No-Bake Mint Chocolate Chip Pie

An Ode to Mint Chocolate Chip

Hi, friends! 😊 Do you have a favorite ice cream flavor? My Dad’s has always been mint chocolate chip. You know the bright green minty ice cream with chunks of milk chocolate mixed within it? It’s a very divisive flavor – many people either love it or cannot stand it. I remember sitting at the kitchen counter enjoying a scoop or two of “chocolate mint chip” as I used to call it as a kid. I don’t know why I mixed up the words; obviously it’s not chocolate ice cream with mint chips in it. But I catch myself even to this day calling it by the wrong name. 😝 The flavor of mint chocolate chip reminds me of childhood. The flavor reminds me of hot summer nights and the welcoming cold of ice cream on my tongue. The flavor reminds me of simple times, simple memories and simple pleasures. So as an ode to childhood memories, I decided to make this healthier no-bake mint chocolate chip pie.

Simple Ingredients

🥧 This creamy, delicious pie is unbelievably simple to make! The crust is just made from dates, nuts, cocoa powder, and a pinch or two of salt. The pie crust is made like any other “cookie crumb” pie crust. Just pulse the four crust ingredients in a food processor or a blender until it forms a crumbly, slightly sticky texture. Pat that into a greased pie dish and BAM! You’re already halfway done!

🥑 To make the filling, all you need is avocados, peppermint extract, honey, coconut oil and some chocolate chips. If you don’t like the taste of peppermint, you can always leave it out, or substitute it with your favorite flavor like vanilla or coconut extract. Whip out your food processor or blender again and whiz up the ripe avocados, peppermint, honey and coconut oil until it is thick and creamy. Fold in the chocolate chips, then spread the filling onto your nut and date pie crust. I prefer to let my pie set in the freezer for at least an hour, before slicing it up and enjoying it. Or eat it right out of the pie dish! It’s made from avocados, so it’s basically a salad, right??

💚 The avocados give this no-bake mint chocolate chip pie a naturally vibrant green color. No artificial dyes necessary! And the avocados and coconut oil provide nutritious, healthy fats for your body. Plus, unlike the ice cream that inspired this pie, you can enjoy this dessert without any dairy, artificial sugar or fillers! It’s technically not vegan since it uses honey to sweeten the pie filling, but you could play around with alternatives like maple syrup.

Importance of Texture

One of the many things that makes this no-bake pie an epic dessert is that the texture is on point. If you’ve ever tried mint chocolate chip ice cream, you’ll know that each bite is loaded with crunchy chocolate chips. Because this pie filling is luxuriously creamy, the chocolate chips swirled within it help to add variety in each bite. And I highly recommend to add extra chocolate chips and chopped nuts on top. It makes your presentation of the pie all the more appealing, while adding even more texture and flavor.

The Importance of Enjoyment

My Dad, lover of mint chocolate chip ice cream, has taught me a lot in life. One thing that stands out is the importance of enjoyment. He ends nearly every day with a bowl of cereal or a bowl of ice cream. Even if he gets home late at night. Or even if he just had dinner and is about to go to bed. Because, why not? Why not end the day on a high note, with a little sweet treat to send you to sleep. I respect that. I receive that. And I strive to embody that.
I’m telling you, if you want a little sweet and healthier treat at the ready, whenever you need a pick-me-up, this pie is it. Since this dessert is sliced & served straight from the freezer, you can keep leftover pie in the freezer at the ready, for whenever you need it. Maybe it’s just a few bites. Maybe it’s a few slices. It’ll be here for you, this creamy and crunchy no-bake mint chocolate chip pie. 💖

Enjoy!!

This pie was also inspired by a recipe shared in the heart-warming book The Tiny Mess. 💜