Vegan Lemon Tart

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A vegan lemon tart with a nutty crust and sweet, tangy lemon curd filling. It’s a simple but elegant dessert even dairy-lovers can’t resist. Sweetened with maple syrup & dates, this tart is vegan, gluten-free, & refined-sugar-free!

Nothing screams spring more than lemon recipes! With a crunchy and nutty crust made from crushed cashews, pecans, and oats but held together with dates, this eggless lemon tart recipe is naturally sweet and full of nutrient-rich ingredients.

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Traditionally lemon tarts are made with plenty of butter, eggs, sugar, and lemon juice. My vegan lemon curd filling is made with fresh and zippy lemon juice whisked into rich coconut cream, making this vegan lemon tart recipe gluten-free, dairy-free, & totally guilt-free!

It’s the perfect dessert for summer brunch, Mother’s day, Easter, or any time of the year really! With its creamy lemon filling and crumbly crust, nobody will know this luscious, sweet and tangy vegan tart is actually healthy. Decorate with fresh berries, lemon slices, or coconut whipped cream. Everyone will think you bought it out of a pastry case at a fancy bakery!

👩‍🍳 Why This Recipe Works

• With no silken tofu, this recipe is soy-free!
• Rich lemon custard filling
• Delicious but healthy lemon tart
• Gluten-free tart recipe
• Kid-friendly
• Beautiful yellow color
• Easy recipe anyone can make
• Tastes like lemon bars
• Perfect combination of tangy and sweet!

🥘 Ingredients

This vegan lemon tart recipe requires simple ingredients found at your local grocery store! Find the full list of ingredients and nutrition facts at the bottom of this post.

• Nuts: Crushed cashews and pecans make the base of the crust. Nuts are packed with heart-healthy unsaturated fats, Omega-3’s and plenty of fiber! They are a delicious addition to desserts, especially vegan pie crust.
• Oats: Oats are a healthier, gluten-free option compared to plain flour. We blend the oats into oat flour which helps bind this flaky gluten-free crust together.
• Salt: A little bit of salt goes a long way – salt adds flavor and enhances sweetness.
• Vegan Butter: Since the nuts already contain plenty of healthy fat, you only need two tablespoons of vegan butter! Coconut oil can also be used.
• Medjool Dates: Dates are naturally very sweet and sticky. They work double duty, as a sweetener and a binder!
• Maple Syrup: Maple syrup is used to sweeten both the crust and the filling. It is a vegan friendly sweetener and contains antioxidants that cane sugar doesn’t.
• Cornflour: Cornflour is another name for corn starch. You can substitute arrowroot starch or one and a half tablespoons of agar agar powder too.
• Soy Milk: Any plant-based milk can be swapped for soy milk – just make sure it’s unsweetened! Coconut milk and almond milk are a couple of my favorites.
• Fresh Lemons: Fresh lemon juice makes the best vegan lemon tart! And don’t forget to zest the lemon, it adds so much bright lemon flavor.
• Coconut Cream: Not to be confused with cream of coconut. Coconut cream is similar to coconut milk but it’s much thicker with a higher fat content. It’s not sweetened! It creates a luscious lemon curd without the need for egg yolks, sour cream, or cream cheese.
• Turmeric: A pinch of turmeric gives this dessert its vibrant yellow color.

📖 Variations

Here are a few simple variations of this eggless lemon curd tart recipe!

• Toppings: Toppings are both delicious and beautiful! Fresh strawberries, coconut whipped cream, lemon slices, fresh mint, edible flowers, fresh fruit, chopped nuts, and granola are great options for a garnish.
• Vegan Lemon Meringue Tart: Top the tart with vegan meringue made from aquafaba.
• Vegan Mini Lemon Tarts: Use silicone muffin molds to make this recipe into mini tarts. Press the crust into each muffin mold and bake until golden brown. Pour the filling into each mold and refrigerate overnight. Carefully push the vegan lemon tartlets out of the molds and serve.
• Vegan Meyer Lemon Tart: Use Meyer lemons! They have a sweet, floral taste.
• No-Bake Vegan Lemon Tart: After you press the crust mixture into the tart pan, refrigerate instead of baking it. Pour the vegan lemon curd filling into the crust as directed and refrigerate until set up.

🔪 Instructions

Make Tart Crust: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Place the crust ingredients into a food processor.

Pulse until the mixture comes together, about 3 to 5 minutes. Stop and scrape down the sides with a spatula as necessary.

Press Into Tart Tin: Evenly drop the crust mixture into the tart pan and press firmly until it’s completely covered.

Trim The Edges Of The Crust & Bake Lemon Tart Shell: Bake crust until lightly golden – about 8 to 10 minutes. Carefully remove from the oven and set aside to cool.

Make Slurry: In a large bowl, combine the cornflour and soy milk to make a slurry.

Combine Filling Ingredients: Whisk the lemon zest, fresh lemon juice, maple syrup and coconut cream into the slurry mixture. If using, add turmeric now too.

Cook Creamy Filling: Pour the tart filling into a medium saucepan and whisk over medium heat until it thickens.

Pour Into Tart Base: Once the mixture thickens, carefully pour it into the pastry crust and smooth off the top.

Chill Vegan Lemon Curd Tart: Carefully place the tart in the refrigerator and let set for at least 2 hours, preferably overnight. Enjoy: Decorate the tart with your favorite toppings and serve!

❓ Recipe FAQs

💭 Expert Tips

• Make sure your heat is low enough that the curd is simmering but not boiling.
• Continuously whisk the curd over medium heat until it thickens. Do not want to walk away or let the curd come to a boil. It may take a bit longer for the curd to thicken. Be patient and continue to whisk.
• To change things up, try using Meyer lemons which are slightly sweeter than regular lemons!
• Feel free to adjust the amount of sugar in this recipe to suit your taste preferences!
• For best results, let the vegan lemon custard tart refrigerate overnight. This will give it ample time to set up for easy slicing.

🥮 More Vegan Dessert Recipes!

• Lemon Bars With Graham Cracker Crust
• Tofu Ice Cream
• Vegan Pudding
• Eggless Brownies
• Lemon Popsicles
• Vegan Ferrero Rocher
• Vegan Apple Crumble
• Vegan Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Almond Flour Cookies

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