Fall is not fall without a slice of pumpkin pie. Honestly, if I see there is pumpkin pie I have to enjoy a slice.. or two. Now canned pumpkin puree is very convenient in whipping a pie together, there is even good quality, organic pumpkin puree that you can buy now in mason jars at your local grocery store. However. I have to say that spending $6.00 on a can of pumpkin puree hurts my soul a little cause it is literally the easiest thing to make ever and it hands down makes the best pumpkin pie ever!
If you have never tried to make your own, I really encourage you to try it once. It is so easy and it gives you a ton of puree to not only make delicious pumpkin pie but to also add this nutrient dense, bold orange veggies into your foods. Check out my step-by-step How To Make Pumpkin Puree learn how. Leftover puree? No problem. Add a scoop into chili, your smoothie, baking, or even into a breakfast Pumpkin Spiced Chia Pudding.
Holiday meals can often be heavy and then typically we end them off by a rich dessert full of heavy creams and fats that are hard for our stomach to digest even before we ate a big meal. All foods have digestive times in our stomachs, fruit may take 30min-1 hour for the body to digest, where dairy can take 2-6 hours based on the person’s tolerance. Dairy can also be inflammatory, and after a heavy meal of fats and proteins, we want to be mindful of food pairings to reduce digestive discomfort and bloating.
This pumpkin pie is loaded with healthy fats, vitamin-rich pumpkin and is a lovely way to lighten up after a holiday meal. Making whole food choices does not mean you have to deny yourself dessert but to explore and enjoy plant-based options too. I hope you enjoy this fun pie and it becomes a holiday staple in your home.
From my kitchen to yours,
Jo
Maple Pumpkin Pie with Coconut Whipped Cream
Ingredients
Pie Crust
- 3/4 cup dates, soaked & pitted
- 1 cup rolled oats gluten-free as desired
- 1/4 cup shredded coconut
- 2/3 cup walnuts
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
- 1/4 cup coconut oil melted + 1 tsp for greasing the pie plate
- pinch pink Himalayan or celtic sea salt
- 1 tsp vanilla
Maple Pumpkin Filling
- 1 cup raw cashews, soaked ideally overnight but 1-4 hours will do.
- 1.5 cups roasted pumpkin puree see recipe notes
- 1/2 cup dark maple syrup
- 1 tsp vanilla powder or contents of 1 vanilla bea (vanilla liquid is fine too)
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp allspice
- 1/4 tsp pink Himalayan salt or fine celtic sea salt
- 1/2 cup coconut oil melted
Topping
- 1.5 cups coconut whipped cream see recipe note
- 1 tbsp chopped walnuts
Instructions
Crust
- * Your cashews should have been soaked in a bowl of room temperature water before starting the recipe.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place dates in a small bowl with warm water and set aside. Grease the pie plate with 1 tsp of coconut oil to prevent sticking.
- Place all crust ingredients except oil and dates into a high powdered blender or food processor and process until well mixed.
- Drain dates, removed pits and add them with the coconut oil to the blender and process until the mixture is sticky. If its dry and not sticking together add a little warm water and process again.
- Empty contents into the middle of the pie plate. With your fingers work your way spreading the crust towards the edges. You want to firmly pack it in so it holds together. With a fork, poke a few holes around the bottom of the crust & bake for 10 minutes. Allow to cool for 15-20 minutes while you make the filling.
Filling
- Drain & rinse the soaked cashews. Add everything minus the coconut oil into the blender or food processor and blend until everything is well combined. While the blender is on low, slowly add the melted coconut oil while processing and blend for a few minutes until everything is smooth. This creates a "silk blanket" and makes the filling beautiful smooth & rich.
- Pour the filling evenly into the pie crust. Cover with plastic wrap or parchment and place the pie in the freezer for 8 hours, ideally overnight.
- Before serving remove the pie and let is sit on the counter for 10-15 minutes before cutting. Serve with toppings as desired.