Mud Pie (Mississippi Mud Pie)

Directions

For Chocolate Crumb Crust:

1. Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 350°F.
2. Mix the crumbs, melted butter, and sugar together in a medium bowl until moistened.
3. Press the mixture firmly and evenly into a 9-inch pie pan.
4. Bake the crust for about 10 minutes or until it is set and smells like warm cookies.
5. Remove the crust from the oven and let it cool completely.

For Filling:

6. Combine 2½ cups of half and half, sugar, and salt in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir often, to dissolve the sugar, until simmering.
7. Pour the mixture into a heatproof bowl and rinse out the saucepan.
8. Add the remaining half and half to a small bowl and sprinkle the cornstarch over it, whisking until the cornstarch dissolves. 
9. Whisk the yolks in a medium bowl and then gradually whisk in the cornstarch mixture.
10. Whisk in the hot half and half mixture gradually and then pour it into the rinsed-out saucepan.
11. Cook the mixture over medium heat, stirring constantly until it comes to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low and let the mixture bubble, stirring constantly, for 1 minute before removing it from the heat.
12. Add the chocolate, butter, and vanilla, whisking until the chocolate is completely melted.
13. Pour the filling evenly into the cooled crust and cover it with plastic wrap, pressing it directly onto the filling to keep a skin from forming.
14. Let the pie cool completely before chilling it in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours.

For Topping:

15. Whip together the heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla in a chilled medium bowl until stiff using an electric mixer on high speed.
16. Uncover the pie and spread the whipped cream over it.
17. Sprinkle the whipped cream with the cookie crumbs.
18. Slice and serve the pie chilled.