You can load up your plate with sweet potatoesand stuffing, but unless you're finishing things off with a slice (or two, or...) of pie, does it really count of Thanksgiving?
Exactly.
But if your meals veer towards vegan theother 364 days of the year, you don't have to stick to just the plate of fresh fruit to get your dessert fix. All the classics—apple, pumpkin, even pecan—can be made with some sneaky superfood additions.
Bonus: The following pies don't require any cooking (and are almost entirely raw), meaning they won't hog sacred oven space. (You're welcome, small-apartment dwellers.) How's that for something to be grateful for?
Keep reading for nine delicious (and beautiful) pies that will make your healthy Thanksgiving spread a success.
1. Raw Caramel Apple Pie
Fresh apple chunks tossed in a date-sweetened caramel? Yes, please! Using a mere two-ingredient crust made with walnuts and dates, this no-baking-required pie from Oh Lady Cakes couldn't be any easier. (After all, the whole dish only uses six ingredients.) Plus,apples, walnuts, and dates make it a totally valid breakfast or snack option, too. (Just saying....)
2. Raw Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake
Ok, who else is #teampumpkin? The vitamin-rich gourd tastesamazingin just about everything (even almond butter!), and this vegan recipe fromNutrition Stripped blogger McKel Hill is no exception. While it's free of refined sugars, this pie is fullof nutrient-dense ingredients. Just note that if you follow a strict raw diet, this pie doesn't fall 100 percent into that category, as canned pumpkin puree has been cooked prior to purchase.
3. Pear Tart
Pears are just coming into season as T-Day hits, so there's no better time to feature them in your holiday menu. And if you're allergic to nuts and have trouble with the majority of raw pie crusts, you're in luck—sunflower seeds are used in Win Win Food's recipe. The best part of this dish, though, has to be the three-ingredient caramel sauce. (Go on, double the recipe so you have some extra on-hand for dessert dipping.)
4. Raw Key Lime Tart
Key lime pie may not be a staple on your holiday table, but it probably should be. "There’sa sweet walnut coconut date crust with a creamy key lime filling and the consistency is somewhere between ice cream and a silky smooth cheesecake," describes blogger Emily Nelson of Gather & Dine. Sold yet? The pie—which is refined sugar- and gluten-free—is packed with healthy fats, in the form ofcashews, walnuts, and coconut.
5. Raw Pecan Pie
Cashews, mulberries, maca, coconut, pecans...no, I'mnot just listing off beloved superfoods—these are all the nutritious ingredients found in Put Your Heart In It's raw vegan pecan pie. "I could not imagine a better tribute for pecans than a raw pie.In addition to their great taste they contain health benefiting nutrients, minerals, antioxidants, and vitamins," writes blogger Sirke Reivoon the cholesterol-lowering nut. If you have a soft spot in your heart for the super-sweet Thanksgiving classic, this healthytwistwill keep you satisfied, sans spoonfulsof sugar.
6. Raw VeganApplePiewithCinnamon-PecanStreusel
"Sometimes, there is nothing betterthan a slice of pie. To be exact: there is nothing betterthan a crumbly, cinnamon-spiced, sweet, layered, streusel-sprinkled piece of apple pie," writes Blissful Basil blogger Ashley Melillo. Amen. Melillo's take onGrandma's specialty uses a combination of blended and chopped apples for a soft filling and pulsed pecans, coconut sugar and oil, and cinnamon for the topping. And while it's super nutritious, it's also sweet enough for raw-food skeptics.
7. Chocolate Avocado Tart
Thanksgiving may be best known for its fruit pies, but there's definitely a place for chocolate lovers at the table, too. And if you haven't yet been introduced to the magical duo which is chocolate and avocado, you've been missing out big time. This magnesium-rich tart is sweetened with maple syrup and dates, and though the chocolate drizzle is optional, you'll be glad you went to the extra effort. A Well+Good insider tip? Buy perfectly ripe avocados so that you don't have to wait to make this decadent dessert.
8. Raw Vegan Banana Cream Pie
No dairy, no problem—you can still enjoy luxuriously creamy desserts. This 10-ingredient pie instead uses cashews, coconut milk, and coconut oil to achieve its richtexture. "The filling that soaked cashews yield is just so creamy, silky sweet, and luxurious you can’t beat it," raves Dana Shultz, the Minimalist Baker. And if you're not bananas for bananas (sorry, had to), you can substitute mangoes or strawberries for an equally creamy fruit pie.
9. Mint Cream Brownie Pie
Can't decide between brownies or pie? This dessert—which taking all of 15 minutes to make, BTW—splits the difference with a cocoa-infused walnut-date crust and a rich coconut-cream mint layer. All hail healthy fats!
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These superfood-packed Thanksgiving recipesare a holiday game-changer. And if you need some food inspo from the W+G tribe, 5 readers shared their genius healthy dishes.
Tags: Eating Vegan, Healthy Eating Plans, Healthy Meal Ideas
