March 14th is a day of many celebrations. Most often, I’ve taken the opportunity to revel in Pi Day, a time to break out the rolling pin and start throwing down dough. At the same time, it’s also White Day, the affectionate counterpoint to Valentine’s Day, where gifts of love are reciprocated. This year, I’m paying homage to both, all in one pie pan.

Pi Day, Meet White Day

What happens when you combine a nerdy fixation for irrational numbers with the romance of of a holiday all about returning affection? You get a creamy, sophisticated, melt-in-your-mouth dessert that I like to call White Velvet Pie. Blending together silky white chocolate, crisp white wine, and the satisfying cookie crunch of a graham cracker crust, it’s light yet luxurious, indulgent but never unctuous, and as smooth as the most poetic love note.

Originally inspired by the Bottle of Wine Chocolate Pie, I wondered what might happen if we shifted the color spectrum to lighter hues. I’d pick white wine over red everyday when it comes to drinking, and wouldn’t white chocolate better let those delicate nuances shine? Since those creamy cocoa butter chips are already so sweet, I was able to dial the added sugar way back. A touch of vanilla, almond, and lemon seals the deal, and yes, you can really taste the wine, so don’t cheap out on a bad bottle!

Why White Velvet Pie?

White Velvet may not be a “thing” like Red Velvet, but if it ends up going viral one day, you heard it here first. White Velvet Pie is made for the dreamers. It’s made for the moments when you want something a little bit refined without spending hours in the kitchen. It’s a celebration of all the things that make White Day so lovely: the art of giving back, the sweetness of love, and the subtle joy of sharing a simple pleasure. Vegan, of course, gluten-free with the right graham crackers, and no-bake, it’s a dessert for everyone—of drinking age.

For Pi Day enthusiasts, it’s a way to elevate the humble pie, creating a dessert that’s as elegant as it is delicious. If you’re going to bring something to the table, it might as well be something that plays on both the geometric and the romantic, doesn’t it? The ratio of white chocolate to wine is almost as perfect as Pi itself.

Slice or Spoon?

More than just a pretty face, White Velvet is smart and versatile. You may have some extra filling, or you my choose to forgo a crust entirely to create a soft custard or parfait. Served chilled, it’s a more decadent texture than the semi-frozen pie, which eats more like freshly scooped ice cream.

Garnish with a dollop of whipped coconut cream, fresh berries, and sprinkles for that extra sparkle, or nothing at all. Even naked, this simple dessert shines.

The Final Slice

White Velvet Pie is where elegance meets ease, a dessert that dances between the worlds of Pi Day and White Day with grace. It’s the kind of pie that feels special without requiring an entire afternoon in the kitchen. Whether you’re indulging solo, impressing friends, or wooing that special someone, this creamy, crisp creation is your ticket to a memorable March 14th.

Continue reading “White Magic” →

For all their creative potential, edible presents are criminally undervalued, often viewed as gifts of last resort. Can’t figure out a darned thing your difficult, curmudgeonly Uncle Eddie would enjoy? Well, everyone eats food, at least. Oh, but what about that co-worker you greet every morning but forgot to include on your list? There must be something in the pantry you could cobble together and stick a bow on.

Written off as a last-minute option, haphazardly slapped together in a moment of charitable desperation, chocolate bark especially enjoys particular prominence around this time of the year. Little more than cacao slabs with a bit of extra texture, the concept nonetheless remains wildly popular despite- or perhaps in part because of- this very unpretentious simplicity. Chocolate is never a hard sell to begin with, so when you add in a handful of nuts or crushed candy canes, such effortless appeal is universal among givers and receivers alike. However, that’s just the beginning of this spicy story. Given a little bit more deliberate intention, what if I told you we could make bark even better?

Despite its comparatively blanched pallor, this particular festive candy innovation could make the finest single origin dark bar melt. Gingerbread aroma beyond your wildest dreams springs out of the woodwork, going out on a limb to kick this festive palate of spices up another notch. Chewy nuggets of candied ginger and the crisp, fresh crunch of roasted almonds lend textural dimension that goes against the traditional grain, eschewing the candy-coated peppermints of years past to complement a more balanced sweetness.

In this modern re-imagination of the classic confection, refined sugars need not apply, believe it or not. A modest measure of stevia is enough to contrast with those warming spices without risking dessert overdose during the most tempting time of year. I used Steviva Blend since it’s about twice as sweet as white sugar, thus allowing me to use less and create a more satisfyingly snappy texture. Desserts should always be about the flavor first and sweetness second, making it a perfect mix for my needs.

Yield: Makes 1 Large or Two Small Chocolate Bars

Gingerbread Bark

Ingredients

4 Ounces 100% Food-Grade Cocoa Butter
1 Teaspoon Blackstrap Molasses
1/4 Cup Stevia Baking Blend or Confectioner's Sugar
1 Tablespoon Coconut Milk Powder
1 Teaspoon Ground Ginger
1/2 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
1/4 Teaspoon Ground Cloves
1/8 Teaspoon Salt
1/4 Cup Sliced Almonds
2 Tablespoons Crystalized Ginger, Very Finely Minced

Instructions

Place your cocoa butter in a microwave-safe bowl and heat it on full power 1 – 3 minutes, pausing at 30 second intervals to stir, until it completely liquefies. Be sure to keep an eye on it at all times, as it has a much lower melting point than a bar of finished chocolate. Mix in the molasses and let sit for just a moment to cool slightly.
Meanwhile, sift together the stevia blend, coconut milk powder, spices, and salt. Add the dry mixture into the cocoa butter, stirring gently until smooth. Pour into chocolate molds, shaped either like traditional break-apart bars or genuine slabs of bark for greatest effect, and tap lightly on the counter to knock out any errant air bubbles. Sprinkle evenly with the almonds and ginger.
Place the molds in your fridge or freezer to accelerate the curing process, allowing them to sit undisturbed until entirely solid; at least 1 – 2 hours.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield:

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 424Total Fat: 33gSaturated Fat: 18gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 13gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 66mgCarbohydrates: 48gFiber: 1gSugar: 31gProtein: 2g

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.