No-Bake Lemon Berry Coconut Cream Tart {vegan, gluten-free, refined sugar-free}
Almonds, cashews, maple, and coconut form the base for this über-lemony tart topped with coconut cream and summer berries. Naturally vegan, gluten-free, and refined sugar-free.
1 ¾cupsraw cashews, soaked in cool water for 4-12 hours (or covered in boiling water and soaked 1-2 hours)(230 g)
2tablespoons finely ground white chia seed(10 g)
½cup+ 2 tablespoons light maple syrup (preferably grade A amber)(145 ml)
zest from 3 large lemons (preferably meyer; 2 tablespoons lightly packed)
¾cupmeyer lemon juice (from 3-5 large meyer lemons)
1/8teaspoonground turmeric (optional, for color)
pinchfine sea salt
¼cupcool water(60 ml)
¾cupmelted and cooled extra-virgin coconut oil(180)
Topping:
2small cans unsweetened coconut cream, chilled at least 2 hours(5.4 ounce / 160 ml each)
1tablespoonmaple syrup(10 ml)
½teaspoonvanilla extract
2-3cupsmixed summer berries, large berries halved or quartered
Instructions
Crust:
In the bowl of a food processor, process the almonds, coconut, and salt until finely ground. Drizzle in the maple syrup and pulse until the mixture clumps together. Use moistened fingers to press the crust into the sides, then the bottom, of a 9” tart pan with a loose bottom. Chill.
Filling:
Rinse and drain the cashews and place them in the bowl of a blender with the ground chia, maple syrup, lemon zest and juice, turmeric, and salt. Blend on low, gradually increasing to high, gradually adding the water. Blend on high for 2-3 minutes until silky-smooth, scraping down the sides of the blender as needed. Add the melted coconut oil and blend until just combined; don't over process or the mixture could become grainy. Pour the filling into the chilled crust, and chill until firm, about 4 hours (or cover and chill overnight).
Topping:
Without tilting or shaking the cans, remove the coconut cream from the refrigerator, open the cans, and scrape the firm top part into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whip attachment, discarding the liquid. Add the maple syrup and vanilla extract and whip until the mixture holds soft peaks. When the tart filling is firm, remove from the refrigerator and top with the coconut cream and berries. Optionally chill again to firm the coconut cream, 30 minutes or up to several hours.
Carefully remove the sides of the tart pan and place the tart on a platter or cutting board. Use a large, sharp chef’s knife to slice the tart into slender wedges, wiping the knife clean between cuts. The tart keeps well, refrigerated airtight, for up to 3 days.
Notes
Be sure to give yourself several hours to make this tart; the cashews need at least an hour to soak and soften, the tart needs about 4 hours to firm up enough to slice, and the coconut cream needs several hours to chill before whipping.If you don't find small cans of pure coconut cream (I use this brand), you can use 1-2 cans full-fat coconut milk; just chill them and scrape the solid cream off the top, discarding the milky liquid.I recommend using light, Grade A amber maple syrup here for a lighter flavor. If you don't have access to meyer lemons, try this with a combination of regular lemon and tangerine juice and zest.Nutritional values are based on one of ten servings.