
  62. heidi
    March 25, 2014 at 9:45 pm (10 years ago)

    my favorite cake is flourless chocolate cake with fresh raspberries.especially as thick as fudge!yum

    Reply
  63. mariel
    March 25, 2014 at 10:11 pm (10 years ago)

    I’ll never stop loving funfetti

    Reply
  64. MelodyJ
    March 26, 2014 at 1:04 am (10 years ago)

    I love half vanilla half chocolate cakes.

    Reply
  65. MelodyJ
    March 26, 2014 at 1:04 am (10 years ago)

    I love half vanilla half chocolate cakes.

    Reply
  66. Stephanie Johnson
    March 26, 2014 at 8:17 am (10 years ago)

    These look delicious!

    My favorite is angelfood cake. Love. It.

    Reply
  67. Terri C.
    March 26, 2014 at 9:31 am (10 years ago)

    My favorite cake is German Chocolate

    Reply
  68. katy b
    March 26, 2014 at 9:39 am (10 years ago)

    this silk pie looks amazing! my favorite cake is a meringue cake with caramel filling

    Reply
  69. Megan
    March 26, 2014 at 10:20 pm (10 years ago)

    Fave cake…..chocolate with either peanut butter or coconut filing and covered in chocolate ganache. Mmmm

    Reply
  70. itzia
    March 26, 2014 at 11:15 pm (10 years ago)

    coconut cake with coconut pudding

    Reply
  71. Lauren G.
    March 27, 2014 at 4:47 pm (10 years ago)

    I’m a purist…chocolate cake with vanilla buttercream.

    Reply
  72. Elizabeth R
    March 27, 2014 at 5:59 pm (10 years ago)

    My favorite kind of cake is carrot cake with cream cheese icing

    Reply
  73. Emily
    March 28, 2014 at 8:29 am (10 years ago)

    I love lemon velvet cake!

    Reply
  74. Grace
    March 28, 2014 at 1:53 pm (10 years ago)

    danish layer cake with whipped cream and fruit!

    Reply
  75. Marcia S.
    March 29, 2014 at 12:58 am (10 years ago)

    I love hummingbird cake with cream cheese frosting!

    Reply
  76. Katie
    March 29, 2014 at 8:14 am (10 years ago)

    I love French Silk Pie! I might just have to try making this!

    My favorite cake is the Ultimate Coconut Cake that I made from your recipe :o)

    Reply
  77. Mabel chan
    March 30, 2014 at 3:37 am (10 years ago)

    I love carrot cake! Lots of crream cheese frosting too!

    Reply
  78. kiki
    March 30, 2014 at 7:22 am (10 years ago)

    That Chai Mousse Croque em Bouche cake is a masterpiece! What an artist! Chapeaux !!! Greetings from Bavaria

    Reply
  79. Angela H.
    March 31, 2014 at 1:22 am (10 years ago)

    Chocolate cake with a good ganache. Yummy!

    Reply
  80. Karri S
    March 31, 2014 at 8:44 am (10 years ago)

    I love a good vanilla cake with chocolate frosting.

    Reply
  81. Vaishali Ramjee
    March 31, 2014 at 4:20 pm (10 years ago)

    I love making layered cakes with cinnamon,caramel and chocolate cream.

    Reply
  82. Renee @ Awesome on $20
    April 6, 2014 at 12:29 am (10 years ago)

    Oh my god, Perkins!!!! I haven’t thought about that place in ages. These bars look amazing!

    Reply
  83. Amanda
    November 24, 2015 at 9:55 am (8 years ago)

    I was wondering if you’ve ever made this in a 9×13 pan? It looks like the crust and filling are pretty thick layers, so I wondered if it would work in a larger pan for thinner bars.

    Reply
    • Julie Ruble
      November 24, 2015 at 10:21 am (8 years ago)

      I’ve never tried it. I think the crust might run a bit short, but perhaps the filling would work for a thinner layer as you described. If you try it, let me know how it goes!

      Reply

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