Pumpkin Creme Torte
Harvest flavour, honest ingredients in this vegan & gluten-free pumpkin dessert
Estimated time: 20 minutes prep (4 hours chill time)
Effort/Skill: Medium
Makes 2 x 8”tortes
Always save room for dessert!
Ingredients
Crust
1 ½ cups almond flour
½ raw almonds
½ cup coconut flour
½ cup coconut oil
10 dates (pitted)
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp cinnamon
1 nub of fresh ginger root (size of tip of a baby finger)
½ tsp sea salt
Filling
1 x 800 ml can pumpkin puree (not pie filling)
⅓ of a 400 ml can chilled canned coconut milk
¼ cup maple syrup
1 tbsp molasses
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp ginger (or one small nub of ginger)
½ tsp each of ground cloves & nutmeg - if desired
Topping
1 x 200ml can coconut cream
½ tsp vanilla
1 tsp maple syrup
Directions
Crust
Add all ingredients to the blender and once you have a gooey sticky blend, use the heel of your hand to flatten on the bottom of an 8” pan. Repeat for the second torte crust. Set in freezer to firm up for 15 minutes.
Filling
Blend all ingredients in a blender and spread ½ the mixture over each crust. Place in freezer for 3-4 hours. I top mine with parchment to avoid spillage.
Topping
Once the tortes are ready to come out of the freezer, mix the coconut cream, vanilla and maple syrup with a hand blender. Whip until firm and dollop onto the torte. Sift some cinnamon on top and serve :)
NOURISHED FACT
Want to get some Vitamin A (beta-carotene)? Pumpkin’s got you covered. Antioxidants? Pumpkin can check that off too. Fibre? Yep, ask my dogs about this trick. There’s loads of other nutrients in pumpkin like vitamin C, potassium and even a bit of iron. Like most in the squash family, It’s loaded with water
You probably know Vitamin A for it’s connection to eyesight. But it has several functions in the body (1):
Immune function
Vision
Reproduction
Cell communication
Skin health
Vitamin A is available to us in our diet in two different forms:
Retinol from animal sources
Beta-carotene from plants (dark green, orange and yellow fruits and veggies)
It’s uncommon, but not impossible for a deficiency of Vitamin A to occur in the developed world among individuals. Symptoms of deficiency can include night blindness, sensitivity to bright light, dry bumps on the back of arms, dry hair and increased sensitivity to respiratory infections.
Too much of this vitamin can cause pressure headaches, dizziness, nausea and vomiting, flaky dry skin and a loss of appetite.
Before you take any supplements of any kind, consult with your qualified practitioner that will work with you on dosage and other medications or any contradictions you may have (such as pregnancy, drinking alcohol, medications, use of retinol creams).
(1)https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminA-HealthProfessional/
