Vegan Mud Pie

Go ahead and play in the mud! This vegan mud pie is inspired by the call for a “cup of mud,” which is of course simply coffee, and the outrageously chocolaty affair known as Mississippi mud cake, it’s as dark and intense as a fresh brewed cuppa, but with all the trappings of an elegant dessert.

Don’t be misled by the funky name—this kind of mud pie is far tastier than any childhood sandbox creation. Perfect for a pie novice, this is an effortless dessert with a big flavor payoff. Recipe and photos from Easy as Vegan Pie by Hannah Kaminsky. © 2013, Skyhorse Publishing, reprinted by permission.

Makes 10 to 12 Servings

• Your favorite crust, homemade or prepared, baked and cooled

Mocha Mousse:

• 12 ounces (2 cups) semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 2 tablespoons light agave nectar
• 1/4 cup unsweetened nondairy milk
• 3 ripe, medium-sized avocados
• 2 tablespoons instant coffee powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Ganache Drizzle:

• 1/3 cup (2 ounces) semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 2 tablespoons unsweetened nondairy milk

To Finish:

• 3/4 cup dark chocolate-covered espresso beans, roughly chopped

Once your crust is baked and cooled, combine the chocolate, agave, and nondairy milk in a microwave-safe container. Start by heating for 60 seconds, stirring vigorously to help the chips melt. Heat for additional 30-second intervals, stirring well after each, until the mixture is entirely lump-free.

Transfer the melted chocolate into the bowl of your food processor or blender, along with the pitted and peeled avocados.

Add the coffee powder and salt, and let it rip! Blend until pureed to a flawless, silky-smooth consistency, pausing periodically to scrape any unincorporated avocado off the sides of the bowl. Pour the thick mousse into your prepared crust, smooth out the top with a spatula, and chill for a minimum of 2 to 3 hours, to allow the filling to set.

For the ganache, simply melt together the chocolate and nondairy milk using the same method as before. Drizzle all over the top of the pie, and don’t hold back—let your inner Jackson Pollock out and make it a chocolate work of art! Finish by sprinkling chopped chocolate-covered espresso beans around the rim. Take a moment to admire your masterpiece before it’s devoured. Cut into wedges to serve.

• Explore more of VegKitchen’s Easy Vegan Cakes and Pies.
• Sweet tooth still craving? Here are more Vegan Baking and Sweets.