Coconut Banana Cream Pie

Ever since I became vegan I have dreamed about making this pie. I am a dessert lover... chocolate, strawberries, cookies, pastry, cake, you name it. I love it! This morning I really wanted to make something sweet and for some reason I couldn't stop thinking about this pie.

I looked in my fridge but I was out of vegetable shortening and since its a holiday, making a trip to the store was out of the question. The other week I got a huge jar of coconut oil in the mail, from Tropical Traditions, and like I said I have never really worked with it before.  It has the similar consistency of vegetable shortening, I decided to make the pie crust with it. It turned out perfect, flaky and the smell of coconut wafted throughout the house.

The filling is similar to a vanilla pudding with a hint of cardamom. I just bought a packet of agar agar that I found at an Asian grocery store the other week. Which helps to set it.

Crust

1 cup flour
1/3 cup coconut oil
1/2 tsp salt
6- 8 tbsp water

In a large bowl combine flour and salt. With two knifes (or a pastry cutter) blend the coconut oil into the flour until it resembles course sand. Add the water little at a time until it is easy to squish into a ball. Don't over work the dough or it will be tough when cooked.
Bake at 375 for 12-15 minutes

Filling

1/3 cup flour
1/3 cup cane sugar
1/4 tsp salt
2 tsp agar agar powder
2 cups soy milk
2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp cardamom

In a sauce pan, mix together dry ingredients. On medium high heat, add soy milk, 1 cup at a time and whisk until thickens (usually takes about 6-10 minutes) If you get clumps whisk harder. Stir in vanilla and cardamom. Allow to slightly cool before adding it to pre baked pie crust.

To make the pie: Slice bananas (2) and arrange on the pie crust, pour filling over top.
For the top of the pie: Slice banana (1) and squeeze lemon juice over and sprinkle with sugar, arrange on top of the pie. Crush peanuts and a chocolate drizzle makes it even better!