This Vegan Strawberry Lemonade Tart is a no-bake, gluten-free and paleo recipe made with loads of fresh strawberries and lemons. The scrumptious agar-thickened filling plays perfectly with the date-sweetened hazelnut crust.
This recipe makes me so happy and excited to share because it was made with SO much love. Not just by me, but in collaboration with my friend and soul-sister Meghan from the incredible website and Instagram account @nutmegandhoneybee.
If you click through to her site or Instagram, you will see that Meg is beyond talented at not just baking, but decorating. Her baked goods are truly masterpieces, whether it’s the macarons that got her a huge following on Instagram, or the stunning gluten-free and vegan cakes that she’s making more often these days. I’m constantly in awe of her creativity.
Meg and I met last year when she was living in San Diego for a few months and we instantly bonded, not just as bakers but as soul-friends. She moved away but eventually made her way back and I have been so blessed and happy to have her beautiful energy back in my life.
Every time we get together, we say “we need to have a baking day!” and folks, we finally made it happen. The results are more than I could’ve dreamed of! Having her magical decorating touch made the day so much fun and the result of our labors so much more beautiful.
Let’s get to this Vegan Strawberry Lemonade Tart!
When it came to what we should make, Meg wanted to play with agar – a vegan thickener that acts similar to gelatin that I’ve only dabbled in. So we decided to go with a Vegan Strawberry Lemonade Tart where we could thicken a fruity filling with the agar! It worked like a dream. I also have this Strawberry Lemon Tart recipe that’s made with cashews, but this one is a fresher take!
First, let’s chat crust. We kept it simple – just Medjool dates for sweetness and stickiness, hazelnuts, salt, and vanilla. The hazelnuts add a warm flavor that’s a bit unexpected with the fruity filling. I love the way it came out. If you want a more mildly flavored crust, you could absolutely use cashews or almonds instead of the hazelnuts.
For the filling, we kept it fresh and fruity for summer! I constantly have a ton of fresh strawberries in the fridge this time of year, so we blended up strawberries with fresh lemon juice and zest to serve as the filling’s flavors. Is there anything better than strawberry lemonade in the summertime?!
We also blend some tapioca flour into the fruit mixture for thickening power. Meanwhile, to activate the agar, we simmer it with a can of coconut milk. The coconut milk adds a delectable creaminess and helps cut through the some of the tart lemon flavor. Then, the blended strawberry/lemon mixture goes into the pan with the coconut milk. It’s all simmered until thick, and then poured into the crust.
We popped it in the freezer to set and it set SO FAST. Then, decorate as desired. I obviously let Meg take the lead on this part. She whipped out her bag of dried edible flowers and started piping things. Magically, it turned into the stunning beauty you see in front of you. My contribution was cutting some adorable strawberries from the strawberry plant I have growing in my backyard.
This Vegan Strawberry Lemonade Tart with Hazelnut Crust is one of my new faves for summer. I’m looking forward to trying it with all sorts of different berries! And if you didn’t notice – there’s no sweetener in this recipe besides the dates in the crust! But trust me – you won’t even notice. The fruit and crust provide all the sweetness you need.
I hope you adore this recipe as much as Meg and I enjoyed making it! If you try it, be sure to hashtag #Bakerita and tag @nutmegandhoneybee and @bakeritablog in your post so we can see your beautiful creation. Sending lots of love!
Vegan Strawberry Lemonade Tart
This Vegan Strawberry Lemonade Tart is a no-bake, gluten-free and paleo recipe made with loads of fresh strawberries and lemons. The scrumptious agar-thickened filling plays perfectly with the date-sweetened hazelnut crust. Servings 8 slices Author RachelIngredients
For the crust
- ¾ cups medjool dates pitted, soak in hot water for 10 minutes if they're not soft
- 1½ cups roasted hazelnuts cashews, pecans or almonds would also work
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
For the filling
- 4 cups chopped fresh strawberries
- ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
- Zest of 2 lemons
- 2½ tablespoons arrowroot starch
- 1 (15 ounce) can full-fat coconut milk
- 2 teaspoons agar powder
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Instructions
For the crust
- In a food processor or blender, combine all of the ingredients for the crust. Pulse for about 1 minute, or until the nuts and dates are broken up and hold together when pressed between your fingertips.
- Press the crust into the bottom and up the sides of a greased 9” tart pan with a removable bottom. Set aside while preparing the filling.
For the filling
- Add the strawberries, lemon juice, and lemon zest to a food processor or blender. Blend until fully pureed. Add in the arrowroot starch and blend again to incorporate.
In a saucepan, combine the coconut milk and agar powder. Bring to a simmer and let simmer until thickened. Add the fruit mixture and bring the mixture to a low boil. Let boil until it's thickened to the consistency of a loose pudding, stirring frequently, about 5 minutes. It should be thick and glossy.
- Remove from the heat and pour into your prepared crust.
- Place in the refrigerator or freezer to set, about an hour or two. Once firm, garnish with dried flowers, piped coconut cream, fresh berries, or whatever else your heart desires!
- Keep stored in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Recipe Notes
Recipe inspired by Bos.Kitchen!
