Description
For when you really want to impress without spending too much time baking a dessert, there’s this vegan chocolate vanilla ice cream pie with peanut butter hot fudge sauce! With a press-in date-walnut crust, two flavours of ice cream, and seductive peanut butter hot fudge sauce, this is my favourite dessert for sports night, date night, or any old night!
Ingredients
Crust
- 1 1/2 cups raw walnut halves
- 1 cup pitted Medjool dates (must be very soft for best results)
- 2 tablespoons cocoa powder
- 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Ice Cream Layer
- 1 pint (500 mL) vegan vanilla ice cream (I love Coconut Bliss)
- 1 pint (500 mL) vegan chocolate ice cream (I love Coconut Bliss)
Peanut Butter Hot Fudge (Makes extra)
- 2/3 cup semisweet chocolate chips
- 1/3 cup chilled coconut cream (the cream that separates in a can of coconut milk when refrigerated- see note)
- 1 tablespoon smooth peanut butter
- Pinch of fine sea salt
Instructions
- Make the crust: Combine the walnuts, dates, cocoa, salt, and vanilla in a food processor and process until a mixture that sticks together when pressed between your hands forms.
- Line a 9-inch round cake pan (or pie plate, in a pinch) with parchment paper, with overhang to allow you to lift out the pie later on.
- Crumble the crust mixture evenly over the bottom of the prepared pan. Use your fingers to firmly press it evenly over the bottom and just slightly up the sides of the pan.
- Prepare the ice cream layers: There are two ways to do this. If you own a stand mixer with a paddle attachment, perfect. If not, I came up with a solution that works almost as well.
- If you are using a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, place the softened vanilla ice cream in the bowl of the mixer and use the stand mixer to whip it until a soft serve consistency is achieved. Be careful not to over-whip, or you will end up with a messy, melted situation. Using a spatula, scoop the ice cream over the prepared crust and spread it out in an even layer. Repeat this step with the softened chocolate ice cream.
- If you are using a food processor, place the softened vanilla ice cream in the (cleaned out) bowl of the food processor fitted with the ‘S’ blade. Process just until a soft serve consistency is achieved, pausing to scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed. Use a spatula to transfer it onto the prepared crust, and spread it in an even layer. Repeat this step with the softened chocolate ice cream.
- Cover the ice cream pie to prevent ice crystals from forming on top. (I like to use my Abeego reusable food wrap for this purpose.) Transfer the ice cream pie into the freezer and chill until firm, 4 hours.
- A few minutes before serving, prepare the peanut butter hot fudge: Combine the chocolate chips and chilled coconut milk in a small saucepan over low heat. Whisk often, until it’s melted and has the consistency of a thick chocolate sauce. Whisk in the peanut butter and a pinch of salt. Remove from the heat. Note: It is very important not to add the peanut butter until the very end. If you add it at the same time as the coconut milk and chocolate, the whole mixture will seize up.
- Remove the pie from the freezer and let it soften for a couple of minutes.
- To serve, lift the pie out of the pan and slice into 8-12 pieces. (Nutritional information reflects 12 servings of pie, which is a more reasonable amount- my family and I enjoyed larger slices because we are a bit gluttonous.) Plate and drizzle with the hot fudge sauce. Garnish with sliced banana and/or berries, if desired.
Notes
You’ll need to chill a can of coconut milk the night before you make the peanut butter hot fudge, since you’ll be scooping off 1/3 cup of the hardened cream that separates from the water in the can when chilled. Refrigerate the remaining coconut cream for a week. You can use it to make coconut whipped cream or another batch or two of this sauce, or enjoy it in smoothies.
You won’t need all of the peanut butter hot fudge sauce for the ice cream pie- store it in an airtight jar at room temperature for at least a week. It comes in handy when a chocolate craving hits!
- Prep Time: 4 hours 10 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Freeze
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: vegan ice cream pie