Cranberry Chocolate Nut Pie



3/4 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup brandy or orange juice
1 Recipe Single-Crust Pie Pastry or 1 rolled refrigerated unbaked piecrust (1/2 of a 15-oz. pkg.)
1/3 cup butter, melted and cooled
1-1/2 cups sugar
3 eggs
1/8 tsp. salt
1 cup chopped walnuts
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 oz. white baking bars, chopped
Sweetened Whipped Cream, see below (optional)

1. In small bowl combine dried cranberries and brandy. Cover and chill for at least 1 hour. Drain and reserve 1 tablespoon of the brandy.
2. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Prepare pastry and line 9-inch pie plate.
3. In medium bowl whisk together butter, sugar, eggs and salt. Stir in walnuts, flour and chopped baking bars until just combined. Stir in drained cranberries and 1 tablespoon of the reserved brandy mixture. Spoon into crust-lined pie plate. Bake for 65 minutes, loosely covering the pie with foil the last 30 minutes of baking. Cool on rack.
4. Top with Sweetened Whipped Cream.

Sweetened Whipped Cream:In chilled mixing bowl add 1 cup whipping cream, 2 tablespoons sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla. Beat with electric mixer on medium speed until soft peaks form. Refrigerate until ready to use.

Makes 10 servings.

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