Silken Pumpkin Pie

I volunteered to make something for for Wendy's dinner. Dessert seemed like a good choice - it can be round! And I learned that Anne is gluten and dairy intolerant. Hmm, what to make? How about a vegan pumpkin pie?

Ingredients:

Crust:

• scant 3/4 cup pitted dates (12 or so dates)
• 3/4 cup walnuts (or pecans or pecan meal)
• 1/2 cup shredded coconut
  (I use sweetened coconut, you could also just use more nuts and add a tablespoon or so of brown sugar)
• 3 tbsp cocoa powder 
• 1/8 tsp salt

Filling:

• 2 (12 ounce) packages soft tofu
• 16 ounce pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie mix!)
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2.5 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• .5 teaspoon ground ginger
• .25 teaspoon ground cloves
• .25 teaspoon allspice

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Chop dates in thirds or quarters, then process in food processor.
3. Add nuts, process to break up pieces.
4. Add coconut flakes, cocoa powder, and salt, then whirr to make a crumbly mix.
5. Spray a pie pan with cooking spray.
6. Dump the crust mix into the pie pan, press into place evenly across bottom and sides.
7. Blend tofu until smooth in  a food processor. Scrape down the sides.
8. Add in pumpkin, blend in well, scraping down the sides.
9. Add in the sugar and spices, blend in well, scraping down the sides.
10. Pour pumpkin filling into pie pan to fill pan.
    (Depending on how deep your pan is, you will have a cup or so of extra filling. I baked the extra in a small dish without a crust.)




11. Sprinkle about a teaspoon or so of brown sugar over the top of the pie.
12. Bake the prepared pie for about 60 minutes.
    (I took the small dish out after 45 minutes.)
13. Let pie cool on rack until room temperature, then place in refrigerator for chilling.

Carole's Notes:

I like the raw filling I sampled - but I have to wait to taste the pie!

Adapted from http://www.geniuskitchen.com/recipe/pumpkin-pie-made-with-tofu-no-milk-or-eggs-78098 and
http://www.morinu.com/en/dairy-free-low-fat-pumpkin-pie/
and
http://carolelikesroundfood.blogspot.com/2015/08/chocolate-peanut-butter-silk-pie-no-bake.html