Chocolate Mousse Pie with Walnut Crust

Prepare crust:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. In a medium-sized bowl, combine finely chopped walnuts, butter and sugar. Grease a pie pan with some butter. Spread walnut mixture evenly on the bottom and sides of the pie pan. I use the bottom of a dry measuring cup to press it down flat and smooth. Bake in the oven for 10 minutes. Remove and set aside to cool.

Prepare filling:

Melt chocolate morsels in a double boiler on the stove top and set aside to cool to almost room temperature.

Meanwhile, whip the heavy cream until stiff peaks form.

In another bowl, beat cream cheese and butter until smooth and fluffy. Beat in cooled chocolate and vanilla extract until light in color.

Fold whipped cream into chocolate mixture until completely incorporated.

Fill cooled pie crust and refrigerate for several hours. I usually just do it the night before I want to serve it.

Decorate and serve with additional whipped cream and chocolate shavings if desired.