Raw Pumpkin Pie Tarts Recipe {vegan, gluten-free} (2024)

By Amanda Le

Thanksgiving is quickly approaching! This also means pie season is about to officially kick-off. Pumpkin pie is a staple dessert for the holidays around here and as well as a crowd favorite. It’s probably one of the healthier pies (maybe?) but there’s still tons of room for improvement so that’s why I decided to create my own version of this traditional dessert. There’s absolutely no need for baking to be involved, let alone eggs or condensed milk.

The best thing about this pie is that the crust is really hard to mess up. You’d have to really try. I’m pointing out this awesome fact because that’s the part of pie making that seems to really get people flustered. This raw crust is not only extremely delicious with an amazing texture, but it’s also ten times better for you. So pass up on the stressful holiday baking and create something that’s enjoyable to make.

I chose to make pie tarts with a muffin pan instead of creating a full pie to even out the pie to crust ratio and well, they are way cuter this way! Don’t you agree? Using a muffin pan creates the perfect portion and helps avoid the awkward pie fails when cutting up slices. You know what I’m talking about. Pies are always falling apart once it’s time to cut and serve. You can’t go wrong with the presentation here.

I also ditched the refined sugar and sweetened this pie up with delicious fresh dates. I went with khadrawy dates for the pie crust and zahidi dates in the pie filling but as long as you use soft dates, any variety will work out perfectly. I used a small amount of nuts compared to most typical raw desserts to keep the fats low in this dessert, making it a guilt free treat. Mulberries also add awesome texture to the pie crust. The combination of just 3 simple ingredients creates a delicious crust that compliments the creamy rich pie filling that will make you think was sinful. This is definitely not the case.

By simplifying the ingredients used in this filling I increased the nutritional value by taking out all of the processed junk and replaced it all with healthy whole foods. It’s win win all around! The decadent filling is created with pumpkin puree, dates, coconut butter, almond milk and spices. Make sure you use coconut butter and not coconut oil!

How to Make Raw Pumpkin Puree

Pumpkin puree can be a tricky ingredient when it comes to eating fully raw. However, it’s very possible to create raw pumpkin puree with a little patience. All you need to do is peel, de-seed and chop up your sugar pumpkin into small cubes. Place your chopped pumpkin in a food processor to break down the pieces further then throw the processed pumpkin chunks into a high-speed blender. Blend until you have a very creamy smooth uniform puree.

If you’re short on time or just like to simplify things use canned pumpkin puree. As long as it’s organic, non-GMO and BPA-free canned pumpkin puree. I often use canned pumpkin puree in other desserts and sauces since I usually don’t need too much or pumpkins are not available year round.

If you want to bring something unique to the table this Thanksgiving then impress your friends and family with this homemade raw pumpkin pie. Raw desserts are a great was to introduce others to a raw food diet. Spread the health this holiday season and make these delicious pumpkin pie tarts!

5.0 from 2 reviews

Raw Pumpkin Pie Tarts

Prep time

Total time

Author: Amanda Le

Serves: 12 tarts

Ingredients

  • View notes for baking options.

  • Pumpkin Pie Crust
  • 2 cups dried white mulberries
  • 1 cup soft dates
  • ½ cup pecans

  • Pumpkin Pie Filling
  • 2 cups pumpkin puree
  • 2 cups soft dates
  • ⅓ cup coconut butter
  • ¼ cup almond milk
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger

Instructions

  1. Blend all crust ingredients in a food processor until you have a thick, uniform crust texture.
  2. Scoop dough out and mold to parchment lined muffin pan creating a bowl shape.
  3. Place crust in the freezer while you prepare the filling.
  4. Blend all filling ingredients in a high speed blender or food processor until you have a creamy uniform consistency.
  5. Remove muffin pan from the freezer and scoop filling into your crust.
  6. Place pumpkin pie tarts in the freezer for at least 2 hours.
  7. Take the tarts out of the freezer 20-30 minutes before serving.

Notes

Place coconut butter jar in a bowl of warm (not hot) water for 5 minutes to soften it up.
If dates are not soft, soak them in warm water for at least an hour ahead of time.
If crust is too sticky to manage, wet your fingers to help shape the tarts into the muffin pans.
If you or your guests prefer a warm pie, simply place the frozen pumpkin pie tarts in a preheated oven (350 F) for 30 minutes. Carefully remove tarts from the oven and serve.


Raw Pumpkin Pie Tarts Recipe {vegan, gluten-free} (2024)

FAQs

What is vegan pumpkin pie made of? ›

INGREDIENTS FOR VEGAN PUMPKIN PIE

Pumpkin puree from a can: Make sure you don't buy pumpkin pie filling. Sweet potato: Adds additional flavor and texture. Pumpkin pie spice: (I use my homemade pumpkin pie spice recipe for the absolute best flavor!) Cinnamon: For extra depth of flavor.

What is a substitute for pumpkin puree in baking? ›

Butternut Squash and Sweet Potatoes

These ingredients, in these amounts, are interchangeable in most recipes to achieve the same texture and most similar flavor. For 1 cup canned pumpkin or pumpkin puree, substitute 1 cup cooked, mashed sweet potato or butternut squash.

What makes pumpkin pie filling pull away from the crust? ›

The oven rack may be too close to the top heating element in the oven. This can cause filling to 'skin' and crack as it bakes and to settle slightly when cooling and pull away from the crust. Another possible reason is over-baking. Try reducing cooking time by 5 to 10 minutes.

How to prevent crack in pumpkin pie? ›

Eggs, when cooked, thicken and set the custard, but when overcooked the egg proteins will tighten up quickly and create cracks. The key to perfectly baking a pumpkin pie is to pull it out of the oven before it's actually finished cooking. Let the old adage, "it should jiggle like Jello," be your guide.

What brand of pie is vegan? ›

Freshly baked desserts are made easy with OG freezer brand Sara Lee. All fruit pies are vegan, so opt for a Dutch Apple, Lattice Peach, or Mince Pie.

What is vegan pie crust made of? ›

To make the vegan pie dough:

Whisk together the dry ingredients: plain all-purpose flour, sugar and salt. and use your fingertips to work it into the dry ingredients until you get a mixture resembling breadcrumbs. Add the frozen, sliced vegan butter.

What happens if you use pumpkin pie mix instead of pumpkin puree? ›

Pumpkin pie mix can be used as a substitute for pure canned pumpkin in some recipes. However, since it is already sweetened and flavored, you'll need to make some adjustments. In most dessert recipes, leave out the pumpkin pie spice and cut down on the sugar since the pumpkin pie mix includes it.

What happens if you use pumpkin pie filling instead of puree? ›

Don't use pumpkin pie filling in place of pumpkin purée.

Every can of pumpkin pie filling has a different amount of sugar and spices and if you add it to a bread or muffin recipe you might get a very sweet and not-spiced-enough loaf. Try this instead: Buy pumpkin purée!

Can I use canned pumpkin instead of puree? ›

Canned pumpkin and pumpkin puree are the same thing. These terms are often used interchangeably in recipes, though you may also see the term solid-pack pumpkin. All these terms mean 100% steamed and pureed pumpkin—no extras, no add-ins—not even in the canned variety.

Why should you cut slits in the pie crust? ›

With docking, the holes allow steam to escape, so the crust should stay flat against the baking dish when it isn't held down by pie weights or a filling. Otherwise the crust can puff up, not only impacting appearance but also leaving you with less space for whatever filling you have planned.

What does it mean when your pumpkin pie cracks? ›

Those cracks you see in your pie are the result of overcooked eggs, eggs that have tightened up so much, in an uneven way, that they've created fissures in the filling. Usually you'll notice cracks around the edge of the pie first, which makes sense; the edges cook more quickly than the interior.

Why is my pumpkin pie not creamy? ›

Two possible problems here: First, it could be that you aren't processing your pumpkin filling sufficiently. I recommend spinning it in a food processor until it's completely smooth, or even using a standing blender with a plunger for more blending power (just make sure it doesn't overheat while blending).

How do you fix a cracked raw pie crust? ›

She starts by mixing some flour and water in a bowl—just enough to make a small amount of paste, the consistency of spackle. She then uses a spatula or the back of a spoon to spread the paste across the line of damage in the crust. Next, she places the crust in the oven and bakes it just until the paste has dried.

How do you keep the bottom crust of pumpkin pie from getting soggy? ›

Often, blind-baking solves this problem. If you're making a single crust custard-filled pie, like a pumpkin pie, bake the pie dough first before adding filling to allow some of the moisture in the crust to evaporate. You can also totally blind-bake fruit pies.

Can you eat a cracked pumpkin pie? ›

Sure, it's still edible (heck, probably still delicious), but it doesn't have the smooth and seamless top you were hoping for. And when you're the one in charge of bringing pumpkin pie to the family's holiday dinner, the last thing you want is to present them with a cracked pumpkin pie.

What is pumpkin pie usually made of? ›

Overview. Cooked and puréed pumpkin flesh is mixed with eggs, evaporated milk, sugar, and spices. The pie is then baked in a pie shell and sometimes topped with whipped cream.

Is your pie dough vegan? ›

At Your Pie, we've made a commitment to ensure everyone can enjoy great-tasting pizza. That's why all of our locations offer Gluten-Free dough, Vegan (Non-Dairy) Cheese, and Non-Dairy Sorbet.

Do vegans eat pie crust? ›

You can make a great vegan pie crust regardless of the kind of plant-based fat you have on hand. But it's important to use a recipe formulated for the kind of fat you'd like to use—otherwise, you'll need to adjust for the amount of water, which can be a tricky business for all but the most experienced bakers.

What pies can vegans eat? ›

Our Best Vegan Pie Recipes
  • Perfect Vegan Pie Crust. ...
  • Vegan Apple Pie. ...
  • Ginger-Apple Crumble Pie (Gluten & Dairy-Free) ...
  • Raw Mini Key Lime Pies. ...
  • Vegan Tarte aux Clémentines. ...
  • Rawsome Treats' Summer Fruit Tart. ...
  • Vegan Coconut Lime Ice Cream Pie. ...
  • Frozen Vegan Coconut Chocolate Almond Bars.

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