FLOUR: If you don’t have Pastry Flour available, simply substitute for All-Purpose Flour.
FOOD PROCESSOR FOR CRUST: If using a food processor to incorporate water to flour/butter mixture, ONLY ADD 1/4 cup of water AT A TIME to your dough, keeping it on “pulse” to avoid the dough from breaking down too much and it becoming “watery”. With this method, you may not need the entire 1 cup of water.
GLUTEN-FREE VERSION: To make these GF, simply substitute All-Purpose Flour with 2 cups Gluten-Free Flour (Bob’s Red Mill has a great one!) and the Pastry Flour with 1/2 cup coconut flour. If your GF Flour doesn’t have Xanthan Gum included, add 1tsp in recipe. Also, reduce vegan butter to 1 3/4 sticks instead of 2. Continue all other steps!
ARROWROOT: If you don’t have arrowroot starch, feel free to substitute with regular starch or all-purpose flour, which both act as a thickening agent. Simply mix starch into WARM water until it becomes 'milky' and liquified.
COCONUT CREAM: If you don't have Thai Kitchen's Coconut Cream on hand, you can use canned Coconut Milk and refrigerate it overnight so that it thickens into a cream.
SWEETENER: Instead of maple syrup you can always use agave as a sweetener.
STORAGE: Keep leftover pie tightly wrapped with heavy duty plastic wrap or foil and refrigerated for 3-4 days. Re-heat each slice when serving.
PUMPKIN SPICE: If you don’t have Pumpkin Spice readily available, you can use the following: 2 tsps ground cinnamon, 1 tsp ground nutmeg, 1/2 tsp ground ginger, 1/4 tsp ground cloves, and a pinch of allspice.
VEGAN PRALINE PECAN SAUCE:
- 1/2 cup organic brown sugar (I used Sugar in the Raw brand)
- 2 Tbsps vegan butter
- Pinch of sea salt
- 1/3 cup canned coconut milk
- 1/3 cup chopped pecans, toasted
Directions: In a small saucepan (heated on medium-high heat), add the vegan butter, organic brown sugar, and sea salt, stirring until well combined. Once heated through, this mixture will begin to liquify a bit and become bubbly. Continue to simmer for 2-3 minutes, whisking occasionally. Add canned coconut milk, whisking frequently, for about 3-4 minutes until the sauce becomes like caramel sauce (although it will be liquid-y at first). Remove from heat and fold in the toasted pecans. Keep stirring (using a rubber spatula) for another minute or so until pecans are well dressed in the sauce. Set aside to cool for about 5 minutes so that the sauce can thicken.
**To Toast Pecans: Add chopped pecans to a baking sheet and toasting them in the oven (350 degrees Fahrenheit) for 10-15 minutes, tossing them halfway to avoid browning on one side.**