With a Christmas or St. Patrick’s Day color twist!
Two summers ago, I visited a 100% raw restaurant, Quintessence, in New York City. Ever since that visit, I’ve been dreaming of their raw coconut cream pie.
Sadly, I do not live anywhere near Quintessence, and therefore don’t have easy access to the pie. However, I do have two hands, a powerful blender, and a local Asian grocery store that put Thai coconuts on sale for $1 last week. Translation: time to make some coconut cream pie!
Raw Coconut Cream Pie
- 1/2 cup Thai coconut meat (about 110g)
- 1 1/2 cups raw zucchini (250g) (For a pie with a more traditional “coconut cream pie” taste, or if you don’t want the green color, omit the zucchini and add that much more coconut meat.)
- scant 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- sweetener of choice
- Optional: for a richer pie, you can add some coconut oil
- Add 4tbsp cocoa powder for chocolate cream pie.
Click for: Chocolate Cream Pie photos.
Add all the ingredients together and blend very well. If you’re using a Magic Bullet, you might want to blend the zucchini by itself first so it doesn’t stay chunky. Taste and add more sweetener if desired. Transfer your mixture to a pie-crust (or pie pan for a crustless pie) and freeze. If you freeze it more than a few hours, thaw before eating.
Raw Grasshopper Pie: Add a few drops pure peppermint extract, as well as some cacao nibs (or chocolate chips) to the filling.
Link of the Day: 85 Healthy Raw Dessert Recipes
Kate (What Kate is Cooking) says
That looks so good and healthy!
abby says
i’ve made raw desserts!!! your raw cheesecake, for one. and more fudge babies than i can count. i am OBSESSED with fudge babies 🙂 🙂 :).
Valerie says
Oh yes, we’re big fans of the Fudge Babies over here, too :). They’re great little snacks for the kids’ lunchboxes. And well, if a few pop into my mouth as I’m packing lunch… well, you can’t blame me, right?
Nicole (Picky Nicky) says
Yummm, that looks really good 😀 I’m not a fan of overly sweet things so I think I’d enjoy this! As far as raw recipes go for savoury food, I’m pretty much limited to salads 😛 I’m curious to see what others have to say!
Lisa C. says
I’ve made your fudge babies. Does that count?
Oh, and like Nicole, I can say that I make a mean raw salad ;). I’m also a fan of raw veggies, as long as the dip is good. There’s a restaurant by my house that makes a delicious vegan ranch. But I don’t think it’s raw.
Healthy Chocoholic says
That looks tasty….and soo cute too!!
eatandrun says
Love the photo :). It sounds delicious!
Jennifer JCD says
Looks beautiful. I’m surprised the zucchini made it so green like that. I’m also really happy you found a way to make the coconut pie you loved so much. Making this recipe for you has been on my list forever but I never could find coconut butter. Your version looks fantastic, and so festive too. Well done!
As for raw recipes, we make a few every once in a while, but mostly desserts like you do. They are usually healthier and more tasteful than baked desserts. We’ve made a yummy grawnola once before too, but we don’t have a dehydrator so we can only make it when we ca borrow one from my parents.
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
I’ve never even seen a dehydrator. I bet they’re fun to play with. But then again, what kitchen gadget isn’t? 😉
Christin@purplebirdblog says
Such a pretty piece of pie!! 😀
Sarahishealthy says
Oh I want a piece! I on’t think I’ve ever had a Thai coconut. Are they different from regular coconuts?
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
Yes, they’re the ones that are white on the outside, not brown. They look like pyramids.
Melissa says
Yup. They are also called Young Coconuts sometimes. They are baby coconuts, basically, before the meat matures and gets all hard. They contain soft, squishy flesh and delicious, light coconut water. The water is pretty amazing stuff! It’s nature’s Gatorade and I actually took cans of the stuff with me for my recent marathon. It really helps with electrolyte balancing.
Fun fact: they actually used coconut water to do blood transfusions in the past! It’s so close to the same balance as human blood that it would work in an emergency. Now that’s pretty awesome stuff! So, when you use the meat for this recipe don’t toss the water! Drink it! 🙂
Tanya says
That is so true, Melissa!!! I wish there was a “Like” button! 🙂
Carrie (Moves 'N Munchies) says
this looks delicious! im so jealous of your creativity!
VEGirl says
I like raw recipes! I won’t pretend all the nuts don’t freak me out (they totally do), but if I’m feeling up to it, I realize how yummy they are. I loveee fudge babies 🙂 and your sneaky veggie raw cheesecake is on my mental to-un-bake list ;). This one really appeals to me though, because it’s light and more fluffy. Too bad our local Asian market doesn’t have fresh produce (what’s with that?). Awww, well. If I move to Hawaii maybe! Or feel like spending about 5 bucks…. we’ll see, it’s awfully tempting!
VEGirl
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
I want to move to Hawaii too! Roommates?? 😉
Danielle says
That looks really good! I’ve never made any raw desserts before. I guess now would be a good time to start, I just bought some coconut.
Inspired says
Haha I’m the opposite from you! I have made a few not-sweet raw recipes, but not as many sweet ones. I guess it’s just because when I want something sweet, I usually want a bigger amount than those tiny raw desserts. (I love fudge babies though :))
Leslie says
Does this make a full cake, or a mini one like your cheesecake recipe? Thanks Katie!
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
Full pie this time 🙂
Melissa says
Our local 100% vegan and raw restaurant makes a coconut cream pie that rocks my socks off. It’s got a date/coconut crust and is so light and fresh. I keep wanting to make it at home but all the recipes I find seem to fatty. This one, though, sounds like JUST the ticket. Thanks Katie!
PS: If you ever come to MN, I am dragging your butt all over town feeding you. I imagine you’re like me (since we both run) and can eat about every two hours. Which makes you perfect company for me! I get so crabby if I let myself get too hungry! Heh.
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
Oh man, I am so there! Same if you ever want to come to Dallas, girl!
Melissa says
I know SO many people in TX, it’s insane crazy pants.
My mom’s side of the family is in Amarillo and my friend Mandy moved to Austin a while back. 🙂 I keep meaning to drive to visit the relations with my SO (ROAD TRIP!) and I would totally swing into Dallas! 😉 Probably on the way to Amarillo so I could go to the WFM and get vegan food for my visit. Amarillo is not the most vegan friendly TX town. LOL. The cars run on beef.
Alex@Spoonful of Sugar Free says
Tai coconut for $1???!!!!! Sheesh I want that store! I love drinking the juice out of the fresh coconut! It makes me feel tropical 🙂
I LOVe raw desserts! Raw truffles, cheesecake, ice cream, nummy!
When I first saw this picture, I was like, “Yay! Katie made a chocolate-mint pie!!! I LOVE Chocolate mint!!!” Oh well, coconut is amazing, too!
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
Heck, I don’t see why you couldn’t add mint extract.
(P.S. I’ve also made a chocolate version that I’m hoping to post about soon, so you could add mint to THAT one!) 🙂
melissa @ the delicate place says
amazed. this looks so good! when i saw it, i thought key lime coconut?! that would be my next flavor experiment 🙂
Camille says
I love the color on this one! Very pretty!
jessica says
I love to make raw food! I follow a pretty traditional diet most of the time but went all raw for 30 days and had so much fun experimenting with new foods. Two of my favorite things to make are raw banana cashew cream with fresh berries and raw avocado chocolate pudding. Can you tell I have a sweet tooth?!
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
Wow, 30 days? That’s awesome… I tried to do one, once. But then I gave up because we had this delicious bread lying around. Ah, no self-control :).
Little Bookworm says
That pie looks lovely, great colour as well! 🙂 Raw recipes – I have made raw brownies (from the Pure2Raw twins site) and love your fudge baby recipes of course! 🙂
Sarah says
Katie, it looks awesome! I love the green color, but I’m a little scared of zucchini in dessert, so I might have to try it with the extra coconut instead.
Bianca- Vegan Crunk says
Yum! That looks delicious, but I hate dealing with coconuts. They’re soooo tasty, but I get so angry every time I try to open a coconut. It makes me want to punch things….and I know that can’t be healthy. 🙁 I wish I could hire a coconut opener.
Fi says
I’ve made your raw carrot cake! And it’s soooo yum! Raw oatmeal ‘cookie dough’ and raw veggie spaghetti ‘meatballs!’ , loving the look of that cake though! Xxxx
Averie (LoveVeggiesandYoga) says
love raw desserts and raw pies!
I make raw cheezecake, chocolate creme pie, raw brownies, numerous raw dough balls, raw sugar/gingerbread/pumpkin/molasses cookies, raw entrees like pasta and thai wraps, raw soups, all vegan, all GF
But i totally agree that raw desserts are THE BEST! And if I were making your pie, Id probably skip the zuke and add in soaked cashews…and oh, a good amount of agave or ahem, real sugar, LOL. I dont skimp on the sweetness. But seriously girl, this looks awesome!
I went on a field trip to a local vegan ice creamery and the only thing in their ice cream is agave, thai coconut meat, and cashews…can’t go wrong w/ thai coconut meat!
🙂
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
Why, oh why can’t they have an ice cream place like that in Dallas???!
britta says
Oh, I just LOVE this! Totally gonna make this one 🙂 Thanks!!
Mary @ Bites and Bliss says
“Coconut meat”..I’ve never heard it referred to like that, but I like it. Do you watch It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia? Well, one of the character’s favorite food is milk steak. Totally gross and completely unrelated to coconut meat..but it made me think of it! lmho
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
Milk steak?? LOL I don’t now what that is… but maybe I don’t want to know!
chandra says
It’s called Paneer steak!! It is soooo good, I learned about to make it in India. Basically you boil milk and “make cheese”- add lemon juice to the milk til it’s all crumbly looking, drain the curds and whey (or save it for soups later) over a cheesecloth, catch the cheese, press the cheese ball for a few hours, cut it in strips, fry in oil or ghee, and mix with a tomato sauce. MMMmmm
Steph (The Cheapskate Cook) says
Beautiful photos!
BTW – this is first time I’ve been to your blog since it got a new do, and can I just say, Woo Hoo! Lookin’ good 🙂
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
Aw thanks, Steph!! 🙂
Erika @ Health and Happiness in LA says
I love that you made a light raw pie – I love raw desserts but they’re usually sooo heavy and dense.
Namaste Gurl says
You just made me want to hack into a young coconut a MILLION times more after reading this post 🙂 Gena’s a bad enough influence 😉
Aimee says
Hey Katie Kate :).
I just made this for dessert. I’ll tell ya, the hardest part was waiting for it in the freezer! It was DELICIOUS!!! And I might be biased, as a healthy foodie vegan, but my husband and his BROTHER loved it too! No joke :). I took your advice for a “richer” pie, using all coconut (sadly, no green) and adding 2T of unrefined coconut oil. Definitely a keeper! 🙂
Lindsay says
That pie looks amazing!!!!! I would love to make it but I have a silly question… how do I crack a coconut?!
Brandie says
Omg, this is the fun part! There’s an awesome video my Kristen’s Raw at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zp5cc_yrcEM (Is it ok to post her link Katie?!) It’s so fun to watch – and fun to do!
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
Thanks, girl! Yes, sharing yummy links is definitely ok :).
Brandie says
Yay! :oD
Ann Claire says
That looks so prettty and delicious! So Christmas-y too!
I haven’t tried many raw recipes, but all the ones I have tried I’ve liked a lot so I guess I should try some more, starting with this cream pie!
Morgan W says
Hi! I’m a long-time CCK reader who has experimented with raw veganism, fruitarianism, juice fasting, etc. and love, love *loves* to play in the kitchen.
Tonight I tried making this recipe based on the linked nut-butter version, using 1/3 cup nut butter, 1/3 cup silken tofu, and a cup of packed, grated zucchini. I noticed that the sometimes-bitter zuchinni flavor was sneaking through, so I added 3 T cup raw cacao and settled for the silken tofu topping to be my vanilla fix. I wanted the vanilla cheesecake with *chocolate* topping (so picky!) 🙂 but this is still perfectly tasty.
Have you encountered any zucchinni bitterness in raw food prep? If so, how do you manage this?
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
Hi Morgan,
I’m not sure I can really help you, since I don’t know what your recipe tasted like. I’ve never tried silken tofu in the recipe, but I can only guess that it might’ve diluted the rich, creamy taste from the nut butter. Or maybe you didn’t use enough sweetener? Or maybe it’s just a taste preference. You can always skip the zucchini and just use more nut butter if you want :).
Morgan W says
Okay, so I made the *coconut* version, but with 3/4 cup zuchinni–and I can hardly wait for this stuff to freeze! The batter itself is excellent, and I think it was just the high water content and bitterness of the mostly-zuchinni version I made that ruined it. Thanks again!
BroccoliHut says
gorgeous! At first glance, I thought it was minty…but I think I prefer the coconut-chocolate combo:)
Claire says
I’ve made raw cheesecake a few times and more fudge babies than you can poke a stick at! Now that summers on it’s way I think it’s time to break out your coconut ice cream, looks D-E-lish 😀
Brandie says
Summer!? 🙂
Serena says
Wow! This looks so tasty! I wish I had thought of this for breakfast…I ended up eating zucchini dipped in a sweet mustard sauce followed by bananas dipped in a chocolate tahini sauce and a bunch of oatcakes…ahah I could not feel that satisfied, though, because it was not exactly what I was craving…well this is sure to make a delicious piece of pie!
Melissa says
I’m making this tonight!
Going to get a young coconut and just do a single serving version with however much meat that gives me. Also, I’m going to try making the agar pudding using the coconut water plus So Delicious coconut milk! Cross your fingers. 😉
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
Duly crossed ;).
Melissa says
Took me a bit longer to actually do this than I expected but I made the coconut water agar pudding! Soooo goooood. Super light and refreshing. I added no additional sweetener and did the water from one coconut (I got about 8.5 ounces) and added about 2 ounces So Delicious unsweetened coconut milk to get me to the 10 ounce mark. Then I did the recipe as normal and mmmmm.
I forgot to add sweetener to my pie and my ninja didn’t quite get it as pureed as I’d hoped. I did all coconut meat. In the future, I’m going to add some coconut milk to the mix to add some liquid and get it pureed finer. It was still super tasty! I love eating just straight up coconut meat anyway.
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
I think as long as a recipe has coconut, it’s bound to be yummy ;). Coconut’s hard to screw up!
Emily Elizabeth @ Kisses for Breakfast says
Wow, that pie looks amazing. I’m definitely going to have to try that one! I like making raw foods, though in the winter I’m less into it. I’ve made massaged kale which I love, and done some dehydrating of raw seed and nut bars in the warming drawer of my oven. I also like to make raw smoothies using fresh greens and fruits and then adding raw coconut butter, raw maca powder, and raw cacao powder and nibs. I feel like I get more of an energy boost from raw foods, though it could be all in my head. 🙂
Brandie says
Aw MAN would I love to get my hands on some of those vanilla drops! I use stevia almost exclusively for sweetening.. I love it! And I love that my lil man is growing up on it too – he’ll probably never have any problem with the taste (some people say it can be bitter)… AND I use vanilla extract for like, everything lol. Vanilla drops is the best of both worlds! These raw pies look amazing Katie!
Kate @ahealthypassion says
Wow that looks so delicious I have never used zucchini in a dessert I cant wait to try it!
Sarah says
I just made this and took it to our New Years Eve picnic (it’s summer here in the southern hemisphere!). Absolutely amazing! Tastes just like vanilla coconut ice cream. I added 14 g of coconut butter, and used about 12 drops of vanilla stevia, which was delicious.
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
Oh wow, Sarah, thanks so much for telling me! I always get so excited to hear that something’s worked out well! (Plus, with your addition of the amazing coconut butter, how could ANY recipe taste bad? hehe)
Heather says
Wow, Katie! This looks amazing! Bookmarking it now!
Tricia says
Definitely making this one day 🙂
Kathleen says
Yum! I love how there’s veggies in this!! But the chocolate drizzle is definitely the best part. 🙂
Heather @ Life Gluten Free says
Wow awesome!! This doesn’t have nuts! Thank you!
My daughter is severely allergic to nuts, and before she was born (and while I was pregnant) I was in love with making raw pies but they had cashews and other tree-nuts in them. When we found out that she has a life-threatening allergies to tree-nuts, I kind of gave up on the idea of making a lot of “raw food” for her since most (it seems) calls for nuts.
I managed to figure out some raw coconut bars (similar to your coconut fudge) to make and we also do raw kale chips, zucchini chips, etc…
We also make raw avocado pies, which are awesome! I haven’t fully looked through your blog yet but you’ve problably tried avocado pie. If not, definitely do!
Anyways, I am excited to see this pie recipe without nuts!!
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
I haven’t lol. I keep meaning to try chocolate-avocado pudding, because people say you can’t taste the avocado (which I don’t like, sadly).
jamie hayworth-chin says
Hello! I just came across your blog and i think it’s FABULOUS!!! I am new-ish to the raw food “cooking” and I am so in love with it! I think it’s fun, easy, not to mention healthy. On my blog I have quite a few raw desserts, but also some meals (i.e. falaffels, hummus, mushroom & spinach tart, stuffed mushrooms,”turkey”, etc). Feel free to browse around to see if you can use (and improve) anything! Take care and I’ll be looking forward to reading more of your creations!
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
Hey Jamie! I’m soooo super-glad you found me! Thanks for such a sweet comment; I’ll definitely check out your blog too :).
Rande says
I love this! I’m always looking for or trying to create healthy desserts without nuts/seeds or grains so I can’t wait to try it and I’d love to see more!
Ashley says
Hey Katie! Just saw your recipe on an email sent to me by the crazysexylife.com! So exciting! Congrats!
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
Woah, seriously??? Cool! I don’t even get that email… now I wish I did!
Thanks for telling me; I’m so honored 🙂 :).
Hannah says
Thank you for sharing this wonderful recipe. :]
I’m totally making the chocolate mint version.
One question:
What size pie pan did you use?
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
I *think* it was 8×8… It was a few months ago, though, so I don’t remember if I doubled the recipe to get that much. 🙁
kspar66 says
I couldn’t wait to make this! so I subbed in a ripe banana for the coconut meat and added the optional coconut oil. I put the green goodness in little muffin cups in a muffin tin and into the freezer so I’ll have mini green St. Patty’s pies in a few hours!
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
Ooo I hope you love them! I adore your banana idea! Let me know how it turns out :).
kspar66 says
Wicked good!! Thanks for the inspiration and utility for 1 of 2 lonely zucch’s in my fridge! I can’t believe I just ate a vegetable for dessert!
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
Haha I love how you said “wicked good.” Love that phrase… people don’t use it enough! 😉
Eco-Vegan Gal says
I love how healthy and simple this is, and what a unique combination of ingredients. Included this in a recipe post on healthy desserts:
http://www.greenwala.com/profiles/eco-vegan-gal/blog/15797-Meatless-Monday-5-Healthy-Dessert-Recipes-That-Spring-into-Summer
Dandelion says
Yummm!
I just wish coconuts weren’t so inconvenient!
Anna says
Wow, your recipes look so yummy & creative. I cannot have grains (due to allergies and a hypothyroid condition) and have been looking for some wholesome, low-glycemic desserts and your recipes fit the bill. And many of them are low fat to boot. Thanks for sharing these.
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
Aw thank YOU for the sweet comment :). I hope you like whatever you try!
Chocolate hugs!
Rande @ The Vegetable Centric Kitchen says
This is totally our Thanksgiving pie today 🙂
Lindsay Ford says
That looks soooo yummy! I love coconut cream pie and to make it raw it just awesome! I’ll have to try this and put it on my healthy food website.
-http://the-fit-chicks.com
chandra says
found this recipe on Google, how much sweetener would I use if I was using maple syrup or agave? I dont have stevia drops now…
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
Sorry, I haven’t made it that way in ages so I don’t remember… Just sweeten to taste, and then do a taste test while it’s still in the blender :).
Megan says
WOW, this looks so good! Can you get coconut meat at a regular grocery store or do you need to get it at a specialty store.
thanks:)
Chocolate-Covered Katie says
I guess it depends on your grocery store. Some regular stores have them… and even some wal-marts! Look for the white house-shaped coconuts.
Ingrid says
Hi, does this recipe taste like zuchinni when all finished? Thanks for the recipe by the way! I love your blog.
Christal@NutritionistInTheKitch says
Hey Katie.. is “shredded unsweetened coconut” the same as “coconut meat”? Can I use that in this recipe?? Looks delicious! Thanks!
Ed McGee says
Love your site and this recipe. I wish as a “healthy” desert site that you would include nutritional information.
Can you provide it for this?
Thanks.
Ed
hallie says
Looks so good
Carolina says
Hi Katie, this looks delicious! I bought a young Thai coconut and scooped out all the meat from that, but I’ve been since reading about how mature coconuts are usually the ones people use for their meat. Do you know if it matters which I use? Which did you use?
Julia says
How much sweetener should I use if I’m using cane sugar?
Rachel says
Oh delicious! I’m planning on making this pie today
Lily says
Hi Katie,
I am a thirteen year old vegan obsessed with your website! And I love all of your recipes! This one was a little weird though, The constituency was frozen solid when I put it in the freezer… And when I tried to thaw it, it would just turn into goop. Probably something I did, but just wanted to let you know 🙂