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    No-Bake Vegan Pumpkin Pie (paleo + gluten-free)

    By Elaine Gordon · Published: Nov 3, 2022

    Jump to Recipe
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    No-Bake Vegan Pumpkin Pie (paleo + gluten-free)

    Get ready to fall in love! This recipe for No-Bake Vegan Pumpkin Pie is a classic, fluffy dessert that will have everyone asking for seconds. It's got a grain-free, perfectly spiced crust and flavorful pumpkin pie filling that's made in your blender. No oven time required!

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    It's time for one of the all-time best fall desserts: pumpkin pie! This a holiday superstar that needs to make its way onto your fall meal plan. It's good enough for Thanksgiving dessert, but so easy to make that you could have it on a weeknight! This is a vegan, paleo, and gluten-free dessert that everyone at your table can enjoy. It's a no-bake pie too, so you can use your oven for other dishes and have dessert on the table right after dinner. I love it when that happens! Serve it with a dollop of Coconut Whipped Cream or drizzle of Instant Vegan Caramel Sauce and watch your friends and family swoon. I've filled this post with information on Homemade Vegan Pumpkin Pie! Here's what you'll find:

    • Vegan Pumpkin Pie Filling Ingredients
    • Homemade Pumpkin Puree
    • Is Pumpkin Healthy?
    • Creamy Vegan Pumpkin Pie Filling
    • Gluten-Free Pumpkin Pie Crust
    • How Far in Advance to Make a Vegan Pumpkin Pie
    • More Vegan & Gluten-Free Seasonal Treats
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    Vegan Pumpkin Pie Filling Ingredients

    All you need is a blender and a couple ingredients to make this delicious, creamy pumpkin filling. It's made with a base of raw cashews and pumpkin puree. I sweetened it with pure maple syrup, which adds a natural sweetness while keeping this dessert free of refined sugar. Finally, you'll add in coconut oil, lemon, vanilla, salt, and pumpkin pie spice. That's it! Blend it until it's smooth and it'll go right onto your crust.

    • Raw, unsalted cashews - Cashews are my magic secret ingredient in recipes that I want to make creamy and decadent without using dairy ingredients. Read more about How (and Why!) to Soak Cashews in this post.
    • Homemade pumpkin puree - Use homemade pumpkin puree for the best flavor, or about one full can of premade!
    • Pure maple syrup - My sweetener of choice! I buy maple in bulk because it is SO handy when I'm cooking and baking without refined sugar. It has just one ingredient (the sap from maple trees!) and adds an addicting sweetness to my favorite dishes.
    • Fresh lemon juice - This adds the perfect balance to the sweeter pumpkin and maple flavors. I always prefer fresh lemon juice!
    • Melted coconut oil - Starting with melted coconut oil will make sure it's evenly distributed into your filling, then creates the perfectly set pie as it cools in the refrigerator.
    • Flavoring - pumpkin pie spice, ground cinnamon, salt, and pure vanilla extract all give this pumpkin pie filling that perfectly spiced holiday warmth. They smell amazing, too!
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    Gluten-Free Pumpkin Pie Crust

    I created this grain-free crust out of Medjool dates, raw pecans, and unrefined coconut oil. That's it! Pecans make your crust perfectly crunchy, dates add sweetness, and coconut oil helps everything stick together. You don't need to soak the pecans that go in the crust; put them go straight into a 7-cup food processor with the dates and coconut oil. Once pulsed, you get a crumbly, sweet mixture that you can press into the bottom of a springform pan (no need to grease or line the pan!). I like to cover the crust with a layer of parchment paper and use the bottom of a drinking glass to really push it down. Once it is flat, remove the parchment paper and discard. The crust works best with dates that are fresh and soft. Once a package is open and left in the refrigerator for a couple days the dates start to harden and they won't work as well for this crust.

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    Homemade Pumpkin Puree in Pumpkin Pie

    I use my Easy Homemade Pumpkin Puree in this recipe. It is the creamiest, most flavorful way to cook with pumpkin! The best part is that it takes so much less time to make than people realize. It's just a pie pumpkin, some water, and your Instant Pot. I also have an oven version which is just as simple! Once the pumpkin is cooked you can easily cut it in half, scoop out the seeds, and let the skin fall right off. Pumpkin becomes so soft when cooked that everything just falls apart! Puree the pumpkin flesh in your blender and it is just so sweet and fluffy. Canned pumpkin can me taste watery and a little bitter. Fresh pumpkin is sweet and filled with perfect pumpkin flavor! Of course you can still use canned pumpkin and this recipe will still be delicious...but if you've never made your own you just have to give it a try!

    Easy Instant Pot Homemade Pumpkin Puree
    Pumpkin Puree in the Oven
    How to Roast Pumpkin Seeds
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    Is Pumpkin Healthy?

    Pumpkin is not only the favorite flavor of the season, it's also packed with disease-fighting nutrients!  It contains powerful antioxidants known as carotenoids that can protect cells from free radical damage.  It also offers fiber, calcium, iron, magnesium, copper, folate, potassium and vitamins A, C, E and K. That gets a big jack-o-lantern smile from me! Here are a couple recipes to use pumpkin for every meal of the day:

    • Breakfast: Pumpkin Breakfast Cookies, Easy Blender Vegan Pumpkin Muffins, or Vegan Pumpkin Pie Smoothie
    • Lunch: Vegan Pumpkin Chili or Easy Vegan Blender Pumpkin Soup
    • Snacking: Garlic Pumpkin Hummus or How to Roast Pumpkin Seeds
    • Dinner: One-Pot Vegan Pumpkin Curry or Creamy Vegan Pumpkin Garlic Pasta
    CLICK HERE: All of My Vegan Pumpkin Recipes!
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    Cashew Pumpkin Pie Filling

    The creaminess for this Vegan Pumpkin Pie comes from raw cashews. These offer plant-based protein and are also incredibly nutrient dense.  Cashews are an excellent source of copper and a good source of magnesium, manganese, vitamin K, phosphorous and zinc. This makes your filling not only creamy and fluffy but incredibly nutritious, too! Blend everything until it becomes smooth, rich, and creamy. It smells, looks, and tastes incredible! I recommend soaking your cashews in advance to make the filling as smooth and creamy as possible.

    Learn More: How (and Why!) to Soak Cashews
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    How Far in Advance to Make a Vegan Pumpkin Pie

    Once assembled, cover your pie and leave it in the refrigerator overnight. You can put it in the freezer if you want it to set up faster, but it will need thawing time if it becomes frozen solid. This pie tastes best served straight from the refrigerator. It's a vegan, gluten-free, soy-free, and refined sugar-free dessert. This Vegan Pumpkin Pie will truly delight everyone who tries it! If you want bite-sized pumpkin pies that are perfect for snacking, try my No-Bake Mini Pumpkin Pies.

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    This No-Bake Pumpkin Pie is vegan (no dairy or eggs!), gluten-free, soy-free, and even made without refined sugar. That's what I call holiday magic! I have so many treats on my site that are perfect for anyone with allergies, specialty diets, or dessert lovers looking for a healthier option. I hope you'll make and love these recipes, leave a review on the post, and tag me on Instagram so I can see your holiday baking!

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    More Vegan and Gluten-Free Seasonal Treats

    • No-Bake Pumpkin Pie Pudding
    • The Best Vegan & Refined Sugar-Free Hot Cocoa
    • Gluten-Free & Vegan Fluffy Snickerdoodle Cookies
    • Creamy Cinnamon Vanilla Fruit Dip
    • Blender Pumpkin Bread
    • Best Fluffy Vegan Gluten-Free Pumpkin Cookies (refined sugar-free)
    • Pumpkin & Chocolate Swirl Muffins (Vegan and Gluten-Free)
    • Easy Apple Crisp
    • Chocolate Coated Almond Butter Crunch Balls (vegan + gluten-free)
    • Dye-Free Vegan Candy Corn Smoothie
    • Fall favorites: Halloween Fun with Food, Vegan & Gluten-Free Fall Meal Plan + Shopping List, Ultimate Apple Recipe Roundup
    • Winter cooking: Ultimate Vegan Soup Recipe Round Up, Winter Squash Recipes, Vegan & Gluten-Free Winter Meal Plan & Shopping List
    • Holidays: Ultimate Vegan Hanukkah Recipe Roundup, Vegan Thanksgiving Recipes, Best Vegan and Gluten-Free Christmas Recipes, and 60+ Vegan and Gluten-Free New Year's Eve Recipes
    Print
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    No-Bake Vegan Pumpkin Pie (vegan + paleo + gluten-free)


    5 from 3 reviews

    • Author: Elaine Gordon
    • Total Time: 20 minutes
    • Yield: 8-10 1x
    • Diet: Vegan
    Print Recipe
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    Description

    This No-Bake Vegan Pumpkin Pie is a classic, fluffy dessert that will have everyone asking for seconds! Perfect for holidays!


    Ingredients

    Scale

    For the filling

    • 2.5 cups raw unsalted cashews*
    • 1.5 cups homemade pumpkin puree (or 1, 15-ounce can unsweetened pumpkin puree)
    • ⅔ cup pure maple syrup
    • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
    • ⅓ cup melted coconut oil
    • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
    • 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
    • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • ¼ teaspoon fine salt

    For the crust:

    • 8 soft pitted Medjool dates (1 cup)
    • 1 cup raw unsalted pecans - no soaking needed
    • 2 tablespoons melted unrefined coconut oil
    • pinch of salt

    Instructions

    1. Add all filling ingredients to a high-speed blender and blend until perfectly smooth and creamy.  Set aside.
    2. Add all crust ingredients to a 7-cup food processor fitted with an S blade and pulse until a coarse mixture forms.  You should be able to press the mixture between your fingers and it should stick together.  Transfer to a 7.5-inch springform pan.  There is no need to line or grease the pan.  Place a sheet of parchment paper overtop the crust and use the bottom of a glass to pack the crust down into an even layer that covers the entire bottom of the pan.  Remove the parchment paper.
    3. Pour the filling directly overtop the crust.
    4. Place the pan in your freezer for 8-10 hours until the filling is frozen solid. Release the springform pan and use a knife to separate the bottom layer from the crust.  It should slide right off the bottom of the pan and onto a serving plate.  Allow to thaw for 1 hour at room temperature and then slice into 8-10 slices (it is thick and rich so 10 slices will still yield satisfying portions).  Place on your serving platter, cover and store in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
    5. For smooth and creamy texture, I like to serve the pie after it has sat at room temperature for at least one hour.  You can serve while still frozen and it will be more like cheesecake texture.  Both are delicious.
    6. Top pumpkin pie slices with homemade coconut whipped cream and a dusting of ground cinnamon if desired.  
    7. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator if you plan to enjoy within a week.  Otherwise, store in an airtight container in the freezer for up to two months.

    Equipment

    7.5-inch springform pan

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    parchment paper

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    Cuisinart Food Processor

    7-cup food processor

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    Vitamix High-Speed Blender

    high-speed blender

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    Notes

    *Soak the cashews in boiling hot water for at least 1 hour in advance of blending.  Once soaked the cashews will measure 2 ⅔ cups (or more if you soak longer).  After soaking is complete, drain, rinse and dry and add to blender. Learn more about How (and Why!) to Soak Cashews in this post.

    To make homemade pumpkin puree place a 2.5-3 pound pie pumpkin on a parchment paper lined rimmed baking sheet.  Pierce a couple holes in it with a knife and bake at 400 degrees for 50-60 minutes (cook time will depend on the size of your pumpkin - you will know it is finished cooking when the skin starts to brown).  Once the pumpkin is cool, slice in half and remove the seeds and "guts" of the pumpkin.  The outer skin should peel right off.  If not, use a spoon to scoop the flesh of the pumpkin away from the skin.  Place all the pumpkin flesh in a blender and puree using a tamper/plunger on low speed until smooth and creamy.  This should make 2 cups of pumpkin puree.  Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week.  You can also use my Instant Pot method to cook the pumpkin whole.  

    • Prep Time: 20
    • Category: Dessert
    • Method: Freezer

    Keywords: no-bake vegan pumpkin pie

    Did you make this recipe?

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Elizabeth says

      November 28, 2020 at 1:00 am

      Thank you for the recipe! I wanted to make a vegan pumpkin dessert for Thanksgiving and couldn't pass your tasty looking recipe by when I saw a photo on Instagram! I love how it's no bake and isn't too sweet. I didn't have time to make my own pumpkin puree but the canned variety worked just fine for me. I've had a couple of refrigerated slices and might try freezing a portion next to try it out that way! Thanks again 🙂






      Reply
      • Elaine Gordon says

        November 28, 2020 at 10:19 pm

        Hi, Elizabeth! Thank you so much for letting me know! Yes, the no-bake aspect of the recipe is totally clutch for oven-heavy holidays. O do highly recommend trying the frozen version as well - it is more like cheesecake. You could even add a little lemon juice to it next time to give it that cheesecake tang.

        Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family! Best, Elaine

        Reply
    2. Kylie says

      October 30, 2021 at 2:56 pm

      Excited to try this out. Never made pumpkin pie before but I have recently had to cut out all dairy products and I'm keen to try new recipes.
      I just made the base first and refrigerated while I do filling and soak the cashews. Do you think you could substitute the cashews with another nut? Or do half cashews and half another nut? I bought cashews but forgot how much I needed when at the shop. They only came in small 100g bags.

      Reply
      • Elaine Gordon says

        October 30, 2021 at 5:21 pm

        Hi, Kylie. Great question! You could substitute raw blanched slivered almonds (unsalted and not roasted). These are different from sliced almonds which have the skin which you do NOT want here. You want a smooth neutral flavor. You could also potentially use raw macademia nuts. If you have raw sunflower seeds that could potentially work but I'm guessing you would need to use less and it might have a slight flavor. I would stick with raw cashews or the raw blanched slivered almonds if possible. Do you have enough for that? Best of luck and I hope you love the end result! Best, Elaine

        Reply
        • Kylie says

          October 31, 2021 at 4:35 am

          Ok, perfect! I had a cup and half of the cashews and found a cup of almonds in the cupboard so have just blanched them and removed the skins. Now letting both nuts soak and will see how that goes.






          Reply
          • Elaine Gordon says

            November 01, 2021 at 1:21 pm

            Oh wow, I have never blanched almonds myself - very ambitious of you! How did it turn out for you?

            Reply
    3. Emma Eckley says

      November 23, 2021 at 3:04 pm

      Just made this recipe! It is setting up in the freezer as a write up this review. I am doing an experiment this year at our family's Thanksgiving gathering. I am making this vegan pumpkin pie and a traditional pumpkin pie to see which the family enjoys more. I have not tried this yet but I did taste test the filling and the crust - and boy oh boy, is it tasty good. Can't wait to try a piece of the pie on Thursday.

      Thanks for the recipe Elaine!






      Reply
      • Elaine Gordon says

        November 23, 2021 at 7:39 pm

        Thank you so much, Emma! Sounds like a fun experiment and I'm excited to hear how it turns out! May the best pie win! Happy early Thanksgiving! Best, Elaine

        Reply

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