(Not)Baked-o-lution Raw Vegan Chocolate Banana Cream Pie

Having skipped Bake-o-lution last month while doing the Whole30, I was excited to bring something to the counter this time around.  However, I wasn’t quite ready to launch back into pastry flour and cream cheese icing. Instead, I decided it would be fun to see what my colleagues would think of a raw vegan dessert.  While I recognize the irony of bringing something raw to bake-o-lution, it was certainly in the spirit of trying something new.  And it turned out I wasn’t the only one pushing the boundaries!  My favorite dessert of all this month was a banana bread dolce de leche ice cream.  Oh my gosh, what dreams are made of right there.  While my cream pie didn’t get quite as much acclaim as the Cornflake Cookie Sandwiches Filled with Cereal Milk Buttercream I made in December, every last bite got eaten.  Sorry, Mom, next time I’ll save you a piece.

Raw Vegan Chocolate Banana Cream Pie

Adapted from This Rawsome Vegan Life

Ingredients:

Crust:

• 1 1/2 cups almonds
• 1 1/2 cups dates, pitted

Chocolate Mousse:

• 2-3 ripe avocados 
• 1/3 cup maple syrup or agave
• 1/2 t cinnamon
• 1/4 cup high quality cocoa powder
• 2 Tbsp melted coconut oil

Whipped Cream:

• 1 can chilled full fat coconut milk
• 3 Tbsp maple syrup
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

For Assembly:

• 2 large bananas

How to make the magic happen:

1. Pulse nuts and dates in the food processor until it lumps together.  Press into a pie pan that’s been oiled or lined with parchment paper.  Slice one banana and line the bottom of the pie crust.  Stick in the fridge.
2. For the chocolate mousse, blend all ingredients in a blender or food processor until silky smooth. Try not to eat it all before you transfer it into your prepared pie crust.  Set in the fridge again.
3. Take out coconut milk from the fridge.  Flip, and open from the bottom.  Drain the liquid and spoon off the thick cream from the top into a mixing bowl.  Add maple syrup and vanilla and mix well.  Spoon over chocolate layer and spread evenly.  Slice the other banana and decorate the top of your pie.

Johanna