Celebrate special occasions with this vegan chocolate meringue pie. It's a favorite recipe thanks to the creamy, chocolatey pie filling topped with lots of vegan meringe. It will be the star dish on your dessert table!
Prepare the pie crust as directed in the link above and roll it out to about 1/8" thickness and place in a 9" pie pan. Crimp the edges of the pie and use a fork to prick the bottom of the crust several times. Bake the crust for 10 to 12 minutes until golden brown. Remove from oven and set aside to cool.
For the Chocolate Custard
In a saucepan combine the sugar, cocoa powder, cornstarch, and salt. Stir with a whisk to combine.
Turn on the heat to medium-high and add the plant-based milk. Stir occasionally to make sure the custard doesn't burn. Bring this to a boil and then reduce heat to medium and simmer for a minute or two until you have a thick mixture in the pan. Remove from heat and add the unsweetened chocolate.
Place the tofu in a food processor and pulse until smooth. Add the chocolate mixture from the saucepan and pulse it all together until a smooth consistency is reached.
For the Vegan Meringue
Pour the liquid from one can of chickpeas into a mixing bowl, along with the cream of tartar. Mix for a minute or two until it becomes frothy.
As you're mixing, add the powdered sugar a little at a time. Stop and scrape down the sides of the bowl. Continue to mix at medium-high speed until soft peaks form. Then add the vanilla and mix to incorporate it.
For the Chocolate Meringue Pie
Spoon the chocolate custard into the prepared pie crust. Top with meringue, spreading it to the pie crust, creating a seal with the crust. Create wispy dollops of meringue across the top of the pie (these wispy parts will brown more quickly and create a beautiful, artistic look to the meringue).
Place the pie in the preheated oven and bake for 15 to 20 minutes until the meringue just begins to brown. Turn the heat up to 375°F/190°C and cook for another 5 to 10 minutes until the meringue has golden edges.
Remove the pie from the oven and cool for about an hour. Refrigerate for one to two hours before serving.
Notes
Vegan Meringue: Be prepared that liquid may form at the bottom of the pie after taking your first slice. Simply drain the liquid or use paper towels to sop up the extra liquid. Also, your meringue may settle a little.Aguafaba: Your can may not have exactly ¾ cup of liquid in it. Do not supplement with water. Simply use what you have. Even ½ cup of aquafaba will create a beautiful meringue. I do not recommend "no salt" or "low sodium" chickpeas because the meringue will come out flat (not shiny) and will not hold its shape.Chocolate: I recently added unsweetened chocolate to this recipe because it makes for a richer, creamier chocolate pudding. You can find these in the baking section of most grocery stores. Most unsweetened chocolate baking bars are dairy-free, but be sure to read the label.