I’m going to come clean here. Are you sitting down for this? My family and I don’t like cake. I know! It’s crazy! But… it’s true. We grew up getting Carvel ice cream cakes for every birthday in our family (there were 5 of us). So for my Dad’s birthday last year we did pie (blueberry and apple), the year before I made him a plant based cheesecake and I have made him a plant based ice cream cake before too. This year, I wanted to do something different. I have never made a chocolate pie before (and we ALL love chocolate!) or a fancy term for it I think is a French Silk Pie. So this is my version of that and I have to say… I think I may have nailed it!

You know how I LOVE my desserts to have benefits, right? Well, this recipe has nuts (hazelnuts) which is a great source of healthy fat, tofu which is an excellent source of protein, coconut which is another excellent source of healthy fats AND chocolate which is high in antioxidants! (There are other benefits to each but it’s almost midnight so I’m just cutting to the chase, here.) So yes, this is basically a meal, ha! 🙂 Or… a dessert you can feel REALLY good about eating and feel good AFTER eating (not like those heavy dairy desserts where you get a tummy ache or can’t move after eating it, or super-sweet ones that give you a sugar crash after). Anyway…

When my oldest daughter was still just a non-verbal 3 year old, we were walking down our hall in our building complex in LA. She smiled at a man who walked by. The man found me later that day to tell me he was having a really bad day and her smile literally turned his day around. 

My father turned 81 and we had him over for dinner and I made this special pie for him! Next week he is leaving to go to Israel and help out wherever he is needed. (I’m guessing maybe he’ll pick some fruit or veggies on a farm at a kibbutz, but we don’t know his assignment yet). I wish I could go with him. The point of my story is whether you are very young, or very old, verbal or not, have nothing but a smile or time or money to give, you can make a difference. So how are you making a difference today?

Oh, and he absolutely LOVED the pie! It was devoured by everyone. And it’s apparently going on the menu for the restaurant my 7 year old plans to open up with me, one day!

This pie is SO decadent and creamy, but surprisingly easy to make! The hardest part is waiting for it to set. Hope you enjoy!

French Silk Pie (Vegan & gluten free)

Ingredients:

Crust

• 1½ boxes Simple Mills sandwich cookies
• 1 cup hazelnuts
• ¼ cup vegan butter, melted
• ⅛ tsp salt

Chocolate Filling

• 12 oz organic silken tofu
• 1½ cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 2 tbsp almond milk

Whipped cream

• My homemade coconut whip
• OR a store- bought whipped topping like Tru-Whip or So Delicious

Directions

1. Pre-heat oven to 350 F
2. Blitz hazelnuts & cookies in a food processor until fine crumbs
3. Add melted butter and salt, and blitz until combined
4. Press firmly into a spring-form pan, making sure the crust comes 1-1½ inches up the side
5. Bake at 350 for 10 minutes and transfer to a wire rack to cool
6. While the crust is cooling, melt chocolate chips in a double-boiler or bowl over simmering water
7. Add the tofu, melted chocolate and almond milk to a blender and blend until smooth
8. Pour into the cooled crust, spread evenly and refrigerate overnight, or at least 4 hours
9. When the pie is cool, spread a thick layer of whipped cream
10. Garnish with grated chocolate (use a potato peeler and a bar of chocolate)
11. Enjoy!