The first words that came out of my mouth when I took my first bite of this frozen Mississippi Mud Pie: Silence. There were no words. Then my poor little chocoholic heart was so overwhelmed with happiness (and probably chocolate) that I began to giggle. Uncontrollably.
I considered calling this the "50 Shades of Chocolate Pie" but considering there are only (only???) 5 chocolate elements to this pie, I thought I might be overselling it a little. So, since my Mississippi Mud chocolate frozen yogurt makes up a pretty significant layer to the pie, I decided to go with the title you see at the top of the page. Note to self: Make a 50 Shades of Chocolate something.
Chocolate Element #1: The faux-"Oreo," no-bake crust. This may very well be my favorite part of the whole dang pie. To achieve a no-bake crust akin to the Oreo cookie crust that I'm sure we're all familiar with, I combined dates, pecans, and black cocoa powder (the same kind of cocoa powder one would use to make Oreo-type cookies). It gives it that luxurious black chocolate look and it tastes like Oreo cookies. Need I say more?
Chocolate Element #2: The Mississippi Mud Chocolate Frozen Yogurt. This would be the reason the pie is frozen. This choice of frozen yogurt seems completely appropriate here, given that it has the same name (see paragraph 2), but if you so desired, my Sugar-Free Snickers Ice Cream, my Marble Fudge Ice Cream, my Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream, or any store-bought vegan ice cream would work here as well. To keep with the Mississippi Mud theme, though, I would stick to something chocolatey.
Chocolate Element #3: The luscious double chocolate mousse. This mousse gives the crust a run for its money in my favorite element category. It gets its richness from avocado, raw cashews, and dates and it gets its chocolate flavor from both cocoa powder and melted chocolate. Win and Win.
Chocolate Element #4: Once the pie is all put together and frozen, you get to drizzle more chocolate on top. Heck yes! This simple chocolate glaze was inspired by the chocolate glaze from Fran Costigan's chocolate, orange, and almond olive oil cake that I made recently. That glaze is crazy amazing and I love that when it firms up, it's still soft enough to bite into without it cracking or flaking. This glaze is just like that too and you can drizzle it carefully or go all splatter-paint style and make a big delicious mess on top of the pie. Your choice.
Chocolate Element #5: I figured that since the pie didn't have enough chocolate, I should sprinkle the top with chocolate shavings, along with pecans and a tiny bit of leftover crust pieces. It also makes the whole pie prettier (see the part in the last paragraph about "a big delicious mess.")
So there we have it: A Mississippi Mud Pie with a (faux) Oreo cookie crust, chocolate frozen yogurt, double chocolate mousse, dark chocolate glaze, and chocolate shavings. It is one tall, dark, and handsome pie and let me tell you, it is Rich with a capital R. Don't go into this thinking you can handle a slice that's 1/8th of the pie (like the slices shown in these pictures). It's not conquerable. If one bite put me into a fit of giggles, a slice that big will likely put you on the floor. It's intense, but in the best possible way. This pie can easily serve 12 to 16 people, so gather all of your biggest chocoholic friends and get ready for quite the giggle-fest.
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups raw pecan pieces
- 16 medjool dates, pitted
- 3 tablespoons black cocoa powder (or sub regular cocoa/cacao powder, though it won't be as "oreo-ish")
- 1 teaspoon melted coconut oil
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 3 1/2 cups "Mississippi Mud" Chocolate Frozen Yogurt *see notes
- 1 ripe avocado, pitted
- 1/2 cup raw cashews (if you arenot using a high-speed blender, soak in warm water for an hour prior)
- 5 medjool dates, pitted
- 1/3 cup non-dairy milk
- 1 tablespoon coconut sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup chopped dark chocolate or dark chocolate chips
- 1/8 cup water
- 3/8 cups/about 50 grams chopped dark chocolate
- 1 teaspoon melted coconut oil
- 1/8 teaspoon vanilla extract
- pinch of salt
- chopped pecans
- chocolate shavings
Instructions
- Lightly spray a springform pan with cooking spray. Place a parchment paper round in the bottom of the pan.
- Combine the crust ingredients in a food processor and pulse until combined and just beginning to stick together. It should still be crumbly but if you pinch it between your fingers, it holds together. Transfer the crust crumbs to the prepared pan. If you want to use some crumbs to sprinkle on top, reserve about 1/8 cup, scrunch into clusters/clumps, and place in the freezer. Use your fingers to press the crumbs into the bottom of the pan and then about 2/3 the way up the sides of the pan. Once the crust is evenly spread out and pressed into place, place the pan in the freezer. Let freeze for 1 hour.
- If you've not yet made your frozen yogurt (see notes), put it in the ice cream machine about 20 minutes before the crust has frozen fro 1 hour. Once the frozen yogurt is ready, spread 3 1/2 cups into the bottom of pan (on top of the crust, obviously). Return the pan to the freezer and let it freeze for at least 2 hours.
- While the pie is freezing, you can make the mousse. Combine the avocado, cashews, dates, milk, coconut sugar, and salt in a food processor and process until fully combined and smooth.
- Place the chocolate in a glass bowl and place the bowl over a small pot of boiling water. As the chocolate begins to melt, stir it until it is completely smooth and melted. Remove from the heat. Transfer the melted chocolate to the food processor with the mousse base. Process until fully combined and smooth. Remove the pie from the freezer and spread the mousse out over the frozen yogurt. Return the pie to the freezer for 1 more hour.
- Once the pie has frozen, combine the water and chocolate for the glaze in a small sauce pan. Heat over low heat until the chocolate begins to melt. Remove from the heat and stir until fully melted and combined. Add the coconut oil, vanilla extract, and salt. Stir until combined.
- Remove the pie from the freezer. Run a thin knife around the outer edge of the pan to loosen the crust from the edge. Remove the outer edge of the pan and gently slide the pie onto a plate or serving platter. Try to remove the parchment paper from the bottom of the pie before arranging it on the plate. Drizzle the glaze over the pie. Sprinkle with reserved crust crumbs, chocolate shavings, and chopped pecans. Slice and serve immediately. Leftovers can be kept, covered, in the freezer for 4 to 5 days. Enjoy!
Notes
You can use your frozen yogurt straight from the ice cream machine (this is probably the best way) or you can use pre-made, already frozen frozen yogurt. You'll just need to let it soften for about 20 to 30 minutes so it gets soft enough to scoop and spread, but don't let it get too melty!
The chocolate glaze recipe is adapted from the Chocolate Orange Glaze from Vegan Chocolate by Fran Costigan.
Do ever have odd reactions to really good food (like fits of giggles, for example)?
Photography by Chris Miller
Katie
This looks ridiculous! To increase the chocolate swoon content, adding Kahlua to the yoghurt (boozy frozen yoghurt? Yes please!) and a sprinkle of cacao nibs on top would make it 7 shades of chocolate!
A version that would be like my favourite Treatzza Pizza growing up would be to use peanuts in the base, Chocolate PB Frozen Yoghurt, with a Chocolate PB drizzle on top - that would induce a whole set of inappropriate foodgasims (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6qbOL6AYIc).
Caitlin
holy cow, woman! this is the most decadent, delicious, and beautiful ice cream cake i have ever seen. well done.
AY
My chocoholic heart is beating like mad just looking at this photos. And I'm wiping drool off my desk. Looks delicious!
Bobbie || the vegan crew
Kristy, now THAT is a masterpiece! When the kitchen is finally installed in our new house, I believe this may be the perfect way to break it in (and, while we're at it, it looks like a pretty fine way to get in good with the new neighbors as well!). 🙂
Allie
Girl.. you are killing it over here! This cake is blowing my mind!!!
Katie @ Produce on Parade
Holy Moly. Dannnnng. This is awesome, I love the black plates and cake stand too, it's so moody and chocolatey! I do also get in giggle fits, but mine mostly take the form of strange exciting dancing with regards to ammmazingly delicious foods. It's kind of embarrassing, but I'm pretty sure we all do it 😉
Angela @ Canned-Time.com
Heavenly.
I'm trying to make up an Oreo cheesecake for my husband's birthday in November and this is great inspiration.
Thanks Kristy ♡
Sam
OMG that looks amazing! I know what I am making my Dad for Fathers Day! (It's next weekend here in Australia) Now to hunt down some black cocoa powder...
Jenn
OMG! This looks insane! With my love of all things chocolate, I think I might just be able to polish off a piece of this size! 🙂
Meg @ Niesbeetle
Holy bananas, Kristy. Just looking at this recipe I'm in awe. I'm drooling and want to lick the screen! I'm not sure if I even have the will tear my eyes away from the screen to grab the ingredients and make it! Beautiful!
Sh Dc
You could call it 5(ooooohhhhh) shades of chocolate!! 😉
Rachel @ Bakerita
What a GORGEOUS pie. It looks so absolutely amazing!! I need all that chocolate.
Thalia @ butter and brioche
It's safe to say that I definitely am craving chocolate right now.. this mud pie looks amazing. Pinned!
Sarah
This is perhaps the most beautiful dish I've seen on your blog. Such lovely photos and such a lovely pie.
Cece Leskova
Oh my, I think I've died and gone to heaven! I totally want to make this, soon!
Gabby @ the veggie nook
*thud* That was my jaw dropping to the floor. I don't know how much more epic a dessert could get!
Vanessa @ VeganFamilyRecipes
I am speechless. Your pictures are stunning! Excuse me while I wipe a gallon of drool off my mouth 🙂 This looks so good. I want to dive face first into it!
Shira
What a spectacular cake! I'd save the room in my mouth for a mouthful rather than words too Kristy! 🙂 WOW!
Robin
This looks amazing. What size springform pan did you use?
keepinitkind
Thank you- I used a 10-inch. 🙂
marfigs
I am so in love with this monster that I don't know where to look. I think I spent above five minutes on the first picture alone! SO tempting to throw a party *just* as an excuse to make this (because this is a sharing kind of dish, I suspect, for the sake of not whipping out the stretchy pants). yum yum!
Harriet Emily
Wow! I'm speechless. This looks unbelievably amazing!
Amanda - A Cookie Named Desire
Oh my gosh! I just discovered your blog and I can't believe I haven't come across it before! I am loving your recipes and your photos and everything. Sorry for gushing like teen girl, but I just can't help it!
Tracy
Absolutely LOVE your blog / recipes and just received your cookbook, so excited! I definitely HAVE to make this Mud Pie, but cannot have avocados. Can you suggest a suitable replacement? My first thought was maybe tofu, but not sure it would work in this application. Any thoughts? Thanks!
Meg
Looks amazing! Where did u get the fabulous cake stand?
keepinitkind
Thanks. CB2, I believe. 🙂