No-Bake Ginger Dark Chocolate Pumpkin Pie

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(Note: this post was originally published on November 19, 2020. The date above reflects migration to the new platform.)

Pumpkin Pie Victory!

Get ready for the dessert of your dreams. This pumpkin pie checks all the boxes; it's easy to make and contains entirely whole-food ingredients, but it's also totally decadent and amazing.

The flavors in this pie are major. The traditional warming spices are amped up a notch with cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, cardamom, and vanilla. These classic flavors get a very important update with ginger (twice! in the filling AND in the crust!) and dark chocolate. All these flavors make for a very fresh, interesting, modern spin on the classic.

I'm honestly so incredibly excited to share this one with you guys. It's the pumpkin pie I've been looking for all of my life. I'm quite certain I'll never make a traditional pumpkin pie again... or maybe any other pie ever? Why would I? This one is simply unbeatable.

Ginger dark chocolate pumpkin pie with a dollop of whipped cream

A Very Secret Ingredient

Nutritionally speaking, this pie is better for you than most protein bars. The crust is just dates, pecans, crystallized ginger, and dark chocolate- it's really quite magical and is based on my recipe for Homemade Lara Bars. The filling is pumpkin, maple syrup, a whole load of spices, and one very special ingredient that you'd never identify. Can you guess it?? This miraculous food is protein-rich, basically flavorless, provides wonderful creamy texture, and helps the filling hold its shape....

It's chick peas!! Please bear with me for a minute here and let me explain. Most pumpkin pies need all sorts of gunk to help the filling set. This could be egg yolks in a classic pie, or a whole variety of weird stabilizers in a vegan pie. No thanks. Chick peas yield the most luscious texture with no fuss and no bizarre ingredients, and they make this pie incredibly protein-rich. Not convinced yet?? Check out my Funfetti Tahini Chick Pea Blondies and my No-Bake Whole Food Birthday Cake Bars as evidence for the fact that chick peas are actually a wonderful dessert ingredient.

Ginger dark chocolate pumpkin pie, ready for serving

It's Easy Too!

This pie is also probably the easiest pie you'll ever make; you just need a high-power food processor. First you'll blast all the crust ingredients together and line a pie dish with the mixture. Then you'll blast all the filling ingredients together and spoon the filling in. Add a couple pecans, pop it in the fridge, and you're done. It will take you about 30 minutes.

As if you need any other reason to make this pie, it's prepared entirely in advance! It will be fine covered in the fridge for up to two days, so don't hesitate to make it on Tuesday and get it out of the way before all the other Thanksgiving chaos. Won't it feel good to have your dessert done way ahead of time (and also not taking up space in the oven)??

A Note About Timing

One important note though. You'll want to prepare this pie and let it chill in the fridge at least overnight. This will help the filling firm up a bit and will make the pie easier to cut neatly. I wouldn't recommend trying to cut it right after preparing if you want to get nice-looking slices. So just make sure you prepare this at least the day ahead of time in order to give yourself sufficient time for chilling (both the pie and your pre-Thanksgiving chaotic frenzy...).

Ginger dark chocolate pumpkin pie, with one slice cut out

Let's Talk Ingredients

Here's what you'll need for this recipe, as well as some thoughts, tips, and possible substitutions. If you make any substitutions, I'd love to hear about it in the comments section below.

  • Dates. Make sure they're pitted. Double check!
  • Crystallized ginger. Most health food stores sell this in bulk, or you can order online. It's such a flavor powerhouse! But if you can't find it or are completely avoiding refined sugar, use an extra 10 dates and a teaspoon of ginger powder.
  • Pecans. I prefer to use roasted for better flavor! If you can only find raw, toast them for a few minutes in a dry skillet until fragrant, then cool them completely before making the crust. You can use some for garnishing the top of the pie too!
  • Dark chocolate. Vegan if desired. I've fallen in love with the chocolate from Taza (shown in these photos!) which is vegan, very low in sugar, and absolutely delightful.
  • Chick peas
  • Pumpkin puree
  • Maple syrup
  • Vanilla
  • Cinnamon
  • Ginger. You can use fresh (my preference!) or powerdered.
  • Nutmeg
  • Allspice
  • Cardamom
  • Salt
  • Whipped cream. Or whipped coconut cream! Optional for serving.

Ginger dark chocolate pumpkin pie, with a bite missing

Closing Thoughts

To be completely honest, I've never been excited about pumpkin pie until now. I think my skepticism was caused by a combination of finding the flavors a bit boring and being a bit creeped out by the custard ingredients. This one cures both those issues, and now all of the sudden I'm a pumpkin pie fiend!

I really hope you'll try this one, and make it again and again all throughout the fall and winter. It's special enough for Thanksgiving, yet nourishing enough for every day. Pumpkin pie for breakfast, anyone??

Close up of the ginger dark chocolate pumpkin pie

Share It!

It makes me so happy to hear from you and see your creations! Please leave a comment below and let me know what you think about this recipe. If you post a photo on Instagram, hashtag #TheRogueBrusselSprout and tag me (@TheRogueBrusselSprout) in the post text so that I'm sure to see it.

Suggested Pairings

Apple Thyme Old Fashioned

Apple Cider Harvest Salad

Roasted Brussel Sprout Waldorf Salad

Spicy Ginger Sweet Potato Dip

Sweet and Salty Stuffed Figs

Disclosure: I received free product from Taza. However, all opinions and thoughts are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that keep The Rogue Brussel Sprout running.

No-Bake Ginger Dark Chocolate Pumpkin Pie

This is no ordinary pumpkin pie. Kissed with decadent dark chocolate and zippy ginger, it's a pumpkin pie with a major flavor makeover. It also happens to be made with all whole-food ingredients and involves no cooking at all! Can you guess the secret ingredient that gives the filling its creamy dreamy texture?

Author:
Lee

Ingredients

For the Crust

  • 1.5 c pitted dates
  • 10 cubes of crystallized ginger
  • Heaping 1 c pecans
  • 0.25 c dark chocolate

For the Filling

  • 15 oz can of chick peas, drained and rinsed
  • 1 c pumpkin puree
  • 0.5 c maple syrup
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp powdered or fresh ginger root
  • 0.25 tsp nutmeg
  • 0.25 tsp allspice
  • 0.25 tsp cardamom
  • 0.25 tsp salt
  • Additional handful of roasted or maple-roasted pecans

For Serving

  • Big dollop or whipped cream or whipped coconut cream
  • Dark chocolate shavings

Instructions

  1. To make the crust, combine the dates, crystallized ginger, and pecans in a food processor (leave the chocolate out for now). Process until the mixture just starts to make a sticky ball. For more detail on this, check out my Homemade Lara Bars, it's the same idea.
  2. Add in the chocolate only after the crust ingredients have just barely started to form a ball (if you add it too early it will melt due to the heat from the food processor). Pulse the food processor a few more times to mix in the chocolate.
  3. For easier serving, line the bottom of a pie pan with parchment paper (I find this works best if I set the pan on the parchment and trace a circle so that I can cut it to be the right size).
  4. Spoon the crust mixture into the pie pan and press it down firmly, along both the bottom and the sides. You want to achieve an even layer that will stick together well, so press it hard. Then, let your crust sit in the freezer for a few minutes while you prepare the filling.
  5. Wash the food processor so that you don't have lumps in your creamy filling!
  6. In the food processor, combine the chick peas, pumpkin, maple syrup, spices, and salt. Process until you have a very smooth, creamy texture.
  7. Remove the crust from the freezer and place dollops of the filling across the surface. Spread it gently into an even layer, using a spatula; be delicate so as not to disturb the crust below.
  8. Top your pie with pecans around the edge or scattered across the top.
  9. Cover the pie tightly and keep it in the fridge, at least overnight and for up to two days. Don't keep the pie at room temperature or it will be impossible to cut.
  10. When you're ready to serve, remove the pie from the fridge and top it however you like. I've shown whipped cream and dark chocolate shavings, but the sky is the limit. Serve chilled.
  11. Return any leftovers to the fridge. They make for the most wonderful (and protein rich!) breakfast treat.

Leave a Comment

Please Share Your Thoughts!

Did you make this recipe? Did you make substitutions? How did you serve it? Any helpful tips? Please share your thoughts, since these insights are really useful to both me and to other readers.

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Julie
December 11, 2022
Can’t WAIT to make this!!! Love all the healthy ingredients and sounds super delicious!
Matt
November 9, 2022
I’m recently vegan and thought that meant goodbye to custard pies. Cool idea.
Mariela
December 6, 2021
I love how you put together all these nutritious ingredients to make a dessert. Sounds and looks so delicious. I love how it looks!!
arisha
November 29, 2021
This pumpkin pie is the perfect dessert for the holiday season! I love that it's made with simple ingredients and is definitely something that the whole family would enjoy!