Mini desserts and berry recipes are some of my favorites around. This is the best of both world! These little berry bites are simply irresistible: they have a shortbread-style coconut flour crust, filled with fluffy coconut cream, and topped with fresh berries. They're perfect for entertaining or making yourself a cute sweet treat when a craving hits.
You can use any berry, or really any fruit you love, in the center of these little tarts. The options are limitless, and they're a must try if you ask me :) let's get into it!
Why we love these berry tarts:
What you need to make mini berry tarts:
For the crust, you only need a few simple ingredients:
- Coconut Flour: this high-protein flour is super absorbent, so I wouldn't recommend substituting it for anything else!
- Coconut Oil: use refined coconut oil if you don't want these to taste overly coconutty!
- Maple Syrup: for sweetness. You can also use honey or agave nectar, but avoid replacing with a granulated sweetener since the liquid sweetener helps bind the crust.
- Salt: you always need salt!
For the filling:
- Coconut Cream: this can be bought on its own here or at Trader Joe's. If you can't find it locally, you can purchase regular full-fat coconut milk and place it in the fridge overnight. When you open the can, scrape off the thickened top layer and measure that. You should get about 1 cup of the thick coconut cream from a 14.5 oz. can.
- Maple Syrup: for added sweetness, you can increase or decrease the amount based on your taste. You can also use honey, agave, or powdered sugar here.
- Vanilla Extract: for extra flavor. Vanilla bean powder would be great here too, and would add some lovely vanilla bean flecks.
- Mixed Berries: you can use one or all of your favorite berries here!
Can I make these mini tarts ahead of time?
You can absolutely make the crust ahead of time, and you can make the cream filling ahead of time, but I recommend keeping them separate until you're ready to serve so that the crust doesn't get soggy.
When you're ready to serve, fill the mini tart crusts with the cream and berries and serve fresh!
If you want to make the crusts well ahead of time, you can make them and freeze them in an airtight container. They'll stay fresh like this for up to 5 days (they'll be fresh for longer, but they're best in this time period).