Caramel Pie

For the past few years, my brother Chris has brought an amazing caramel pie to the family get-together on Christmas Eve. This particular pie is amazingly delicious and is served with freshly whipped cream. Chris gets the pie and whipped cream from Beatrix in the River North neighborhood in Chicago. It is a pie that I have not really seen anywhere else, but it occurred to me that this caramel pie can be made at home with ease.

First, there is a crumb crust. I used a basic graham cracker crust, but other types of cookies or crackers could be used to make the crust. Then, the caramel is so easy to make if you have a slow cooker. Just stick a few unopened cans of sweetened condensed milk covered completely in water in your slow cooker for eight hours to make the delicious caramel. I used two cans of sweetened condensed milk, which adequately filled a nine-inch pie pan, but another can would result in a filled to the top pie. Finally, whip some whipping cream, and you have just re-created Beatrix's caramel pie. MDS even thinks this version is better than the original.

Update: I shared a piece of this pie with whipped cream with Chris. He can be quite particular about what he will eat, such that some might call him a foodie. He reported that this pie was excellent and suggested that I make it for the next family get-together. So this pie must be good.

Caramel Pie 

• 1 1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/3 cup butter
• 2 or 3 cans sweetened condensed milk
• 1 cup whipping cream
• 1-2 tsp. vanilla extract

Blend the graham cracker crumbs, sugar and butter. Press the crumbs into a greased nine-inch pie pan. Refrigerate the crust for a few hours before filling. 

To make the caramel, remove the labels from cans of sweetened. Place the unopened cans in a slow cooker. Cover the cans completely with water. Turn the slow cooker on to low and let sit for eight hours. Allow the cans to cool completely before opening. Spoon the caramel into the pie crust. Combine the whipping cream and vanilla in a bowl and use an electric mixer until soft peaks form. Serve the pie with fresh whipped cream. Enjoy!