Raw Chocolate Coconut Creme Pie

I spent the entire month of December glutinously feasting on all things that are bad for your body, but so good for your soul. Not to mention I used the term “I'm getting festive” as an excuse to drink a lot of alcohol last month. 


        Now, I am not one for New Years resolutions. I think that if you are going to do something then do it, don’t put it off until the end of the year. But the timing was just so right this year. If I had behaved so poorly in August I would have had something like an Autumn resolution; however this year I have made somewhat of a New Years resolution. In order to cleanse my body of all the terrible things I consumed during the end of 2011 I have decided to go 100% raw during the month of January. I am on day eight of my raw diet and have noticed quite a few exciting side effects from this diet. For starters my skin has dramatically cleared up and I am starting to “get the glow” as many raw food enthusiasts say. I wouldn’t say that I have had the most fun being on a raw food diet (seeing as I am cheese freak and I love baking), but overall this diet has taught me a lot about what I put into my body. I recommend that everyone should at least try it once. 

      
         I have started to get pretty crafty with this whole raw “cooking” thing, and I am so proud of this chocolate coconut creme pie that I actually decided to update my blog for once! Considering it has been probably a million months since my last post, my resolution this year could be to keep this thing up to date! Regardless, this pie is guiltless, healthy, and absolutely divine! Take my word for it, raw food is pretty amazing and it won’t make you fat! 

On a side note: This recipe calls for medjool dates which I must say are some of the yummiest things that I have ever eaten. They taste like little mini pecan pies without all of the butter and sugar. I could probably eat these dates for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert, but then I would probably have a serious sugar crash later on! 

What you need:

• 3 1/4 cup shredded coconut meat
• 2 cups of dry almonds
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• 3 1/2 cups pitted dates (preferably medjool dates) 
• 1/2 cup cocoa powder (Dutch processed cocoa powder is raw) 
• 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil 
• 4 tablespoons of water 
• 1 cup water

What to do:

The Crust:

1. Sprinkle 1/4 cup of shredded coconut on the bottom of your pie dish.
2. Pulse almonds and salt in a food processor until the nuts are broken into very small pieces. There should be a pretty equal powder to nut ratio in the food processor when you are done. 
3. Add 1/2 cup of the dates a little at a time in small batches, and pulse until well combined. (If you feel that your dough might not stick together well then add 1/2 tsp of agave nectar to the mix)
4. Press the dough into your pie dish to form the crust 

The Chocolate Syrup:

1. Blend 1 cup of dates, cocoa powder, olive oil, and water until smooth. You want your syrup to have a fudge like texture so add the water as needed.
2. Spread 2/3 of the syrup onto the pie crust and set the other 1/3 aside for later

The Creme: 

1. Combine remaining coconut meat and dates in a blender or food processor 
2. Gradually add your water until you have made a slightly smooth creme. I like chucks of shredded coconut in mine. 
3. Scoop out and spread into pie 

Drizzle the remaining syrup onto your pie using a piping bag (or ziplock bag with a tiny hole cut into one of the corners) 

Serve immediately. 

This pie will keep in the refrigerator for three of four days, that is if it last that long.  

This recipe was modified from a recipe found in Ani's Raw Food Kitchen, by Ani Phyo. 

Music to work out to: because you will have so much energy after eating this raw pie!