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Introducing my vegan pumpkin pie with pecan crust - incredibly easy to make and absolutely delicious! You won't believe how rich, thick, and creamy it turns out. This recipe is a crowd-pleaser for everyone, but it's especially perfect for those with dietary restrictions, as it's both dairy-free and gluten-free.
It feels like such a victory when I strike gold transforming my favorite non-vegan recipes into equally, if not more, amazing vegan versions-and this pie is one of those winners.
Traditional pumpkin pie typically relies on sweetened condensed milk, making it off-limits for vegans. But with a few simple swaps, it's easy to "veganize". My version features a blend of pumpkin purée, coconut milk, and coconut butter. When mixed with warm vanilla extract and aromatic pumpkin pie spice, the result is a rich, flavorful, and comforting pie that's perfect for the holidays.
For me, Thanksgiving-or "Christmas practice," as I like to call it-is the perfect opportunity to make all the dishes I crave and will enjoy again at Christmas. I'm talking about favorites like my gluten-free green bean casserole and healthy mashed potatoes. But pie is always the star for me!
I've created a few pumpkin-inspired recipes, like my pumpkin apple pie, but this recipe for pumpkin pie with a pecan crust is quickly rising to the top of my holiday (and everyday) dessert list.
If you're as much of a pie-lover as I am, you'll also want to check out my keto apple pie. And don't miss my roundup of 103 vegan Thanksgiving recipes for the ultimate holiday feast!
🥘 Ingredients
Ready to make this eggless pumpkin pie?! I've got you covered! Here are all the ingredients you'll need to grab before getting started:
Pumpkin Pie Filling Ingredients
Pumpkin Puree: The base for this filling! Pure canned pumpkin puree provides all the pumpkin flavor needed in this pie. Do not use canned pumpkin pie filling.
Coconut Sugar: For added sweetness without refined sugars I use coconut sugar! It also adds a subtle note of caramel in the pie. Brown sugar would work as well.
Coconut Cream: I use the top layer from a can of full fat coconut milk. I recommend storing the can in the refrigerator for 2-3 days or freezer for 2-3 hours to solidify the milk more.
Coconut Butter: Buy or make your own coconut butter. If you want to try leaving it out, I suggest adding an extra 2 tablespoons of arrowroot powder.
Arrowroot Powder: I use arrowroot to help thicken the filling. Cornstarch can be substituted for the arrowroot powder, if needed.
Molasses: A little bit of molasses goes a long way and adds the perfect rich, sweet flavor. I like to use blackstrap molasses for the healthiest option, but any type will do.
Pumpkin Pie Spice: I use Trader Joe's pumpkin pie spice which has a delicious blend of ground cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and cloves. While you can add separate spices I prefer to make things easier by just using a pre-mixed pumpkin pie spice blend!
Vanilla & Salt: To enhance all the flavors in my vegan pumpkin pie filling I use pure vanilla extract and a pinch of sea salt.
Gluten-Free Crust Ingredients
Pecans: I use one cup of raw pecans as the base of the pie crust. These blend up to create a nutty sweet crust that pairs so well with the pumpkin filling.
Oats: You can use either oats or oat flour in the crust. Make sure they are gluten-free if you need them to be!
Coconut Butter & Medjool Dates: I love the boost of flavor that coconut butter adds, while also helping to bind the crust ingredients. Not only do dates add sweetness, but I also use them in the crust to help everything stick together!
Coconut Sugar & Salt: I like to use a little more coconut sugar in the crust, along with some sea salt to bring out all the natural flavors.
👩🏽🍳 How To Make A Vegan Pumpkin Pie With Pecan Crust
Making vegan pumpkin pie with a nut crust is super easy! From the crust to the filling, I make it entirely in a high-speed blender. Follow along with my detailed steps below:
Blend Crust Ingredients: After preheating my oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit / 180 degrees Celsius, I place all of my crust ingredients into a blender (or food processor) and pulse until a dough-like consistency forms. It should still look crumbly, but when pressed together, become dough-like.
Form Crust: Next, I pour the mix into a 9 inch pie pan and press down and around the edges to form the crust. You can also use a 9 inch springform pan. I liked the springform pan because it kept the crust from burning a bit better.
Blend Filling Ingredients: Then, I place all of my filling ingredients into the blender (or food processor) and blend well.
Pour Filling & Bake: Once blended up, I pour the filling mixture into the crust and bake, covering edges of crust in foil if using a pie pan, for 40 minutes. ( I recommend that you start checking it at 30 minutes as every oven varies.)
Cool, Then Refrigerate: After the pie bakes, I remove it from the oven and let it cool down on a wire rack. When it's cool to the touch, I place the pie in the fridge to set for at least 3-4 hours, but preferably longer. (It might seem jiggly after baking but will set much more as it cools in the fridge.)
Serve: After this vegan pumpkin pie chills and thickens in the fridge it is finally time to enjoy! I like to serve each slice with coconut whip.
📖 Variations
Try out some of my favorite variations of this pecan crust pumpkin pie to switch up and enhance flavors, or accommodate other dietary needs.
Salted Caramel: The coconut sugar will already provide some natural caramel flavor to this pie, so I love to enhance it more with a drizzle of vegan caramel sauce. I like to add it over the whole pie right after it bakes, so that the caramel seeps into the pie filling. Top with a light sprinkle of flaky salt.
Pecan Streusel or Praline: When I want to elevate this pie I prepare a tasty pecan praline topping to crumble over top. I mix together chopped pecans, vegan butter, oat flour, coconut sugar, and granulated sugar. Add the topping before baking and bake as directed above.
Nut-Free Pie: The filling is nut free, so you can use a different crust to keep this completely vegan pumpkin pie completely nut free. This is my favorite 4 ingredient gluten-free pie crust (just sub for vegan butter if needed)!
🍽 Serving Suggestions
This vegan pumpkin pie can be enjoyed warm, cold, or room temperature! I personally love it warmed up a bit with a dollop of coconut whip on top - but there are so many tasty toppings and pairings. Here are a few of my favorites:
Toppings: I love to enhance my pie with a variety of toppings! The most simple would be whipped cream and a dash of cinnamon, but I also love to add a scoop of ice cream. My vegan tofu ice cream has 7 flavor options!
Warm Drinks: To me, pie goes hand in hand with a warm cup of cocoa! I really love my protein hot chocolate and my kids are big fans of my oat milk hot chocolate recipe. For an afternoon pick me up, the pumpkin and pecan flavors pair really well with my Biscoff latte.
🧊 Storing And ♨️ Reheating
After one bite of my vegan pumpkin pie recipe, it might be hard to find the willpower to stop! But if you are stronger than me and have some leftovers, it's really important to store it right so you can enjoy it just like you did the first time.
Room Temperature: Because this pie is vegan and contains no milk or eggs, you can leave it on the counter longer than classic pumpkin pie. I leave it out all day until dessert time. After that, I put it in the fridge until I'm ready to eat it again.
Refrigeration: I place leftover pie in an airtight container, making sure it is secure. I store the pie in the refrigerator for 3-5 days.
Reheating: This pie can be served at room temperature or chilled, but feel free to reheat it if you'd like. When I want to warm it up before serving, I simply put it back in the oven covered in foil to prevent burning. I keep an eye on it to avoid burning and bake until warm. For room temperature pie, I remove it from the fridge and let it reach room temperature sitting on the countertop.
❓Recipe FAQs
WHY IS MY PUMPKIN PIE SO RUNNY?
Your pie might be runny if it is undercooked or doesn't get enough time to set. The pie should bake for right around 40 minutes, give or take a few depending on your oven. It will be a little jiggly right out of the oven, but should appear thicker around the edges and not totally liquidy. It is also important that the pie has proper time to set after baking to allow it to firm up. I suggest cooling the pie and then placing it in the refrigerator for a minimum of 3-4 hours, or even overnight. If the pie is still a little too soft and runny after 4 hours, try giving it extra time in the fridge.
CAN I USE HOMEMADE PUMPKIN PUREE FOR THIS PIE?
In my experience, using homemade pumpkin doesn't get the best end texture. I know I usually preach that fresh veggies are best, but when it comes to pumpkin pie I find that canned pumpkin gives you the best overall texture.
Homemade pumpkin tends to be stringy and contains more water, so once baked, it isn't as firm and creamy. It yields a more jiggly end result and that's just not my cup of tea.
CAN I MAKE THIS PUMPKIN PIE AHEAD OF TIME?
You can definitely prep ahead so that you can bake your pie fresh in a quick amount of time. Here are my suggestions for the most success with both the vegan pumpkin pie and the gluten free crust:
Make the crust batter but don't shape it. Store in an airtight container in the fridge.
Make the filling and store in an airtight container in the fridge.
Day of, put both out to allow them to reach room temperature before you put them together and bake.
📋 Recipe Card
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