Vegan Pumpkin pie

Tried a new recipe from wholefoods blog, turned out well.

I used the Trader Joe's frozen pie crust dough and followed the baking instruction for crust from that.

Ingredients: 

• Crust
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup pecan pieces
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 cup non-hydrogenated vegetable shortening
• Filling
• 1 (16 ounces) package extra-firm lite silken tofu, drained
• 1 (15 ounces) can pumpkin purée
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons maple syrup, divided
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1 cup pecan halves, divided
• Non-dairy topping (optional)

Method: 

For the crust, pulse flour, pecans, salt and sugar in a food processor until pecans are finely ground. Add shortening and pulse until almost combined, then add 3 tablespoons ice water and pulse until just blended. Gather dough into two balls then press each into a disc. Wrap each in plastic wrap and chill for several hours until firm. 

When ready to make the pie, set one disc out at room temperature for 15 minutes to soften slightly. On a floured surface, roll out dough into a (10- to 11-inch) circle and carefully transfer to a (9-inch) pie plate. Press crust back together where needed and crimp edges as desired; chill until ready to use. (Reserve remaining pie dough for another use.)

Preheat oven to 400°F. For the filling, blend tofu in a food processor until creamy and smooth. Add pumpkin, sugar, 1/4 cup of the syrup, vanilla, salt, cinnamon, ginger and cloves and purée until smooth; set aside. 

Reserve 8 pecan halves as a garnish then toss remaining pecans with remaining 2 tablespoons syrup and arrange evenly on the bottom of the pie shell. Pour pumpkin filling into pie shell and bake until just set and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 1 hour. 

Set pie aside to let cool then top with non-dairy topping, if you like, and decorate with reserved pecans.