Last week Things My Belly Likes threw down a challenge to cook and bake with items that one would normally bypass in the grocery store. Check out her blog and see just how crazy and creative she got with this. I, as usual, was a little slow on the uptake and not only missed out on the week’s challenges, I only managed to come up with one challenge recipe. Better late than never. Incidentally, I completely rejected the idea of using lima beans (I’m not ready to go there yet, if ever). Instead, I poked around our sporadically lame, occasionally bountiful Walmart produce section and chose a cute little bag of key limes. I know, I know – how challenging is that? Well, I’ll have you know that I’d never created nor ever eaten anything with key limes so I’m saying they fall squarely in the “challenge” category. Yes, I could’ve grabbed some jicama, but c’mon people. I’m only human.
This pie is a combination of coconut creme and key lime so the tangy lime has been tamed somewhat – feel free to up the amount of juice (reducing the other liquids to compensate) or add more lime zest. The hint of chocolate and the crunch of the toasted coconut and cacao nibs is a wonderful counterpart to the creaminess of the “custard.” I’m pretty happy with the results of this challenge. Bring on the lima beans. Not!
You can find this and another 140+ plant-based recipes in my hardcover book, Crave Eat Heal: Plant-based, Whole Food Recipes to Satisfy Every Appetite.
Dairy-free Chocolate-coated Key Lime Coconut Cream Pie
- Prep Time: 30
- Total Time: 210
- Yield: 1 1x
Description
Cool, creamy, sweet and tart. Sounds like dessert to me! This key lime coconut cream pie has a surprise layer of chocolate on top of the coconutty crust. Dairy-free.
Ingredients
Crust
- 1 cup nut meal (I used almond, left over from making milk)
- 1 cup walnuts
- 1 Tbsp. hemp seeds
- 2 Tbsp. maple syrup
- 2 Tbsp. date puree
Crust coating
- 1 cup stevia-sweetened, vegan semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 Tbsp. coconut oil
- 1/4 toasted coconut flakes
- 2 Tbsp. Choffy or finely ground cacao nibs
- 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
Filling
- 1 cup full fat coconut milk
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 Tbsp. agar flakes or powder
- 1 Tbsp. arrowroot powder mixed with 1/4 cup cool water
- 12-ounces silken tofu
- 1 Tbsp. key lime zest
- 1/4 cup key lime juice
- 2 Tbsp. pure maple syrup
- 1/2 tsp. liquid stevia
Instructions
Make the crust
- Pour the walnuts into the food processor and pulse until coarsely chopped. Add the nut meal and hemp seeds and pulse a few times to combine. Add in the remaining ingredients and process until a moist meal is formed. Pour into deep 9-inch pie dish and use wet hands to pat out the crust until evenly distributed along the bottom and sides.
Chocolate-coating
- Line a small baking pan or dish with aluminum foil. Set aside. In a double boiler, melt the coconut oil and chocolate. When smooth, remove from heat and stir in the vanilla, Choffy (cacao nibs) and toasted coconut. Spread about half of the mixture along the bottom and up the sides of the prepared crust. On the prepared baking sheet, drop melted chocolate to form small disks – you aren’t going for perfection here. Put baking sheet and crust in the ‘frige while you prepare the filling.
Filling
- In a small saucepan, bring the coconut milk, water and agar to a boil. Boil gently for 5 minutes, stirring frequently.
- Meanwhile, combine the lime zest, silken tofu, lime juice, maple syrup, stevia liquid and arrowroot mixture in a food processor and process until very smooth. When the coconut milk mixture is ready, pour it into the food processor and pulse a few times to incorporate it into the tofu mixture. Pour into the prepared crust and refrigerate until firm, 3+ hours.
- Serve garnished with disks of coconut-Choffy-chocolate on top.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 416
- Sugar: 19
- Sodium: 14
- Fat: 33
- Saturated Fat: 13
- Unsaturated Fat: 18
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 30
- Protein: 9
- Cholesterol: 0
The old photos:
WOW! You. Are. A. Goddess!
Haha! Thanks! I’ll tell you a secret: my first version failed ;-).
Key Lime Pie is my favorite! Coconut cream pie is my second favorite. So, I think this one needs to be made.
Looks wonderful!
Taste pretty good, too!
I would have never thought of putting chocolate with the key lime. Dynamite! Looks so good and I love how you “healthied” it up!
Whenever and wherever I can think to add chocolate, I do it. Yeah, it’s really not TOO bad on the sugar or fat scale.
eating a grilled cheezeeta sandwich with homemade tomato soup. If only I had some pie for dessert, life couldn’t get any better!
I’ve not yet been able to bring myself to use tofu in a dessert. I might soon, as this looks yummy.
I was the same way. And then I made chocolate tofu pudding. The bowl had to be pulled away from me. If you like chocolate, that’s what I’d make first – guaranteed to win you over.
A wonderful use for tofu! Your photographs are getting ridiculously good, are you taking lessons? This pie looks incredibly professional, I would definitely order it in a restaurant.
Coming from you, the expert of cafe confections, that is a real compliment! Photos are funny, it’s still very hit or miss for me and I should take lessons, probably… The lighting is SO important and since I use only natural light it can either make a photo or break it.
You don’t need lessons, you’re already doing a brilliant job, your photos are shockingly good.
Oh that looks so sinful! I am soo bookmarking this! I miss key lime pie so much an the addition of chocolate could only make it better 🙂 Thank you so much!!
I KNOW this could be done as a raw pie, but my raw chops are just not there yet. I’ll bet you could come up with a fantastic version, though…Just sayin’.
Challenge accepted 🙂
You know…. I have never purchaed key limes either. I’ve never eaten key lime pie for that matter. Considering how much I love lime, I thought key limes were only good for pie. Anyway… love this recipe. Coconut, chocolate, crust… yummmm.
Not sure what took me so long – maybe the prospect of juicing all of those tiny limes ;-)??
Sweet experiment!! Looks amazing Annie! Though I must say I DO love a good Lima bean too (for real!) just not so much the digestive after effects ( lol) … I like your choice! 🙂
Maybe it’s time for you to share a fool-proof lima bean recipe with us, Shira! A little beany guidance. The lima beans I remember eating from my youth just had a texture…that I just didn’t like. I need to try again.
Could be a god idea! I don’t know if it is just childhood memories, but we ate them a lot (cheap easy protein!) but I do remember a creamy, garlicky goodness — I might just do that Annie! I still think I’d take the pie though 🙂 Yummo..
Speechless… too much drool.
Best comment ever ;-)!
Kind of icky, if you ask me… but I consider it proof that I’m not a robot.
You have outdone yourself again, my dear! That looks ridiculously good!!
Thanks, Barb! Helping myself to another slice today…
Is it crazy that I’ve never had key lime pie before? this looks wonderful! &
As crazy as me never eating it before!! What is wrong with us!? I highly recommend it :-).
Haha okay so I’m not the only one, good, good! I shall have to try soon 🙂
There are no words…. this is sooooo beautiful!
Thanks, you sweet thang, you :-)!
Limes! I love limes!
I’m so glad that your pie recipes require stuff I already have at home! (Well, I’ll have to get a bag of key limes, but you know what I mean.)
Limes are the freakin’ best!
I for one am quite glad you made a pie with limes not limas for a key lime pie. I think that is key. I made a key lime pie from cashews and avocados once. This looks better. I’m new here at this nifty blog!
Haha! Yes, lima bean pie…doesn’t sound too appetizing. Though I’ve heard of using black beans in chocolate cupcakes, so…?? Thanks for visiting and commenting!
This sounds absolutely divine.
Awww, thanks!
Holy!
Crap!
x
As usual, you summed it up perfectly ;-)!
Well done and beautifully photographed! I’d say that you met that challenge, no matter what anyone says about limes.
Thanks, Robin!
One perfect cake!!! Yummy – you did it again!! 🙂
Heehee – I do have an extra love for making desserts!
that looks absolutely amazing. I might slip out the silken tofu for an avocado (I’m trying to steer clear from the phytoestrogens). Key Lime pie is my favorite dessert ever, never thought to add cacao nibs to the crust! Can’t wait to try this! 🙂
I’d love to know how the avocado works – the color certainly would be amazing!
Nice job, girl! Haven’t made key lime pie in awhile, though I do have a great recipe that involves avocado as the main creamy ingredient. I used to make Key Lime pie a lot more, it’s a big Florida thing. In Key West I had a slice of chocolate-covered key lime pie on a stick and it was really good! This reminds me of that.
Oh, I’d like to see it with the avocado! Do it, do it ;-)! And share, of course!
I cannot believe you have whipped this fabulous creation up my friend – heaven and a half 😀
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Maybe fit for that fine High Tea of yours ;-)??
wow, how is it every day you out do yourself!
I wish all of my meals were as successful ;-)!
I just HAD to look at this post and comment again. Wow. WOW. Pure DECADENCE!
Hehe – you’re too cute!
Another amazing creation from Annie! And the photos are beautiful too!
Thank you, Kristy!
I wonder how your crust and crust coating would taste with my key lime habanero cheesecake filling? Hmmm….might be a project for the weekend!
It would be fabulous! I love this crust – easy, healthy, no pre-bake.
i love the chocolate and lime together. the pie looks gorgeousss!
Thanks, Richa!
OMGoddess! This is perfection. ♥
😛
Yummo! I love these type of desserts… and anything that involves cacao nibs. Actually I love to say the word NIBS over and over – it’s quite fun 😉
I’ve never tried an actual Key Lime… not really available in these parts, but I LOVE limes anyway. I think a lot of things here Down Under are passed off as “Key Lime Pie” and the likes, but that’s a bit of a fib because they ain’t the REAL DEAL Key Limes! I wonder what the difference is?
Nibs, nibs, nibs!
From my (ahem) vast experience…Key limes are much smaller (and hence, much cuter) than regular limes. The flavor seemed the same to me – but perhaps the difference was just too subtle for me to detect.
So many people don’t like Coconut…I love it! Yesterdat I had a Coconut milk, Banana and Strawberry smoothie for breakfast. Delish! Great recipe!
My mom complimented me on my Key lime pie than asked, “Why did you put coconut in it? I hate coconut!” 😉 I don’t understand it – it’s so delicious and unique. Your smoothie sounds perfect – great combination!
Oh my goodness!! WOW!! That looks so so so so creamy and scrumptious!! *slurp*
Thank you! Appreciate you stopping by :-)!
Hehe well I’m glad you went with limes and not lima beans 🙂 This recipe looks decadent.
Woooo, another dish I have never tried (add it to the red velvet cake and miso soup), but I love the sound of this – so tropical, creamy and tangy, yummo! I think I need to introduce it to my favourite Aussies! 🙂
I think they’d appreciate it very much ;-)! Hey, I had red velvet cupcakes for the first time only a few months ago.
I’m not a vegan, but trying your recipe this weekend … looks amazing.
Oh wow! That is so cool! Thanks! And please report back :-)!
It was excellent and is going in to my keeper file for desserts. I did serve it with a touch of freshly whipped cream (hopefully none of your fans will be too harsh about this!) … Used chia seeds in place of hemp, and rough-chopped bittersweet chocolate in place of chips. Also skipped the stevia extract and added a pinch of sugar instead. Didn’t have agar flakes or arrow root, but suspected them of thickening the ‘custard’ and so used a little cornstarch in water instead. It set well, but if there was a flavor component intended there, I missed it.
I love the idea of vegan baking, as a non-vegan, since there tends to be so much butter in everything – vegan baking forces you to use more plant-based ingredients, obviously, so even high-calorie and high-sugar treats are bringing different things into our food life than our standard fare pies and tarts. I’ll definitely be playing with this one more – perfect cool, creamy, tart combo with summer upon us!
Wow, Hannah! Thanks for letting me know how your key lime pie adventure went. The first time I made this I used cornstarch and for some reason it didn’t set up – which is why I turned to agar and arrowroot the next time around. I wasn’t taking any chances!
This looks delish! Thanks 🙂
Thank YOU! 🙂
This pie is one of your most creative yet, I say! I love every layer of it: so good!
Waw! Just so georgous, beautiful but I so much love to digg in right now! I can’t wait to try it & than make mini tartlets out of it! Yum! xxx
Little tartlets are a great idea, Sophie!
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Hey Annie! How the heck are you girl! Just wanted to let you know that I nominated you for the Super Sweet Blogging Award. You can check it out here: http://honkifyourevegan.com/. Your goodies all look so delicious and you’re such a sweet person that you deserve this! Celeste:)
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