Sweet and Salty Guinness Chocolate Pie with Beer Marshmallow Meringue

I’m a huge fan of Guinness in desserts, so when St. Patrick’s day rolls around I try to find new ways to incorporate it into my baking.  This year I’ve made an old recipe new again!  Ever since I first tasted Guinness Chocolate Pudding, I thought it would be delicious as a pie filling.  It just took a few little tweaks to make it sturdy enough to slice.  I paired it with my own recipe for sweet-and-salty pretzel crust and topped it with a Guinness flavored marshmallow meringue. So, let’s recap.

  • Sweet and salty pretzel crust
  • Guinness-infused chocolate pudding pie filling
  • Guinness marshmallow meringue –toasted

Comforting.  Delicious.  My very own beer/pretzel/chocolate/marshmallow dream come true.

This recipe makes two pies.  Show kindness to others.  Give a pie. ♥

3/19 – Notations have been added to this recipe.

Sweet and Salty Guinness Chocolate Pie with Beer Marshmallow Meringue

Yield: 2 pies                                                                                                      [click for printable recipe]

Pretzel crust:

2 cups crushed pretzels

1 cup graham cracker crumbs

10 tbsp. unsalted butter, melted

1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons light brown sugar (firmly packed)

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. In a medium bowl, mix together pretzels, graham cracker crumbs, butter and brown sugar.  Stir together with a rubber spatula until well incorporated. 
  3. Divide mixture between two 8 or 9-inch pie plates. Bake for 10 minutes.  Cool completely before filling.

Guinness chocolate filling:

8 large egg yolks

1 cup sugar

14.9 oz. can Guinness Draught, divided

2 1/4 cups heavy cream

7 oz. high quality bittersweet chocolate, evenly chopped

1/4 cup cornstarch

  1. Whisk together egg yolks and sugar in a non-reactive bowl.
  2. Pour 1 cup of Guinness in a heavy-bottomed 3-quart saucepan (reserve the rest for later use – no drinky!). Add heavy cream and whisk to combine.  Set over medium-high heat and cook until very hot but not boiling. Remove from heat and whisk in chocolate.   When chocolate has melted, whisk in the egg mixture in a very thin stream as to not scramble the egg.  Whisk in cornstarch and return to heat source.  Whisk over medium heat until thickened.
  3. Divide mixture between pie pans.  Use a rubber spatula to effectively remove all the pudding from the saucepan; quickly smooth the chocolate into the crust.  Refrigerate while making the marshmallow topping.

Beer marshmallow topping:

Edit: 3/19 -Note: This marshmallow meringue is really gooey and not your average dry, fluffy meringue.  It’s more like melted marshmallow fluff. 

Edit: 1/23/13 – A few people who have made this say that they had bunches of meringue left over.  If you’re not a big fan of meringue or have shallow pie pans, then you may want to reduce the amount by 1/4 to 1/2.

Place the remaining Guinness in a small saucepan over medium heat and cook until reduced to 3 tablespoons.

2 cups sugar

4 egg whites

1/4 cup plus 2 tbsp. water

1/4 tsp salt

12 jumbo marshmallows (or about 18-20 large) cut into quarters with kitchen scissors

3 tbsp. beer reduction (as instructed above)

  1. Whisk sugar, egg whites, water and salt together in a large metal bowl.  Set bowl over a simmering pan of water; whisk constantly until sugar dissolves and mixture is hot to the touch.  Remove bowl from simmering saucepan and stir in marshmallows pieces.  Let stand for 3-5 minutes until marshmallow pieces have softened. Return bowl to simmering water and beat together using a hand-held mixer.  Beat for several minutes until mixture thickens. Remove bowl from simmering water and add beer reduction. Continue to beat mixture until it has cooled slightly.
  2. Preheat oven to broil.
  3. Divide mixture between two pie pans and place under broiler in oven.  Watch constantly – it’s easy for the marshmallow to burn! Remove from oven when nice and toasty.
  4. Refrigerate pies until well set – about 3-4 hours. Edit: 3/19 -this is important! This helps the meringue to solidify

Note:  Use a warm knife (dipped in hot water then wiped dry) to achieve cleanly cut slices of pie.  That marshmallow topping is sticky!

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Cassie | Bake Your Day
Cassie | Bake Your Day
12 years ago

This is absolutely stunning. I'm at a loss for words. So, so creative!

Rosa's Yummy Yums
Rosa's Yummy Yums
12 years ago

What an amazing creation! Guinness and pretzels must give this pie an interesting flavor.

cheers,

Rosa

Carli
Carli
12 years ago

Looks great! At what point do you add the yolk/sugar mixture to the guiness/cream mixture?

Jessica jones
Jessica jones
12 years ago

Could we use baileys in the place of the guiness in the meringue topping?

Heather Baird
Heather Baird
12 years ago

Carli – GOOD CATCH. Thank you! I added to item #2 under "Guinness chocolate filling."

Jessica – yes! I think that would taste awesome!

vanillasugarblog
vanillasugarblog
12 years ago

sweet sarah woman!
this is just heavenly.
i just saw a recipe (over at kevin's blog) for chocolate pudding with the Guinness.
did it take long for the beer to reduce down? does it get thicker as it reduces? i've never reduced beer before, but now want too

vanillasugarblog
vanillasugarblog
12 years ago

and I'm adding this to my friday fun stuff–i have too. ok to use the photo?

Heather Baird
Heather Baird
12 years ago

Hey Dawn! It takes about 10-15 minutes to reduce, but it doesn't get much thicker… just darker and more concentrated, if that makes sense. 🙂

And -sure thing about the Friday fun – whatever you need!

Paula
Paula
12 years ago

What is not to love about this beautiful pie?! Just beautiful.

Jessica @ HG
Jessica @ HG
12 years ago

I'm not a beer person, but imagining a thick and creamy dark guiness whisked into a luscious velvety chocolate, I think I'll get with the program. I adore sweet and salty and can't wait to try this crust!

Sue
Sue
12 years ago

Sweet and salty pretzel crust!?! You are a genius!!!

Lora
Lora
12 years ago

That marshmallow meringue is so beautiful and fluffy I want to lay down on it and fall asleep. After I have consumed half the pie, of course. Yum!

Lili
Lili
12 years ago

I just marvel at how you always come up with such clever creations Heather! I love that distressed board you used to display the pie…could it be a pie peel, as opposed to a pizza peel?! ha! xo ~Lili

Anonymous
Anonymous
12 years ago

I always love pretzels crusts and the beer marshmallow topping is just ingenious! I've never really tried any baked goods with guinness, gotta try it out, cuz it seems like i'm missing out a lot!

Unknown
Unknown
12 years ago

This looks very nice and comforting…too bad I'm under-age 😛

Jei
Jei
12 years ago

This looks amazing!!! This might be stupid question but I am confused with what steps give me the beer reduction? Sorry 🙁

Brenda
Brenda
12 years ago

This is so pretty! I need to try some Guinness in my baking!!

Gerry @Foodness Gracious
Gerry @Foodness Gracious
12 years ago

Wow, what an amazing sounding pie, and the pictures are really awesome. The perfect slice 🙂
Take care..

Averie @ Averie Cooks
Averie @ Averie Cooks
12 years ago

One layer looks and sounds better than the next…and of course, gorgeous!! images, as usual!

Shutterbug
Shutterbug
12 years ago

ooooh…. this looks yummy! 🙂

Jennifer (Delicieux)
Jennifer (Delicieux)
12 years ago

Oh my Heather, this is such an amazing creation. How do you come up with all of these delicious creations? What I wouldn't give to grab a fork and dive right into a piece.

Dharma
Dharma
12 years ago

Madre mia, que cosa tan bonita y tan rica, ademas, como siempre tan cretiva. Saludos

Debs @ The Spanish Wok
Debs @ The Spanish Wok
12 years ago

I love guiness, pies, chocolate, marshmallows and son on…….

This looks stunning.

test it comm
test it comm
12 years ago

That Guinness meringue pie is looking so good!

Angela @lesgetbaking
Angela @lesgetbaking
12 years ago

Beer marshmallow, wow!! I just love sweet and salty combinations, this is a must I reckon!

Clare
Clare
12 years ago

That looks amazing – very interesting combinations!

Lauren at Keep It Sweet
Lauren at Keep It Sweet
12 years ago

This pie is OMG on so many levels!

Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar
Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar
12 years ago

This is so pretty! Love that meringue especially. What a treat!

Sheri
Sheri
12 years ago

This looks great, can't wait to try it. Do you think the meringue could be brûléed using a hand torch instead of placing in the broiler?

Kelly
Kelly
12 years ago

Omigosh! Chocolate, Beer, pretzels, marshmallows, you've hit on all my favorite cravings!

Irmina Díaz-Frois Martín
Irmina Díaz-Frois Martín
12 years ago

Hummmm qué deliciosa tarta. Me gustan tus fotos.
Un saludo.

Megan - take a megabite
Megan - take a megabite
12 years ago

Seriously the best idea ever! I saw this last night and got super excited about the pretzel crust that I didn't even realize it was beer meringue! Guuuuuurl, you've got mad skillz and this is the pie of my dreams.

Danguole
Danguole
12 years ago

That looks incredible! What a great idea.

Stefanie @ Sarcastic Cooking
Stefanie @ Sarcastic Cooking
12 years ago

Wow! I have died and go e to Guinness heaven! Truly amazing as ALWAYS!!!

Kavi @ Lab to Fab!
Kavi @ Lab to Fab!
12 years ago

Your creativity never ceases to amaze me! Sweet, salty, dark chocolate, beer… what I wouldn't give for a slice of that right now!

The Devil's Food Advocate
The Devil's Food Advocate
12 years ago

What a brilliant take on those wonderful flavor combinations! Thanks, as always, for the inspiration.

Rachel @ Baked by Rachel
Rachel @ Baked by Rachel
12 years ago

You've reminded me again how much I want a kitchen torch! Beautiful.

OrangeLatte
OrangeLatte
12 years ago

I can tell from the name already that this pie will taste amazingly "DELICIOUS" ^___^

Anonymous
Anonymous
12 years ago

Hi Heather, I've been following you for awhile, though I've never commented before but Gosh, I can't resist. This is brilliant. I so wish I could grab a fork and devour that lovely piece.

bridget {bake at 350}
bridget {bake at 350}
12 years ago

Oh. My. Guinness….I mean, Goodness!

BebeDollface
BebeDollface
12 years ago

Could I try this with the pudding as a filling between some devils food cake?

BebeDollface
BebeDollface
12 years ago

Could I try this with the pudding as a filling between some devils food cake?

BebeDollface
BebeDollface
12 years ago

Could I try this with the pudding as a filling between some devils food cake?

Ambika
Ambika
12 years ago

I am loving all the guiness everywhere! Happy St.Patrick's day!

Jen @ Eat. Swim. Shop.
Jen @ Eat. Swim. Shop.
12 years ago

Brilliant and beautiful. I love it! Happy St. Patrick's day!

Sara {HomeIsWhereTheCookiesAre.com}
Sara {HomeIsWhereTheCookiesAre.com}
12 years ago

What a creative St. Patty's day dessert!! Now if only I weren't so intimidated by pies and meringue. . . .

Cookbook Queenh
Cookbook Queenh
12 years ago

I don't think I could ever let one of these pies go!! Just too beautiful and yummy. Love it and love your magical ideas!!

Taylor
Taylor
12 years ago

Is the marshmallow meringue supposed to LOOK like meringue before you put it in the fridge? Or is it liquid? You say to cook it until it thickens and then beat until slightly cooled, so I'm wondering how it looks before you broil it.

Heather Baird
Heather Baird
12 years ago

It will not be fluffy like normal meringue, rather, it will be thick and gooey and pourable. It will flatten out over the pie. I swirled the top with an off-set spatula just before I stuck it under the broiler.

Hope this helps!

Anonymous
Anonymous
12 years ago

This looks so edible! I love Guinness in meat pies, but have never had it like this! A must try.