
I have a mild obsession with coconut cream pie, and it's only gotten worse after this recipe. It started as a test recipe I did for my mom's birthday a couple months ago. She's not a huge fan of decadent desserts or chocolate for that matter (yes, those people exist, apparently). But she does love coconut, and I love all three – so I figured I'd give this one a whirl. In the worst case scenario, it meant Anguel and I would have a whole pie to ourselves. And, at least we wouldn't need to feel too bad about it because mom doesn't really like dessert anyways. Well, thankfully this pie turned out to be a hit - and guess who was leading the charge? Mother dearest. Apparently she likes this coconut cream pie. Or at least that's what I think she mumbled as she crammed the last bite in her mouth before serving herself a second piece.
My mom's been begging me to post this recipe for the past couple months, but I'd been waiting to try it out a few more times before sharing it on the web. Lucky for me it meant many more slices of this delicious pie. Too. many. slices. I stopped tweaking after the second version, but made two more batches "just in case". As a form of self preservation, I'm publishing this recipe now so that I can no longer rely on "recipe testing" as an excuse to justify eating pie for breakfast (ahem, this morning… and yesterday). Take that as a sign that this pie is simply too good not to share.
Not only does this dessert look stunning, but it's also vegan and gluten free – which makes it a great choice for serving to a crowd. Because there's nothing worse than staring at a dessert but not being able to eat it. I've also served this pie to many friends and family who are so far from having "dietary restriction" in their repertoire - and the consensus was a solid yum all around. Since this is a refrigerated dessert, it’s a great recipe to prep in advance. Just bake the crust and pour in the filling. It can set in the fridge overnight and then all you need to do is piled whipped cream on top before serving. It's been saving my butt this holiday season.
The crust for this pie is downright delicious. The flavors remind me a bit of nutella (chocolate and hazelnut), with some added yum for the shredded coconut flakes. And it's so foolproof to make - it almost feels wrong. Press-in crusts are my go-to when it comes to vegan and gluten-free baking, because they allow you to stick to healthy, minimally processed ingredients like nuts and oats. After a quick mix in the food processor, simply crumble the mixture into a pie pan and press it in with your fingers. A quick bake in the oven and you're ready for filling.


The texture of this pie is remarkable, especially considering it doesn't use any dairy products. The blended cashews and coconut milk create a creamy, decadent filling. I wanted the chocolate cream filling to be soft enough to impart that pudding-like texture we all love, but firm enough that it can be served in sturdy slices. Chocolate coconut cream blobs aren't cute, no matter how delicious they taste. When it comes to a thickening agent, arrowroot does the trick here. Much like you may have done with cornstarch or flour, you can combine arrowroot with a liquid to create a slurry. Once gently heated, the slurry will thicken up your mixture. It's as easy as pie (ha!). Make sure to be diligent in whisking your chocolate cream filling. Constant whisking is important to ensure you end up with a smooth, creamy filling. No clumps allowed. If you don’t have arrowroot powder on hand, you can find it in the health foods or gluten free section of your store. Look for pure arrowroot (i.e. no cornstarch) – and it may be labeled as "arrowroot powder" or "arrowroot flour". Both work.
Now, you could stop at the crust and filling, because it would totally be impressive enough. But in the spirit of going all out, this pie is then topped with a luscious layer of coconut whipped cream. Since this pie is decadent as it is, I usually stick to just one batch of coconut whipped cream. But, if you really want to go crazy with the whipped cream, consider doubling it. Toasted coconut flakes are completely optional, but if you have time to toast some up, I highly recommend it!

Vegan Chocolate Coconut Cream Pie
Ingredients
Chocolate Hazelnut Crust
- ⅔ cup rolled oats
- ⅔ cup raw hazelnuts
- 1 cup shredded coconut (unsweetened)
- 3 tablespoons cocoa powder
- ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
- ¼ cup melted coconut oil
- ¼ cup maple syrup
Chocolate Cream Filling
- 1 (14 fl oz/398 ml) can full-fat coconut milk, divided (room temperature)
- ¼ cup arrowroot powder (see note 1)
- ¼ to ½ cup non-dairy milk (unsweetened and unflavored)
- ⅔ cup raw cashews, soaked and drained (see note 2)
- ¾ cup maple syrup
- 6 tablespoons cocoa powder
- 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
Coconut Whipped Cream
- 1 (14 fl oz/398 ml) can full-fat coconut milk (refrigerated overnight or ideally 24 hours)
- 2 to 3 tablespoons maple syrup
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- Toasted coconut flakes (optional, see note 3)
Instructions
- Preheat: Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C).
- Mix crust: In a food processor, process oats until fine. Add hazelnuts, process until crumb-like in texture. Add coconut, cocoa powder, and salt. Pulse to mix. Add coconut oil and maple syrup, pulse until a dough forms.
- Bake crust: Press the dough into 1 (9-inch) round tart pan(see note 4). Prick the bottom of the crust with a fork (about 15 times) to let steam escape. Bake until the crust no longer looks moist, and is medium-firm to the touch, 20 to 25 minutes.
- Start filling: Shake the room temperature can of coconut milk to mix. Pour 1 cup of the coconut milk into a small bowl. Whisk in arrowroot powder until smooth. Set aside for later.
- Blend filling: Measure the remaining coconut milk in the can (it should be ½ to ¾ cup). Top it up with non-dairy milk until you have a total of 1 cup liquid (you will likely need to add ½ to ¾ cup milk). Transfer to a blender along with cashews, maple syrup, cocoa powder, vanilla, and salt. Blend until smooth and creamy.
- Cook filling: Empty blender into a small saucepan. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat. Pour in the arrowroot mixture and whisk vigorously to combine. Cook, whisking frequently, until the mixture thickens into a pudding-like texture, 5 to 10 minutes. Remove from heat. Whisk in coconut oil until glossy. Pour the filling into the crust. Refrigerate until firm (3 to 4 hours).
- Coconut Whipped Cream: Scoop out the coconut solids (discard the liquid or save for another use). Using an electric mixer, whip the coconut solids on medium-high speed until it is fluffy and looks like whipped cream. Add maple syrup and vanilla. Whip for another 30 seconds or until mixed.
- Assemble: Spoon the coconut whipped cream over the chilled pie. Top with toasted coconut flakes (if using), slice, and serve. Cover and refrigerate extra.
Notes
- Measuring by weight: If measuring by volume (instead of weight), make sure to fluff up the arrowroot powder before gently spooning it into your measuring cup, then level it off with the back of your knife. But for the most accurate measurement, use a kitchen scale. Weights provided in metric.
- How to soak cashews: Cashews should be soaked until they are soft when squeezed between your fingers. To quick-soak, cover cashews with boiling water and let sit for 30 minutes; otherwise, cover cashews with room temperature water and let sit overnight.
- How to toast coconut flakes: Scatter coconut flakes on a baking sheet and pop them in the oven while the crust bakes. Bake until fragrant and golden brown, about 2 to 5 minutes (keep a careful eye on them!), stirring halfway through.
- Tart pan / pie plate: A nonstick tart pan with removable bottom makes it easy to release the tart. UIBut a pie plate works too. Since pie plates tend to have taller sides than tart pans, opt for a slightly smaller pie plate (8-inches).
Janine says
I make this every holiday and it's ALWAYS a hit!! I often use the So Delicious CocoWhip if I struggle with the whipped cream. AMAZING!!
Venetia says
I have made this twice now and it really is delicious and quite easy to put together.
We’re able to source cans of coconut cream where I live, which is much easier for the whipped cream. An amazing recipe, thank you!
Bri says
Hi Venetia! So great to hear you're loving the recipe! So thrilled to hear you've tracked down cans of coconut cream. They're the best! And thank you for taking the time to share your feedback xx
Melinda says
Can I sub soaked walnuts for cashews in this recipe?
June Baby says
Mmm that looks scrumptious! Love all the wholesome ingredients in here. The hazelnut chocolate crust sounds delish!
Ann says
Your mom sounds like my mom... Lol! And this sounds EXACTLY like my kind of dessert. I have a bit of an obsession with all things coconut, as you can see here...
http://createdtocook.com/blog/ultimate-coconut-layer-cake/
I'll DEFINITELY be making this very soon, and will make sure to let you known when I do.
Louisa Rosenqvist says
Wow, this looks absolutely amazing!!
/Louisa, http://www.thegreendietitian.com/