Sweet Potato Pecan Pie

Sweet Potato Pecan Pie

Makes 1 9-inch Pie

Takes about 1 hour, 30 minutes (not including roasting sweet potatoes)

I was a little tired of the traditional pumpkin pie one Thanksgiving so I made this instead and it was met with unanimous enthusiasm.  The taste is very similar to pumpkin but the pie is a brighter orange and just a little different tasting.  The maple syrup and candied pecans make it heaven.

Ingredients:

Crust:

¾ cup white whole wheat flour

1 tbsp sugar

½ tsp salt

¼ cup coconut oil, at a temperature where it is solid

3 tbsp cold water

Filling:

3 medium-sized sweet potatoes, well roasted

3 tbsp cornstarch

1 tsp cinnamon

½ tsp each cloves, allspice, nutmeg, ground ginger

½ cup maple syrup

2 tbsp olive oil

¾ cup soymilk

3 tbsp xylitol or sugar

Candied topping:

1 tbsp shortening, margarine, or coconut oil

1 cup chopped pecans

2 tbsp sugar

1. To make the crust, combine together the flour, sugar, and salt.  Add the coconut oil in pieces.  Use a fork or your fingers to work the oil into the flour until you end up with crumbles.  Add the water and work it into a dry, flaky dough.

2. Sprinkle flour on a clean surface.  Gently press the dough flat and then use a rolling pin to roll it into a coarse circle (you want it to be about 11 inches in diameter or so).  Be gentle because the dough will break easily.

3. Transfer the crust to the pie pan and fit it to the right size.  Use scissors to cut off any extra that hangs over the sides of the pan.  Crimp the edges of the crust by pinching.  Cover the crust with plastic wrap or aluminum foil and place in the refrigerator until ready to use (you can leave it for several hours if you want or use it right away.  If you want to save it for longer, freeze it and then thaw in the refrigerator right before you want to cook it).

4. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

5. Remove the skins from the sweet potatoes and place the flesh in the blender.  Add in all the rest of the filling ingredients and blend until smooth.  Pour the filling into the pie crust.

6. To make the topping, in a pan on the stove, melt the shortening or margarine.  Add the pecans and sugar and cook on medium heat, stirring constantly until sugar caramelizes.  Disperse the pecans over the top of the pie.

7. Cover the pie with aluminum foil and bake for 45 minutes.  Remove the foil and then bake for another 15 minutes.  Allow pie to cool before eating.  It is best if it is allowed to chill for several hours or overnight in the refrigerator.  

Maple Vanilla Cake with Streusel

This recipe is from awhile ago.  It's simple but very fluffy and delicious.  I tend to use half and half whole wheat and white flour in most of my dessert recipe but you can easily do all one or the other.

Maple Vanilla Cake with Streusel

Makes 9 large squares or 16 small

Takes about 45 minutes

Cake Ingredients:

2/3 cup whole wheat flour

2/3 cup white flour

1 tbsp cornstarch

1 ½ tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

¼ tsp salt

1/3 cup vegetable oil (peanut works well)

1 ½ tbsp white vinegar

1 tbsp vanilla

2/3 cup maple syrup

Streusal:

5 tbsp white flour

½ tsp cinnamon

2 tbsp sugar

2 tbsp margarine

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

2. Mix together the dry cake ingredients in a bowl.  Stir thoroughly.  If needed, sift the flour.  Add the oil, vinegar, vanilla, and maple syrup and stir well (but don’t overstir or the batter will turn rubbery).  Pour the batter into an oiled 9-inch square baking pan and spread evenly.

3. In a separate bowl, make the streusel.  Combine the flour, cinnamon, and sugar together.  Mix well and then add the margarine.  Use your fingers to work the margarine into the flour mixture until you get a crumbly mixture.

4. Sprinkle the streusel over the top of the cake.  Put the cake in the oven and bake for 25 minutes or until lightly browned.  Turn during baking once or twice to insure even cooking.  Cake will probably puff up a lot during baking and deflate a little when taken out of the oven.  This is normal.  Allow cake to cool before cutting.