A SUPER-EASY, CREAMY LOW-FAT LEMON PIE

I made this for my granddaughters for dessert last night-- I hadn't made it for a long time and forgot how yummy it is, despite the simple ingredients.  The original version is from one of my earlier books, "Soyfoods Cooking for a Positive Menopause".  I made it with a regular pie crust then, but I think I like it better with a graham cracker crumb crust.  The girls loved it--  I hope you will, too.

Printable Recipe

BRYANNA’S EASY, CREAMY VEGAN LEMON PIE (Can be GF)
Serves 8

This delicious, creamy pie is so easy to make that I'm sure it will become a year-round favorite. See tips on vegan, palm oil-free, HFCS-free and GF graham crackers and crusts below recipe.

One 9-inch favorite graham cracker crust, pre-baked at 300ºF for 15 minutes and cooled (see below about crusts)

(Optional: If you use a homemade crust, save 1/4 cup of the crust mix to sprinkle on top of the finished pie.)

Filling

1 lb. medium-firm tofu (or 16 oz. firm silken tofu-- 1 and 1/3 [12.3 oz] boxes)

3/4 cup light unbleached organic granulated sugar

1/2 cup fresh (or bottled organic) lemon juice

2 tablespoons cornstarch [can be organic] (or wheat starch)

grated zest of 1 large organic lemon OR 2 teaspoons natural lemon extract

Your favourite vegan whipped topping 

           

Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Blend the Filling ingredients together in a blender or food processor until very smooth.  Pour the filling into the cooled crust and bake for 35 minutes. Sprinkle with the optional reserved graham cracker crust mixture, if using. Cool the pie on a rack, then refrigerate until serving time. serve with your favourite vegan shipped topping.

Nutrition Facts (NOTE: Nutrition Facts calculated using Lower-Fat Oatmeal/Graham Cracker Crust and without the whipped topping.)

Nutrition (per serving): 240.6 calories; 25% calories from fat; 7.0g total fat; 0.0mg cholesterol; 101.5mg sodium; 131.2mg potassium; 39.7g carbohydrates; 1.3g fiber; 25.8g sugar; 38.4g net carbs; 6.8g protein; 5.1 points.

COMMERCIAL VEGAN GRAHAM CRACKER PIE CRUST:  I haven’t been able to find one that doesn’t contain one or all of these ingredients: palm oil, hydrogenated oil, corn syrup. So, you’ll have to make your own if you don’t want those ingredients.

If you need a lower-fat-than-usual homemade graham cracker pie crust recipe:

LOWER-FAT OATMEAL/GRAHAM CRACKER CRUST    

Makes one 9-inch crust (Can be GF)

3/4 cup rolled oats or quick oats
1 cup graham cracker crumbs (see below; can be GF)

2 tablespoons brown sugar

2 tablespoons melted vegan butter (try my homemade palm oil-free "Buttah")

2 tablespoons non-dairy milk

Optional: 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract or cinnamon

Grind 1/2 cup of the oats into flour in a DRY blender or in batches in a dry, clean electric coffee/spice mill. Combine the resulting oat flour, remaining oats, cracker crumbs and brown sugar in a medium bowl. Pour in the melted vegan butter and non-dairy milk and stir with a fork. Work with your hands until crumbly. Press evenly into a pie pan sprayed with oil from a pump-spray bottle. Lay a piece of waxed paper over and press down firmly (you can use another pie pan to press down with). Bake for 15 minutes at 300°F. Cool thoroughly before filling.

Nutrition Facts

Nutrition (per 1/8th of the crust): 113.5 calories; 34% calories from fat; 4.3g total fat; 0.0mg cholesterol; 97.2mg sodium; 43.3mg potassium; 16.7g carbohydrates; 1.0g fiber; 6.7g sugar; 15.7g net carbs; 2.1g protein; 2.4 points.

VEGAN GRAHAM CRACKERS (without palm oil): (Updated Nov. 27, 2016)

Some bulk graham cracker crumbs are vegan-- check the label on the bin (if it's visible) or ask your grocer to let you see the original bag. 

The following crackers are "accidentally vegan" and not made with organic or whole foods ingredients (but no palm oil):

Nabisco Original Graham Crackers 

Keebler Original Graham Crackers
Keebler Cinnamon Graham CrackersNOTE: Sweet & Sara's brand contain palm oil.

Another option I have used is to make crumbs out of "animal" crackers-- here are some vegan ones made with organic and/or healthful ingredients.  they are often easier to find than vegan Graham crackers and usually not expensive:Barbara's Bakery Snackanimals Animal Cookies 
and
Trader Joe's Organic Animal Crackers
(Both of the above are organic, whole grain, palm-oil-free, HF-corn syrup-free, but they do contain soy lecithin)
Kirkland Organic Animal Crackers [Costco brand] (ingredient list: http://tinyurl.com/zk8kduq )
Annie's brand Bernie's Animal Farm Cookies

Another option: there are numerous vegan (including GF) graham cracker recipes on the 'Net, if you are into making your own.

Enjoy!