Characteristics

This recipe provides a deliciously rich and creamy banana pie. It offers an optimally healthy snack or dessert option, as it is made of wholesome ingredients in their optimally nutritious forms. For example, it uses fresh and dried fruit and soaked almonds for optimal nut digestion and nutrient density. The pie is an excellent source of healthy carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. Its nutrient-density also includes an abundance of vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients, antioxidants, enzymes, and fiber. It is naturally low in sodium and cholesterol-free. This pie is super quick and easy to make and can make an excellent treat anytime!

TYPE: Snack, Dessert
PREP TIME: 10 mins + chilling time
SERVINGS: roughly 8 slices, in a 9-10 inch glass pie plate

• Whole food
• Plant food (Vegan)
• Raw food
• Wheat-free
• Gluten-free
• Flour-free
• Oil-free
• Peanut-free
• Soy-free
• Corn-free
• No isolated or refined sugars

Goodies Needed*

Crust:

• 1 cup Organic Raw Almonds (pre-soaked 6 -12 hours)
• 1 cup Organic Medjool Dates

Filling:

• 4 cups Organic Bananas (about 4 large / 6 small bananas)
• 1 cup Organic Coconut Butter
• 1 tsp Organic Pure Vanilla Extract

Optional:

• Organic Cacao Nibs or Organic Cacao Powder for decoration

TOOLS:

• Food processor
• Spatula
• Spoons
• Measuring cup
• a 9 or 10 inch glass pie plate

Preparation Steps

1. Soak your nuts: Soak the almonds in plenty of water for at least 6 hours. They will double in size providing 2 cups of soaked almonds. Almonds must be truly raw for soaking/sprouting, otherwise they can easily form black, moldy spots. When you are ready to use the almonds, drain the water and rinse several times really well.

2. Make your crust: Place the almonds and dates without pits into your food processor and process until the mixture is sticky, crumbly, and begins to compact together as one, large piece. Transfer the mixture into your glass pie plate, press down with your spatula. Begin working with clean fingers along the bottom and sides making an even crust all around. Set aside.

3. Make your filling: Peel the bananas and chop them into your food processor. If your coconut butter is hard at room temperature, melt it in a pan on very low heat, stirring regularly. Add the coconut butter to the bananas, along with the vanilla, and process on high speed until a smooth and creamy mixture results. Pour this batter-like mixture over your crust, and spread evenly with your spatula.

4. Chill your cake to set: Place the cake into the refrigerator or freezer for at least 2 hours to chill, harden, and set. When the pie is firm to the touch it can be cut into slices.

5. Storage: Store your cake covered in the refrigerator or freeze for future use. The fresh cake should be consumed within 5 days in the fridge. (Note: processed bananas will oxidize and brown like apples when exposed to oxygen, so the top of your cake and any exposed cut areas will darken in color.)

Tips

• Turn this into a chocolate-banana cream pie by adding in about 1/2 cup of raw cacao powder.
• Experiment with other fruit options by substituting the bananas for mangoes, strawberries, blueberries, or similar fruit, or combinations thereof. Always use fresh, not frozen, fruits.

Meal Nutritional Benefits

Almonds / Almond Butter

• provide healthy fats, protein, some carbohydrates, and fiber
• provide phytonutrients, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory benefits
• provide vitamins, especially vitamin A, E, and most B vitamins, including folate
• provide minerals, especially potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, iron, zinc, selenium, and manganese
• support optimal health, weight, healing, and prevention
• support healthy blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels
• protect against cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes type 2, osteoporosis, and other diseases
• Tips: Choose organic and raw almonds and almond butter, as conventional almonds and roasted almonds have pesticide, toxin, and other health concerns.

Medjool Dates

• provide healthy carbohydrates, fiber, protein, and are virtually fat-free
• provide phytonutrients and antioxidants
• have anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties
• provide vitamins, especially the B vitamins
• provide minerals, especially potassium, copper, manganese, magnesium, calcium, and iron
• support optimal health, energy, weight, healing, and prevention
• support digestive, immune, and cardiovascular health

Bananas

• provide healthy carbohydrates, fiber, protein, and are virtually fat-free
• provide lots of phytonutrients, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory benefits
• provide vitamins, including vitamin A, C, E, K, and most B vitamins
• provide minerals, including potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, calcium, iron, and zinc
• support optimal health, weight, healing, and prevention
• support healthy digestion, blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels
• protect against cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes type 2, and other diseases

Coconut (fresh and dry)

• provides healthy fats, protein, some carbohydrates, and fiber
• provides antioxidants, phytonutrients, and anti-inflammatory benefits
• provides vitamins, like vitamin C and some B vitamins, including folate and choline
• provides minerals, especially potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, iron, manganese, zinc, and copper
• supports optimal health, weight, healing, and prevention
• supports healthy blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, and iron levels
• can support proper bone health and protects against osteoporosis
• can protect against cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes type 2, and other diseases
• Health Tip: Avoid dry coconut that has been sweetened, sulfured, highly processed, or found to contain other additives or preservatives.

Cacao (Powder, Nibs, Beans)

• provides healthy fats, protein, some carbohydrates, and fiber
• provides lots of phytonutrients, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory benefits
• provides vitamins, especially most B vitamins
• provides minerals, especially potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, iron, zinc, copper, manganese, and selenium
• supports optimal health, weight, healing, and prevention
• contains euphoric properties (anandamide), aphrodisiac properties (arginine), anti-depressant properties (tryptophan), anti-aging properties, and helps to stimulate and balance brain activity
• helps maintain healthy blood pressure and blood sugar
• protects against cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes type 2, and other diseases
• Tips: This information applies specifically to pure cacao products and not any chocolate with added dairy, sugar, or other additives. Choose organic and raw pure cacao products for maximum nutrition and health benefits.

Vanilla

• provides antioxidants and phytonutrients, like vanilloids, and has anti-inflammatory benefits
• provides some B vitamins
• provides some minerals, especially manganese, potassium, copper, and magnesium
• supports healing, prevention, and overall health
• supports cardiovascular and nervous system health Tips: Use the vanilla bean directly or choose pure, natural, and organic vanilla extracts. Avoid synthetic vanilla and similar artificial vanilla products.

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