Coconut and Berries

Healthy, Vegan Recipes by Emma Potts

Raw Banoffee Pie (for 2)

D is for…Dates!

Dates

Boy have I got a treat in store for you today folks!

Today I’m sharing my recipe for a Little Raw Banoffee PieSmile

I don’t know anyone who hasn’t fallen in love with raw desserts after just one taste. Usually creamy and rich, as well as their taste, I love that they’re made with whole ingredients- nuts, fruits and seeds and that they’re so easy to prepare. Although I do enjoy baking too, raw food is often quicker since there’s no cooking time involved and it must be said that it generally leaves me feeling much better physically than baked goods too.

If you haven’t made a raw dessert yet I can’t urge you strongly enough to give them a chance. The first recipe I made, and one I still love, was Ricki’s Cocoa Nibbles. I’ve got a few raw dessert recipes on my blog so far- Raw Mango Coconut Tartlets, Mini Raw Cacao, Coconut + Raspberry Cupcakes, and my latest Raw Vegan Matcha Ice Cream… oh and my Chocolate-Coated Peanut Butter Banana Pops can be made raw too using raw nut butter and a raw chocolate coating.

Dates are a magic ingredient in raw desserts, contributing a caramel-like sweetness without the need for refined sweeteners, and a stickiness which helps to bind everything together.

Raw Banoffee Pie (for 2)

Of course Banoffee Pie involves bananas. I’ve probably mentioned that until I was 13/14 I didn’t eat any fruit. Nope. Not apples, not oranges, not strawberries and definitely not bananas! I gradually forced myself to start trying fruits again after over a decade of deciding I didn’t like them and bananas were my final fruit-shaped stumbling block. It’s pretty obvious that I’ve well and truly got over my fruit fears and am now a veritable fruit bat! It’s now a sad day when I don’t have any ripe bananas on hand.

Raw Banoffee Pie (for 2)

There are a few components to this recipe but it still comes together much quicker than a cooked version would.

A date-nut crust topped with sliced banana, a thick layer of raw caramel,  more sliced bananas and finally a vanilla bean whipped coconut cream.

Raw Banoffee Pie (for 2)

I’ve given a few pictures of putting it together but it’s pretty self-explanatory really.

Raw Banoffee Pie:

Crust:
1/2C Walnuts
1/4C +2T Pitted dates, packed
Pinch of salt
Caramel:
1/4C Pitted Dates, packed
1/2T Almond Butter
1/4t Vanilla extract
Pinch of salt
2T Water
Vanilla Bean Coconut Whipped Cream:
1 Can Coconut milk, refrigerated (full-fat)
1/2-1 Vanilla bean
2T Coconut sugar

1 Medium-sized Banana

Raw Banoffee Pie (for 2)

For the crust, whizz the walnuts and salt in a food processor until you have a coarse crumb. Add dates and process until the mixture sticks together when pressed between 2 fingers. Press crust onto a plate, or into a little tin if you have one, and shape into a circle. Refrigerate while you prepare the other components

In a food processor (I used the mini insert bowl), you might need to double the mixture if you don’t have a small food processor bowl. Blend all the caramel ingredients together, stop and scrape down the mixture several times to ensure everything is incorporated. You should end up with a reasonably smooth thick caramel. Try not to eat it all now! Remove to a bowl and refigerate as well.

Finally, prepare the coconut whipped cream. Remove the can of coconut milk from the fridge and carefully remove the thick layer of cream from the top of the can. It should have separated out from the liquid underneath. Be careful not to get any liquid or your coconut cream will be on the runny side (like mine…). With an electric whisk whisk the coconut milk until fluffy and thick.

Vanilla Bean Coconut Whipped Cream

Using a spice grinder or blender whizz the coconut sugar until powdered (or use powdered sugar). Fold this through the coconut cream along with the seeds of a vanilla bean. Refrigerate while you assemble the pie.

Slice the banana and arrange 1/2 the slices over the crust. Spread a thick layer of caramel over the bananas (you won’t need all the caramel so you can keep the rest for later to eat with apple slices dipped in , or spread on another banana). Add a second layer of sliced banana.

Raw Banoffee Pie (for 2)

Top with as much coconut cream as you like, any remaining banana slices, and a dusting of raw cacao powder.

Serves 2-3

I’m submitting this recipe to the weekly blog parties, Wellness Weekends and Healthy Vegan Fridays

Raw Banoffee Pie (for 2)

There are so many raw desserts out there using dates so for now I’ll just point you to my favourite site for all things raw, This Rawesome Vegan Life.

I also love dates in savoury dishes though too. I really like to add little bites of sweetness with fruit in salads- I used prunes in this Moroccan Puy Lentil, Carrot + Mint Salad, but chopped dates would be great too. This Lentil, Date +Tomato Salad with Chili Tahini Dressing is another favourite .

Try them in baked goods  too of course. The Banana Date Scones from Veganomicon spring to mind as do these tasty Carob- Date Pancakes from Ricki.

Have you embraced raw desserts yet? Any interesting date recipes to share?

We’re heading back to savoury for the letter “E” tomorrow!

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Comments

  2. Ah, how I miss dates! I tried medjool dates again this summer and unfortunately, they were still too much for my system (boo hoo). But your date-based recipes look fantastic (and thanks for mentioning my pancakes!). 😀

    • That’s so sad you can’t have dates :( Can you do any dried fruit? I’ve used prunes in raw desserts instead of dates (like my coconut mango tartlets) and they also work well.

  3. I pretty much don’t do desserts any more, unless they are high enough in protein to be a snack. I’m also not a fan of ripe bananas. But if I did want to make a dessert, this would be it. I love the ingredients. I don’t think I’ve ever ‘cooked’ with dates before, but I like the idea of using them for sweetening. And the more I see of raw recipes the better they sound. Unfortunately I’m not sure my husband would like the raw stuff, but I will probably try it on him at some point… :-)

  6. YUM! I often make dates cake and add dates to banana smoothie…
    Raw banana pie looks so tasty!

    Thanks for inspiring people to try plant-based fare
    blog: global vegan fare

  9. I love fruit but I think I have enjoyed it more as an adult than a kid - though ironically I think I ate more bananas as a kid - now I am quite fussy about them but if they get too ripe there are always millions of way to love them - have wanted to try a raw date caramel sauce for a while as I keep seeing them around and I can tell you that it is important not to substitute regular dried dates for medjool dates - I did it once and had a disaster of a raw brownie

  10. How I wish my food processor didn’t break last week! This recipe is definitely on my list once I treat myself to a new one. I love the idea of raw desserts like this, but I’m always shocked at how much they charge for them in health food stores - it’s all about making your own! Great recipe 😉

  14. Dates are just magical, aren’t they? Delicious pie! Sounds like something I’d want for breakfast too! :) Thanks for sharing it at Raw Foods Thursdays!

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