Blackberry Pumpkin Pie Nice Cream Tart Recipe
If you’re craving something cool, creamy, and packed with fall flavors, you have got to try this Blackberry Pumpkin Pie Nice Cream Tart Recipe. It’s like a pumpkin pie had a delicious, healthy baby with nice cream, and then a dash of tart blackberries snuck in for the perfect zing. Trust me, once you make this, it’ll become your go-to dessert for chilly evenings, Halloween parties, or whenever you need a little seasonal pick-me-up. I’m excited to walk you through every step so you nail it just like I do in my kitchen!
Why This Recipe Works
- Natural Sweetness & Creaminess: The medjool dates and frozen bananas provide a deliciously sweet base without any refined sugars.
- Seasonal Flavors That Pop: Pumpkin pie spice and real pumpkin puree bring cozy fall vibes to every creamy bite.
- Vibrant Blackberry Swirls: The blackberries add a tart contrast and a fun visual element, making it a feast for your eyes and taste buds.
- No-Bake & Allergy-Friendly: This dessert is naturally gluten-free and dairy-free, yet still rich and satisfying.
Ingredients & Why They Work
The magic of this Blackberry Pumpkin Pie Nice Cream Tart Recipe lies in the harmony of wholesome, plant-based ingredients, all easily sourced at your local store or online. The crust is soft and chewy, while the nice cream fills the tart with a dreamy smoothness—and blackberries cut through the sweetness with a refreshing tang.
- Medjool dates: These naturally sticky and sweet fruits hold the crust together beautifully, so make sure they’re soft for easier processing.
- Almond flour: Adds a nutty flavor and tender crumb without overpowering the pumpkin cream.
- Shredded coconut: Incorporates a lovely texture and subtle tropical hint.
- Vanilla: Enhances all the sweet and spicy elements, bringing everything together.
- Coconut oil: Binds the crust and adds richness; melted but cooled is key to prevent cooking the dates.
- Maple syrup: Boosts the sweetness naturally, especially important if your dates aren’t very ripe.
- Pumpkin pie spice: The ultimate fall flavor combo; check your blend to see if extra cinnamon or nutmeg is needed.
- Salt: Balances sweetness and accentuates flavors in the crust.
- Frozen bananas: The base of the nice cream, giving you a thick, creamy texture without dairy.
- Pumpkin puree: Infuses pumpkin pie vibes straight into the tart’s heart.
- Full fat coconut milk: Adds coconut creaminess without overwhelming the pumpkin taste.
- Blackberries: For gorgeous swirled design and a tart punch in the final dessert.
Make It Your Way
While I adore this Blackberry Pumpkin Pie Nice Cream Tart Recipe just as it is, I love how flexible it is to match your mood or what you have on hand. Feel free to tweak the spices, swap coconut milk for almond milk if you want it lighter, or add nuts in the crust for an extra crunch. The important bit? Make it your own little frozen masterpiece.
- Variation: I once stirred in a teaspoon of espresso powder to the nice cream—it surprisingly brightened the pumpkin flavor and added a subtle mocha twist everyone raved about.
- Dietary swap: If pumpkin puree isn’t handy, canned sweet potato puree works just as well for that creamy texture and warm taste.
- Seasonal twist: Try swapping blackberries for pomegranate seeds in winter for a jewel-like, crunchy tartness.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Blackberry Pumpkin Pie Nice Cream Tart Recipe
Step 1: Blend the Dreamy Crust
Pop your dates, almond flour, shredded coconut, vanilla, melted coconut oil, maple syrup, pumpkin pie spice, and a pinch of salt into a food processor. Pulse away until the dates break down completely and the mixture sticks when you pinch it between your fingers. This is your cue that it’s ready. Pro tip: if the crust feels crumbly, add a tiny splash of water or more melted coconut oil, but go slow; you want it just tacky enough. Once you’ve got a cohesive mix, press it into a lightly greased springform pan with your fingers or the bottom of a glass, making sure it’s even and compact. Then, chill it in the freezer for at least 10 minutes to firm up—you want a sturdy base for the nice cream.
Step 2: Freeze the Pumpkin Puree
While the crust chills, spread a can of pumpkin puree onto a parchment-lined baking sheet in an even layer. The thinner, the faster it freezes. Freeze it for at least 30 minutes—this step is essential because frozen pumpkin pureed with bananas creates the perfectly creamy ‘nice cream’ texture. Patience here really pays off!
Step 3: Whip Up The Nice Cream
Once your pumpkin layer is frozen, toss frozen chopped bananas, frozen pumpkin, full-fat coconut milk, vanilla, and pumpkin pie spice into the food processor. Blend it until silky smooth with no chunks—in my experience, scraping down the sides once or twice helps get the perfect creaminess. The mixture should be scoopable yet soft enough to spread easily on your crust.
Step 4: Build and Swirl Your Tart
Pull out the crust from the freezer and spread all but 1/4 cup of this luscious pumpkin nice cream evenly over it. Then, add the reserved 1/4 cup of nice cream back into your food processor with 1/2 cup blackberries. Blend until the blackberries are fully broken down into a vibrant purple swirl. Transfer this mixture into a ziplock bag, snip a tiny corner off, and pipe a spiral starting from the center outwards on the nice cream layer. Use a skewer or knife tip to gently pull lines from the center to the crust edge, creating a fun spider web pattern that’s perfect for fall or Halloween. Place blackberry halves neatly around the edges, and if you’re feeling extra festive, turn some into ‘blackberry spiders’ by adding chocolate legs and nut butter eyeballs! Freeze your tart for at least 30 minutes again to set everything beautifully.
Step 5: Serve with a Smile
Before you pop off the springform pan rim, run a butter knife along the edge to loosen the crust and avoid cracks. Let the tart sit at room temperature for about 5 to 10 minutes before slicing—it’ll soften just enough so every forkful is creamy and dreamy without melting into a puddle.
Tips from My Kitchen
- Date Softening Trick: If your dates feel dry, soak them in warm water for 10 minutes before blending to ensure the crust binds well.
- Pumpkin Freezing Hack: Freeze pumpkin puree evenly and scrape it off with a fork halfway through freezing to prevent icy chunks.
- Swirl Art Technique: For a perfect spider web swirl, use a steady hand and gentle pressure with the skewer to avoid disturbing the layers.
- Serving Ease: Running a knife around the springform edge before opening prevents crust crumbles and cracked slices.
How to Serve Blackberry Pumpkin Pie Nice Cream Tart Recipe
Garnishes
I love topping this tart with fresh blackberries for brightness and a sprinkle of crushed toasted pecans for crunch. Sometimes, a dollop of vegan whipped cream or a drizzle of warmed maple syrup sends it over the top. Adding tiny edible flowers or a light dusting of cinnamon also makes it feel like a cozy, special occasion treat.
Side Dishes
This tart shines beautifully when paired with a warm chai latte or spiced herbal tea. If you’re prepping a fall brunch, serve alongside spiced nuts or a harvest fruit salad for a well-rounded spread.
Creative Ways to Present
For Halloween, I like making little “blackberry spiders” by piping out chocolate legs and nut butter eyes on the blackberry halves. Another fun idea is to serve slices on cute mini pumpkin plates with cinnamon sticks as utensils—they’re crowd pleasers and perfect for fall gatherings or kids’ parties.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Store your tart in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 days—and it’s honestly tough to keep it that long! I usually wrap leftover slices tightly in parchment and then foil to protect against freezer burn and flavor-absorbing smells.
Freezing
This tart freezes incredibly well. After it’s fully set, you can even freeze the whole tart (wrapped well in plastic wrap and foil) for up to a month. When you want to enjoy it, transfer to the fridge overnight for gentle thawing.
Reheating
No reheating needed since it’s a frozen dessert. Just let it sit out for 5-10 minutes before serving to reach the perfect scoopable consistency. If it’s too hard, a little patience is the best trick!
FAQs
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Can I use fresh pumpkins instead of canned pumpkin puree?
You absolutely can! Just roast and puree fresh pumpkin until smooth. Keep in mind it might have a slightly different moisture level, so you may want to freeze it a bit longer to match the texture needed for the nice cream.
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What can I substitute if I don’t have medjool dates for the crust?
If you can’t find medjool dates, try using dried figs or raisins. Make sure they’re soft (soak beforehand if needed) to keep the crust binding well.
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Is this dessert vegan and gluten-free?
Yes! This Blackberry Pumpkin Pie Nice Cream Tart Recipe uses only plant-based ingredients and gluten-free almond flour, making it safe for vegan and gluten-sensitive diets.
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How long does it take to make this tart?
Active preparation takes about 20 minutes, but with freezing times included, expect around 1.5 hours before it’s ready to enjoy.
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Can I make this tart without a food processor?
While a food processor makes it easier to get the right texture, you can finely chop dates, and mix the crust ingredients by hand, blending the nice cream in a strong blender. It may just take a bit more effort and patience.
Final Thoughts
This Blackberry Pumpkin Pie Nice Cream Tart Recipe is one of those desserts that feels like a big hug on a cool day—sweet, spicy, creamy, and just a tiny bit wild with that blackberry swirl. Making it became a little tradition in my kitchen every fall, and sharing it with friends always sparks smiles and questions about how I pulled off such a fresh twist on pumpkin pie. I can’t recommend it enough; once you try it, you’ll be dreaming up reasons to make it again soon.
PrintBlackberry Pumpkin Pie Nice Cream Tart Recipe
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings
- Category: Dessert
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
A delightful and festive Blackberry Pumpkin Pie Nice Cream Tart that combines a spiced pumpkin crust with creamy pumpkin banana ice cream swirled with fresh blackberries, perfect for a healthy Halloween treat or autumn dessert.
Ingredients
Crust:
- 4 pitted medjool dates
- 1 cup almond flour
- ½ cup shredded coconut
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil, melted and cooled
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
- Pinch of salt
Nice Cream:
- 2 frozen chopped bananas
- 1 can pumpkin puree (about 15 oz)
- ½ cup full fat coconut milk, shaken
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
- ½ cup blackberries
Toppings:
- Blackberries for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare the crust: In a food processor, combine the medjool dates, almond flour, shredded coconut, vanilla, melted and cooled coconut oil, maple syrup, pumpkin pie spice, and a pinch of salt. Process until the dates break down and the mixture can be pinched together to hold its shape. Lightly grease a springform pan with coconut oil, then press the crust mixture into an even layer inside the pan. Place the crust in the freezer for at least 10 minutes to harden.
- Freeze the pumpkin puree: Pour the pumpkin puree onto a parchment paper-lined baking sheet and spread it into an even layer. Freeze for at least 30 minutes until hard.
- Make the nice cream: Once pumpkin is frozen, add frozen chopped bananas, frozen pumpkin, coconut milk, vanilla, and pumpkin pie spice to the food processor. Blend until smooth and creamy with no chunks remaining.
- Assemble the tart base: Remove the crust from the freezer and spread all but ¼ cup of the nice cream evenly over the crust in a smooth layer.
- Create the blackberry swirl: Reserve ¼ cup of the nice cream in the food processor, then add ½ cup blackberries. Blend until the blackberries are fully broken down and the mixture is thin. Transfer this blackberry mixture to a ziplock bag and cut a small corner off. Pipe a spiral starting from the center of the tart outward. Use a knife or skewer to drag from the center outward to create a spider web pattern.
- Add toppings: Arrange blackberry halves around the edges of the tart. Optionally, for Halloween, decorate some blackberries as spiders by piping chocolate legs and adding nut butter eye balls.
- Freeze the tart: Place the assembled tart back into the freezer for at least 30 minutes until fully frozen.
- Release and serve: Before releasing the springform pan, run a butter knife around the edges to loosen. Let the tart sit at room temperature for 5-10 minutes before serving to soften slightly.
Notes
- Use medjool dates for a naturally sweet and sticky crust binder.
- Make sure pumpkin puree is fully frozen before blending to achieve the nice cream texture.
- Full fat coconut milk provides a creamy texture; do not use light coconut milk.
- To make the spider web design, the blackberry swirl needs to be thin but not watery.
- Letting the tart soften for a few minutes makes it easier to slice and enhances the creamy texture.
- Substitute almond flour with oat flour for a nut-free option, if needed.
- Ensure blackberries are fresh and firm for topping decoration.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (1/8 tart)
- Calories: 220 kcal
- Sugar: 15 g
- Sodium: 50 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 26 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg