The Secret is Out!

…And despite the fact that this is the first official announcement, it has long been out, since it’s near impossible to hide an Amazon.com listing.

Well, there’s no turning back now- My second cookbook, Vegan Desserts, will soon be on its way to a bookstore near you! Get your sweet tooth in gear, because this one will be jam-packed with well over 100 brand new, never before seen recipes, each and every one accompanied by a full-color photo. Arranged by season and drawing inspiration from fresh ingredients, holidays, and innovative flavor combinations, this is not just another classic baking book.

As if that all wasn’t exciting enough yet, brace yourself, because the much sought-after recipes for vegan meringues and macarons will be included!

Three years in the making, this book came precipitously close to being tossed out altogether. Sitting on my computer, growing older and less attractive by the day, I eventually realized that a final decision was necessary: Forget the whole mess ever existed and move on, or painstakingly fix all of the blemishes, large and small. This meant rephotographing everything, rewriting everything, and revamping the recipes. It was the equivalent of ripping 250 pages out of their binding, shredding 200, and starting again from there. But for that precise reason, because I couldn’t just speed this text along to the printer without a second thought, I am truly grateful. That initial rejection gave me time to grow as a baker and photographer, to vastly improve this final collection of recipes and images as a whole. Vegan Desserts is so much more than just another cookbook to me; it’s my baby, and I couldn’t be more proud of how it’s grown up. Now, I can only hope that everyone else feels the same way, too.

January 28, 2011January 28, 2011

Hannah (BitterSweet)97 Comments

Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fireplace…

For as few holiday traditions we keep in my family, the ones we do hold close are absolutely unshakable. If, for example, we didn’t throw at least a few fresh chestnuts on the still smoldering embers of our single yearly conflagration in the fireplace, I don’t know if the entire winter season would truly count. Simply sliced to allow the inner nutmeat to cook, wrapped up in foil like a hastily assembled present, it takes no more than five minutes to prepare and perhaps 20 to cook.

Emerging lightly charred and smoking hot, we sit around chatting as a family, cracking the chestnuts out of their shells and popping the rich, creamy centers in our mouths. The odd nut that won’t crack or turns out dry doesn’t dampen our spirits; back into the fire the rotten few go, along with the spent shells, coaxing the hungry flame to return. The nutty smell of the fire permeates the whole house, and eventually, when it’s time to turn in for bed, I have chestnut-flavored dreams.

Such inspiration is hard to resist, come morning. Although chestnuts aren’t commonly thought of as dessert ingredients in the US, it’s a real shame, since the mildly sweet flavor and richness makes it a perfect match with sugar, and of course all sorts of other sweet ingredients, such as chocolate. Mont blanc is a traditional chestnut sweet, often prepared with a base of crunchy meringue and topped with a mountain of chestnut creme. Taking this basic concept but dressing it up a bit further, I could hardly resist switching out the meringue for a dense, intense chocolate cake, and hiding a luxuriously creamy chocolate truffle within the chestnut peak.

It may have been created with the holidays in mind, but while chestnuts are still in season, it’s still perfectly reasonable to whip up this decadent treat just to celebrate the nut itself.

Yield: Makes 8 - 9 Servings

Chocolate Mont Blanc

Name: Chocolate Mont Blanc
Prep time: 45 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 2 h 15 min
Yield: 8
Cuisine: French
Ingredients: 1 Cups All Purpose Flour; 1/2 Cup Dutch-Processed Cocoa Powder; 1/2 Teaspoon Baking Powder; 1/2 Teaspoon Salt; 2/3 Cup Granulated Sugar; 1/4 Cup Olive Oil; 3/4 Cup Water; 1 Teaspoon Apple Cider Vinegar; 1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract; 12 Ounces Semi-Sweet Chocolate; 1/2 Cup Full-Fat Coconut Milk; 1 Tablespoon Light Agave Nectar; 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil; 1/3 Cup Chopped, Toasted Walnuts; 1/2 Teaspoon Almond Extract; 1 10-Ounce Package Extra-Firm Silken Tofu; 1 15-Ounce Can Unsweetened Chestnut Puree, or Homemade Chestnut Puree*; 1 Cup Granulated Sugar; 2 Teaspoons Vanilla Extract; 1/4 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon; 1/4 Teaspoon Salt; Confectioner's Sugar for Serving, Optional

Mont blanc is a traditional chestnut sweet, often prepared with a base of crunchy meringue and topped with a mountain of chestnut creme. Taking this basic concept but dressing it up a bit further, I could hardly resist switching out the meringue for a dense, intense chocolate cake, and hiding a luxuriously creamy chocolate truffle within the chestnut peak.

Prep Time 45 minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes

Additional Time 1 hour

Total Time 2 hours 15 minutes

Ingredients

Chocolate Fudge Cakes:

1 Cups All Purpose Flour
1/2 Cup Dutch-Processed Cocoa Powder
1/2 Teaspoon Baking Powder
1/2 Teaspoon Salt
2/3 Cup Granulated Sugar
1/4 Cup Olive Oil
3/4 Cup Water
1 Teaspoon Apple Cider Vinegar
1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract

Chocolate Truffle:

12 Ounces Semi-Sweet Chocolate
1/2 Cup Full-Fat Coconut Milk
1 Tablespoon Light Agave Nectar
2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
1/3 Cup Chopped, Toasted Walnuts
1/2 Teaspoon Almond Extract

Chestnut Mousse:

1 10-Ounce Package Extra-Firm Silken Tofu
1 15-Ounce Can Unsweetened Chestnut Puree, or Homemade Chestnut Puree*
1 Cup Granulated Sugar
2 Teaspoons Vanilla Extract
1/4 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
1/4 Teaspoon Salt
Confectioner's Sugar for Serving, Optional

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees, and set out 8 – 9 mini tart or crumb cake paper molds on a baking sheet. Alternately, lightly grease and 8-inch square baking pan and plan to cut out individual cake shapes once baked.
In a large bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa, baking powder, and salt. Whisk lightly to combine.
Separately, mix together the sugar, oil, water, vinegar, and vanilla before pouring them all into the bowl of dry goods. Stir just enough to bring the batter together, being careful not to over-work it. Distribute the batter evenly between your paper molds, or pour it all into the baking dish if using. Bake for 10 – 15 minutes for the individual cakes, 15 – 20 for the single 8-inch cake, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let cool, and cut into 8 – 9 pieces if applicable.
For the truffle centers, simply melt the chocolate together with the coconut milk, agave, and oil, stirring until completely smooth. Fold in the nuts and almond extract, and transfer into a baking dish or metal bowl. Let cool, and then place in the fridge for at least 3 hours to set. Scoop out balls of about 2 – 3 teaspoons each, and roll them into even rounds between the palms of your hands. Place one truffle on top of each cooled cake.
Finally, to prepare the chestnut mousse, place all of your ingredients in your food processor or blender, and puree until smooth, pausing to scrape down the sides of the work bowl as needed. Transfer the mousse to a piping bag fitted with a multi-opening piping tip, and pipe the creme on top of the cake in a spiral pattern, completely covering the truffle. Lightly dust with confectioner’s sugar just before serving for a “snowy mountain” look, if desired.

Notes

*To make your own chestnut puree, start with about twice as many chestnuts in the shell as you think you’ll need. Score the tops each in an “x” pattern, and wrap them all up in a packet of foil. Toss them on the embers of a recently extinguished fire, and let cook for 15 – 30 minutes, depending on how hot the cooking surface is. Once they crack themselves open and are lightly charred on the outside, they should be about done. Let cool, and remove the shells. Weigh out the required amount for the recipe, and thoroughly puree while still warm, until completely smooth. If you’re without a fireplace, you can also roast them in the oven.

Recommended Products

Please note that some of the links above are affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you decide to make a purchase after clicking through the link. I have experience with all of these companies and I recommend them because they are helpful and useful, not because of the small commissions I make if you decide to buy something through my links.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 744Total Fat: 29gSaturated Fat: 11gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 16gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 215mgCarbohydrates: 121gFiber: 7gSugar: 79gProtein: 9g

All nutritional information presented within this site are intended for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and any nutritional information on BitterSweetBlog.com should only be used as a general guideline. This information is provided as a courtesy and there is no guarantee that the information will be completely accurate. Even though I try to provide accurate nutritional information to the best of my ability, these figures should still be considered estimations.

January 10, 2011May 13, 2025

Hannah (BitterSweet)36 Comments

Mmmaple

Though endlessly tempted by the idea of lining up a “12 days of cookies” series of posts, it just never seems to work out. Six days into December and only now do I remember those grand plans, dreamed up in warm August, so far away from the holiday action. How time flies, and how impossibly busy this season always turns out to be. Regardless, I’ve always been an advocate of quality over quantity, so I’ll save the indecision and uncertainty over questionable cookies, and just present you with one fail-safe, fool-proof winner of a baked good. Who needs the extra 11 recipes if they’ll never get made, anyway?

Both simple in concept and complex in flavor, these sweet little gems will satisfy the sweet tooth of anyone on your list. Rich maple flavor carries these surprisingly soft cookies, accented by the subtle warmth of ginger. Tame enough for the kids to appreciate but still plenty sophisticated for all types of palates, I instantly regretted preparing only a half batch the first time around- They flew faster than I could press two together into a sandwich!

The funny thing is, I thought these were absolute goners as they went into the oven. Impossibly soft, sticky dough molded into delicate little shapes? There was no chance they would stand up to the heat of the oven… And yet, out they came, as perfectly shaped as before. Just treat them with a gentle hand and keep the dough as cold as possible, and you shouldn’t end up with any amorphous cookie blobs, either.

Yield: Yield depends on size of cookie cutters; Makes about 2 Dozen 1-Inch Sandwich Cookies

Maple-Ginger Sandwich Cremes

Prep Time 30 minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes

Additional Time 2 hours 30 minutes

Total Time 3 hours 15 minutes

Ingredients

Maple-Ginger Cookies:

1 Cup Vegan Butter
2 Tablespoons Vegan Cream Cheese
1/2 Cup Maple Sugar
1/2 Cup Light Brown Sugar, Firmly Packed
1/2 Cup Maple Syrup
1 Teaspoon Maple Extract, Optional
1 Teaspoon Salt
1 Teaspoon Ground Ginger
3 Cups All Purpose Flour
1/4 Cup Tapioca Starch

Ginger Creme Filling:

1/2 Cup Vegan Butter
2 – 3 Cups Confectioner’s Sugar
1/2 Teaspoon Ground Ginger
1/8 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
1 Tablespoon Maple Syrup

Instructions

In your stand mixer, cream together the vegan butter, cream cheese, maple sugar, and brown sugar, until softened and smooth. Add in the maple syrup, extract, and salt, and beat on a low speed until combined. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula before proceeding, to make sure that everything is being incorporated.
In a separate bowl, sift together the ginger, flour, and starch, before adding the mixture slowly into the bowl of the stand mixer. Slowly mix, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed, until you achieve a smooth, cohesive dough. Scrape it out and cover with plastic wrap and chill the dough thoroughly until firm; at least 2 hours.
Ounce chilled, preheat your oven to 325 degrees, and line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
Cut your dough in half, and on a lightly floured surface, roll one half out to about 1/8 inch in thickness. Use cookie cutters to cut out shapes of any sort, but try to keep them on the smaller side. My maple leaves were just about an inch wide. Use a thin metal spatula to remove the cut shapes and transfer them to your prepared baking sheets, to prevent tearing or mushing. Be gentle, because it is a very soft dough. If you have trouble removing them from the counter, place a frozen metal cookie sheet over the whole length of dough, and allow the dough to cool down and become firmer before trying to move the cookies again.
Place your sheet of cut but unbaked cookies in the freezer for just 15 minutes before sliding it into the oven, to make sure they all hold their shape. Bake for 10 – 15 minutes, until the edges are just barely golden. Let the cookies cool on the sheets for about 15 minutes before transferring them to wire racks. Repeat with the remaining half of dough, and re-roll scraps and repeat once more.
For the filling, once the cookies are completely cool, begin by beating the vegan butter in your stand mixer to soften. Add in the first 2 cups of confectioner’s sugar, along with the spices, vanilla, and maple syrup. Mix on low speed until the sugar is mostly incorporated, and then turn it up to high, whipping the mixture for 3 – 5 minutes until light and fluffy. If it still seems too loose to you, add in the remaining cup of confectioner’s sugar, and whip on high again. Spread on cookies and sandwich two together.

Made with Love

It was the kind of loaf only a baker could love; Emerging from the oven no more attractive than a deflated beach ball, or perhaps a totaled UFO about to make a final descent, it was certainly a sight to behold. Regular loaf pans just weren’t good enough this time around, oh no, it had to be more “special” than that… And boy, was it ever special.

Some devious combination of boredom, curiosity, and creativity drove me to plop a perfectly good yeast dough into a large metal bowl, of all things. Here I though I had just figured out a quick-fix solution to the traditional round bread, no real shaping or braiding required, but my imagined brilliance soon turned to foolishness, as I puzzled over the less than stunning results. Perhaps it could have worked with a smaller bowl, but the fact of the matter was that this was a Hannukah gift, due to be delivered in a matter of hours, thanks to my terrible procrastination. No way to fix it, no time to make another, all I could do was swallow my pride and wrap the yeasty thing up in so much tinsel and curly ribbons that all other ugliness could be overlooked.

Dropped off with little ceremony, obligatory thank you’s exchanged, I was ready to forget all about that bread abortion. Going straight to the computer as soon as I returned home that evening, I sent the recipe to the virtual trash can. What a disappointment of a grandchild I must me, giving that mess to my loving Nana!

Days later, with the fiasco safely out of mind, I learned that the gift had actually been much more of a success than imaginable. I got reports of near raves about that misfit bread, despite its abundant flaws. Looks aren’t everything, huh? So into the digital recycling bin I dove, retrieving the recipe, determined to make a new loaf not nearly so homely in order to blog about it.

And wouldn’t you know, it still came out ugly as sin.

Suspend disbelief for just a moment, and remember that looks aren’t everything. I may not be a fantastic bread braider, or even a borderline competent one, but don’t let that stop you from giving this soft, gently sweetened loaf a shot. Redolent with gentle citrus flavor, the orange essence pairs beautifully with the tart cranberries punctuating each tender bite. A handful of walnuts add just enough toasted flavor and crunch to add depth, rounding out this loaf both in texture and taste. Simple, yes, but made with great care and plenty of love.

Try baking it in a traditional loaf pan if you’d like to simplify things and perhaps end up with a more presentable loaf, but either way, it will still taste just as good.

Yield: Makes 1 Loaf; 10 - 12 Servings

Nana's Cranberry Bread

Redolent with gentle citrus flavor, the orange essence pairs beautifully with the tart cranberries punctuating each tender bite. A handful of walnuts add just enough toasted flavor and crunch to add depth, rounding out this loaf both in texture and taste.

Prep Time 40 minutes

Cook Time 40 minutes

Additional Time 2 hours 3 seconds

Total Time 3 hours 20 minutes 3 seconds

Ingredients

1 Cup Plain Non-Dairy Milk
1/4 Cup Agave Nectar
1 0.6-Ounce Cube Fresh Yeast, or 1 1/4-Ounce Packet Active Dry Yeast
3 to 3 1/2 Cups White Whole Wheat Flour
2/3 Cup Dried Cranberries
1/2 Cup Toasted, Chopped Walnuts
3/4 Teaspoon Salt
1 Tablespoon Orange Zest
1/2 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
1/4 Cup Olive Oil
1 Tablespoon Orange Extract (or 1 Additional Tablespoon Zest)
Vegan “Egg” Wash

Instructions

Gently warm the non-dairy milk of your choice up to about room temperature; no hotter than 100 degrees or so, or else you’ll kill the yeast. Add in the agave, and if using dry yeast, sprinkle it over the top. Wait 5 – 10 minutes for it to become active and foamy.
In a large bowl, add the fresh yeast if using, 3 cups of flour, cranberries, walnuts, salt, zest, and cinnamon. Stir to combine, and add in the “milk” mixture, followed by the oil and extract. Mix well, until there are no more dry pockets of flour. If the mixture still seems very wet and sticky, mix in the remaining 1/2 cup of flour. Either use your dough hook attachment to knead the dough for 5 – 10 minutes, or turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead by hand for 10 – 15, until the dough is smooth and tacky. Place it in a lightly oiled bowl, cover, and let sit in a warm place for 1 – 1 1/2 hours, until doubled in size.
Once doubled in volume, turn the dough out onto a floured surface, and gently press the air bubbles out with your knuckles. Shape as desired- I don’t think I’m qualified to instruct on the best method for this loaf, but if all else fails, just roll it up into a log and place it in a greased 9 x 5-inch loaf pan. Once shaped, cover and let rest again for 45 – 60 minutes, until not quite doubled in size.
Begin preheating your oven to 375 degrees when the loaf is nearly finished rising for a second time. Carefully brush with your “egg” wash, and bake for 35 – 45 minutes, until golden brown all over and it sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom. Let cool completely before slicing.

Friday, Black Friday

Lock the doors and hide the credit cards; it’s the scariest shopping day of the year! While more discount-savvy commercial hunters may relish the opportunity to forage and gather, scooping up the best sales around, I tremble in fear of the mere concept of waking up at 4 am in order to buy holiday gifts. Even for big ticket items reduced by hundreds of dollars, the pain and suffering simply can’t be worth the written price tag. Big price cuts bring big crowds, and I can’t help but flash back to the image of hapless gawkers being trampled half to death as soon as store doors crack open an inch. No, I’d be much happier safely holed up in the kitchen, cranking up the oven and making my own holiday gifts, as per usual.

Dark as coal but a much sweeter gift to receive, it seemed only fitting to make a black dessert for the occasion. Contrary to how it looks, however, it’s not a brownie, and doesn’t even taste a bit chocolaty. Though a generous scoop of black cocoa is employed to intensify that charcoal color, it doesn’t contribute significant flavor. Instead, this bar is all spice, all the time. Complex and delicately nuanced, this is a gingerbread built for the discerning palate looking for something just a bit different from the same old spice blend. Rounded out by rich molasses, these bars are fantastically dense and chewy, like the best blondies should be. Though I hesitate to call them blondies based on their appearance, that’s how they started life; A few tweaks that lead to bigger alterations, built upon a recipe in my Blondies and Brownies ebook.

Seeking out a slightly fancier presentation, you may have noticed that these bars were in fact cut as rounds. Fun, unique, and eye-catching, I do love the shape, but it creates quite a bit of blondie “waste” in the process. Not to worry, nothing is truly wasted here- Especially if those scraps are used to make…

Caramel-cinnamon ice cream with black gingerbread chunks? Not such a bad consolation prize for the baker, I’d say!

Being only the day after Thanksgiving, it may seem like I’m jumping the gun on holiday gifts here, but this season it’s non-stop holiday madness for me; Hannukah is less than a week away, already! Even if you’re planning ahead for Christmas, the good news is that once baked and sliced, these bars keep beautifully in the freezer for up to 3 months, wrapped in plastic and stored in an air-tight container. So bake your heart out, and leave your wallet at home! Black Friday can be a much tastier affair.

Yield: Makes 12 - 18 Bars

Black Gingerbread Bars

Dark as coal but much sweeter, they're not simple brownies either. Complex and delicately nuanced, this is a gingerbread built for the adventurous eater, looking for something just a bit different from the same old spice blend. Rounded out by rich molasses, these bars are fantastically dense and chewy, like the best blondies should be.

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 35 minutes

Total Time 45 minutes

Ingredients

2 1/2 Cups All Purpose Flour
1/2 Cup Black Cocoa Powder
1/2 Teaspoon Baking Powder
1/2 Teaspoon Salt
1 Tablespoon Instant Coffee Powder
1 Tablespoon Finely Grated Fresh Ginger
1 Tablespoon Ground Ginger
2 Teaspoons Ground Cinnamon
1/2 Teaspoon Cloves
1/2 Teaspoon Nutmeg
1/4 Teaspoon Paprika
Pinch Ground Black Pepper
1 1/2 Cups Chopped Walnuts
1/3 Cup Brown Rice Syrup
1/3 Cup Molasses
1 Cup Granulated Sugar
1/2 Cup Canola Oil
1/2 Cup Apple Butter
1 Tablespoon Vanilla Extract
1/2 Cup Finely Chopped Crystalized Ginger

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees, and lightly grease a 9 x 13-inch baking dish.
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, coffee powder, and spices so that all the dry goods are well mixed. Add in the chopped chopped walnuts, and toss to coat with flour, so that the pieces don’t simply sink to the bottom of your bars.
Separately, mix together the rice syrup, molasses, sugar, oil, apple butter, and vanilla. Pour these wet ingredients into the bowl of dry, and stir just enough to bring everything together. A few errant lumps are just fine; Be sure not to over-mix. The resulting batter will be extremely thick and sticky, to the point of being difficult to mix- Don’t panic! Just make sure you get out any pockets of dry ingredients before proceeding.
Transfer the batter into your prepared pan, and use lightly moistened hands to press it down into one even layer until it reaches all of the corners and sides. Sprinkle the chopped crystalized ginger over the top, and press gently into the unbaked bars with your fingertips.
Bake for 28 – 35 minutes, or until no longer shiny on top, firm around the edges, and highly aromatic. Let cool completely before slicing either into squares, or cutting into rounds with a cookie cutter.

Caramel-Cinnamon Ice Cream with Black Gingerbread Chunks

Creamy cinnamon-scented ice cream is swirled with rich ribbons of gooey caramel and freckled with chunks of chewy gingerbread. It's worth making extra bars to serve this on top!

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes

Additional Time 5 hours

Total Time 5 hours 15 minutes

Ingredients

1 Cup Full-Fat Coconut Milk
2 Cups Vanilla Vegan Creamer
1 Cup Vegan Caramel Sauce
1 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
Pinch Salt
2 Tablespoons Cornstarch
2 Teaspoons Vanilla Extract
1 Heaping Cup Bite-Sized Black Gingerbread Cubes (See Recipe Above)

Instructions

This ice cream is really easy as can be; Combine the coconut milk and creamer in a medium sauce pan, along with the caramel, cinnamon, salt, and corn starch. Whisk vigorously to combine and beat out any lumps. Turn on the heat to medium, and whisk occasionally until it just comes up to a boil and has thickened significantly. Cool completely and add the vanilla.
Chill thoroughly before churning in your ice cream maker according to the manufacturer’s instructions, adding in the gingerbread chunks in the last 5 minutes of churning.
Transfer to an air-tight container, and freeze solidly for at least 4 hours before serving.

If You Can’t Take the Heat…

…Then don’t cook with chipotles. Spice is one thing; those distinctive flavors and gentle warmth make cooking come to life, adding a spark that simply cannot be replaced. Chilies, however, are on a whole different playing field, and the threat of their taste bud-obliterating burn has kept me far away for as long as I’ve been cooking. Pick just one wrong, innocent-looking little capsicum, and you’ll pay dearly for hours to come. My reluctance was only reinforced when a venture in chili making went awry after using a whole can of chipotles in adobo sauce in a batch meant to feed six… To call it inedible would be kind.

And yet, for ages it seems, one lone can of those very chipotles remained in the pantry, quietly waiting to be released from their aluminum prison and start some fires. After studiously avoiding them for perhaps a year or so, curiosity (and frugality; as if they would ever go to waste!) got the best of me. Armed with a can opener and a plenty of vanilla ice cream to extinguish the burn, it was time to push the limits and see how these hot peppers behaved… In dessert.

Maybe I’ve spent a few too many late nights watching Alton Brown, but suddenly, the sound of chipotle mashed sweet potatoes became too attractive to put out of mind without a second thought. Presenting such a dish to my straight-up, butter- and cream- mashed potato family would be flat out heresy, so a different approach with clearly needed. Dialing back on the chipotles so that they provided just the slightest tingle on the tongue, a gentle after burn, if you will, their intensity is further tempered by the soothing contrast of brown sugar and rich coconut milk. Better yet, a thin base of dark chocolate adds depth to the dessert, and adds appeal for those who aren’t big on pumpkin or sweet potato pie. Yes, this one is different indeed- Just try a bite for yourself!

Sure, it may not look like a traditional pie, but with filling this good, I wanted to really pile it on, and a standard pie pan simply couldn’t accommodate my ideal proportions. And of course, spice is a matter of preference, so if you’re a real chili-head, go ahead and pack it in, but beware; The difference between 1/2 of and 1 whole chipotle is astounding.

Yield: Makes 8 - 12 Servings

Chocolate Chipotle Sweet Potato Pie

Chipotle peppers add a gentle burn to this luscious, creamy pie filling, further tempered by the soothing contrast of brown sugar and rich coconut milk. Better yet, a thin base of dark chocolate adds depth to the dessert, and adds appeal for those who aren’t big of either pumpkin or sweet potato pie

Prep Time 30 minutes

Cook Time 45 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes

Ingredients

Chocolate Crust:

1 Cup Chocolate Wafer Cookie Crumbs
3/4 Cup Almond Meal
2 Tablespoons Natural Cocoa Powder
2 Tablespoons Granulated Sugar
5 Tablespoons Vegan Butter or Coconut Oil, Melted
1 Cup (6 Ounces) Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips

Chipotle Sweet Potato Filling:

2 Cups Roasted Sweet Potato Puree*
1 Cup Dark Brown Sugar, Firmly Packed
1 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
1/4 Teaspoon Ground Nutmeg
1/4 Teaspoon Salt
1/2 – 1 Small Chipotle, Canned in Adobo Sauce
1 Teaspoon Adobo Sauce
Pinch Freshly Ground Black Pepper
1/4 Cup Tapioca Starch
1 Cup Full-Fat Coconut Milk
1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract

To Serve (Optional):

Coconut Whipped Creme
Chocolate Shavings or Curls

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees, and lightly grease a 9-inch round springform pan.
Beginning with the crust, combine the cookie crumbs, almond meal, cocoa powder, and sugar in a large bowl. Pour in the melted butter or coconut oil, and mix thoroughly, until all of the crumbs are moistened and will stick together when pressed. Transfer this mixture into your prepared pan, and use lightly moistened hands or the flat bottom of a measuring cup to smooth it out, pressing it evenly into the base of the pan.
Bake for 10 – 15 minutes, until it no longer appears shiny on top. Immediately after removing the crust from the oven, sprinkle it evenly with your chocolate chips, and let them sit for a moment to soften and become melted. Use a spatula to smooth them out over the crust, to form a fairly consistent layer. Set aside.
Moving on to the filling, simply place all of the ingredients (starting with the lesser amount of chipotle) in your food processor or blender, and pulse to combine. Pause and scrape down the sides of the work bowl as needed, to make sure that everything is getting incorporated, until the filling mixture is completely smooth and homogeneous. Taste for seasoning, and add in more chipotle (or even adobo sauce, if that’s not enough for you) as desired. The heat does tone down a bit after being baked, but not too much, so go easy on those spicy little peppers! Once you’re satisfied with the level of spice, pour the sweet potato mix on top of your prepared crust, and smooth out the top.
Tap the pan a few times on the counter to release any air bubbles before sliding it into the oven. Bake for 20 – 28 minutes, until the edges are set but the center still looks wobbly, much like a cheesecake. Let cool completely before moving the pie into the fridge to cool.
Only after it is thoroughly chilled can you top it with the coconut whipped creme and chocolate shavings. Release the ring from the springform pan and and serve! And yes, if you added just a touch too much chipolte, a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream does help tame the flame.

Notes

*To make roasted sweet potato puree, crank up your oven to 400 degrees. Peel and roughly dice two medium – large sweet potatoes, and toss with about 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Sprinkle very lightly with coarse sea salt, and bake for 20 – 30 minutes, until the pieces are fork-tender and lightly browned around the edges. Let cool, and puree to a completely smooth consistency in your food processor or blender. Alternately, you could use canned sweet potato or even pumpkin puree.