Cocoa Substitute Mince Pie

• 1/4 cup dry, unsweetened cocoa
• 1 teaspoon instant coffee
• 1/4 cup light brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons molasses
• 1/2 cup dark raisins or currants
• 1/2 cup golden raisins
• 2 medium Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and finely chopped
• 3/4 cup fine fresh bread crumbs
• 1/4 cup finely chopped walnuts or pecans
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon allspice
• 1/4 teaspoon each: ground ginger and nutmeg
• 1 prepared pastry crust

• 1 tablespoon margarine
• 1/4 cup fine fresh bread crumbs
• 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Combine the first 4 ingredients in a large saucepan with 1/2 cup of water. Bring to a simmer and stir until smoothly dissolved and combined. Add the currants, raisins, and apples and simmer over low heat, covered, for 10 minutes. Remove from the heat.

In a mixing bowl, combine the bread crumbs, nuts, vanilla, and spices. Pour in the mixture from the saucepan and stir until thoroughly combined. Pour into the pastry crust.

Melt the margarine in the same saucepan used previously. Remove from the heat and stir in the bread crumbs, sugar, and cinnamon. Sprinkle over the top of the pie. Bake for 35 minutes, or until the crust is golden.

Let cool and serve just warm or at room temperature.

• Yields: 1 9-inch pie, 8 servings
• Preparation Time: about 1 hour, 30 minutes