Dairy-free Coconut Cranberry Pie

Dairy-free coconut cranberry combines the sweet taste of toasted coconut with tart cranberries to create a delicious festive pie! This cranberry pie is super simple to make and requires only a few ingredients. Any pie that contains coconut, cranberries, and orange has to be perfect for the holiday season, and this pie is no exception! I love that this coconut cranberry pie is healthy and festive! 

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What is it?

When I first started out to make a cranberry pie, I knew I didn’t want it to be straight cranberries. I had to find just the right combination of flavors to make a sweet pie that still highlighted the flavor of the berries. This coconut cranberry pie nails it! It’s sweet, has a delicious cranberry flavor with a hint of orange, and it only requires a few simple ingredients. I would compare the texture to that similar of a macaroon, however, the taste is not a bold coconut taste. The tart cranberries help balance out the coconut flakes as does toasting the flakes before putting them in the recipe. 

Another great thing about this pie is that it is allergy-friendly! It is the perfect holiday pie to serve when you have diet restrictions or allergies in your family.

• dairy-free
• grain-free
• gluten-free
• tree nut free
• egg free
• refined sugar free
• low inflammation
• flourless

For more healthy holiday pies, make sure you check out the dairy-free pumpkin pie, no-bake peanut butter pie, or the dairy-free butterscotch pie! 

Benefits of Cranberries

Berries are packed with health benefits and cranberries are no exception. These festive berries are loaded with nutrients that help keep you healthy. I never was fond of plain cranberries, but when they are combined with other ingredients (especially orange) I find them quite palatable! Here are just a few of the benefits you are receiving when you enjoy cranberries! 

• They can help prevent UTIs by inhibiting bacteria adhesion to the inside of the urinary tract.
• Cranberries are high in anti-oxidants and are naturally anti-inflammatory.
• They contain a wide range of vitamins like B vitamins, vitamin C, vitamin A, and vitamin K.
• Cranberries have a good amount of fiber which aids with digestion.
• Some other beneficial nutrients in cranberries include calcium, magnesium, potassium, and phosphorus.
• They also have a very low sugar content compared to other fruits (4 grams per cup).
• Cranberries help boost the immune system, aid digestion, prevent inflammation, and fight infection.

How to Toast Coconut

One key ingredient in this coconut cranberry pie is the toasted coconut flakes. You don’t want to skip the toasted part! I find that toasted coconut flakes are sweeter and don’t have quit the bold coconut flavor. If you are wondering how you are going to find toasted coconut flakes, let me tell you that they are super easy to make right at home! 

First, preheat your oven to 375 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Spread finely shredded coconut flakes evenly over the pan. Place in the oven and bake for 3-4 minutes. The small coconut flakes toast extremely quickly, so don’t loose track of time! 

You can use toasted coconut flakes in other recipes that call for coconut flakes too. I put them in my coconut cream pie that my family loves. Macaroons would also be delicious made with toasted coconut flakes!

About the Ingredients

The ingredients in this pie are super simple. It’s basically made with cranberries, water, sugar, and coconut flakes. I love how straightforward this pie is to make, however, it doesn’t allow for very much flexibility with the ingredients. 

• Cranberries- I used fresh cranberries when I made my pie. You could try frozen cranberries but you may need to decrease the added moisture to compensate for the moisture contained in the frozen berries.
• Water- The water is used to thin out the mashed cranberries. You could try substituting in milk instead if you want to experiment.
• Orange– The orange zest and juice provide a hint of orange flavor to the finished pie. However, they are not crucial to the success of the pie.
• Shredded Coconut- The shredded coconut is what really gives this pie its texture. Make sure you toast them first!
• Coconut Milk- I added the coconut milk to give the pie filling a little more moisture. You can easily use whatever dairy free milk substitute you like in the recipe.
• Unbaked Pie Crust- I used my grain-free pastry crust for this pie since I felt the light crust would pair nicely with the coconut cranberry filling.

Recipe Tips

Since this pie contains so few ingredients, it really is an easy pie to make quickly. You can mix everything up in one pot, pour it into a pie crust, bake it, and it’s done! Here are a few tips to make sure your pie turns out perfectly! 

• Boiling the cranberries is essential for softening them. Cranberries are a very firm berry, so the heat and extra water helps break them done.
• Pulsing the cranberry mixture in a food processor or blender is crucial to eliminate any berry chucks. This step is important for texture freaks!
• Like I already mentioned, toasting the coconut flakes will really improve the flavor of this pie, so don’t skip that step!
• One crucial thing to take note of is to make sure the filling isn’t too dry. Depending on how absorbent your coconut flakes are, you may need to add some additional milk. The filling should be moist but not runny.

This dairy free coconut cranberry is the perfect holiday pie filled with nutritious berries and festive flavors! It’s super simple to make and only contains a few wholesome ingredients. I think this pie would be delicious served with a dollop of dairy free vanilla ice cream or whipped cream! 

Where to Find the Ingredients 

• Organic cranberries- Kroger, Whole Foods Market, Meijer, local co-op
• Navitas coconut sugar
• Thrive Market finely shredded coconut flakes
• Pacific coconut milk 

Dairy free coconut cranberry pie is an allergy-friendly dessert option for the holidays that is easy and simple to make. I love the festive flavors in this pie and the macaroon-like texture! The cranberries provide some nutrition, the orange zest provides a hint of flavor, and the toasted coconut provides the amazing texture. I am sure you are going to love this coconut cranberry pie! 

By Alexa