I’m kind of proud of myself tonight. After five years of making and experimenting with raw foods, I have finally made my very first high raw, vegan tart. Tartelette, to be precise. And it was worth waiting, because this rich, indulgent, chocolate creation is absolutely dreamy.

What is a tart, anyway? Let’s see:

Tart, adj.

1. agreeably sharp or acid to the taste (a tart apple)

2. marked by a biting, acrimonious, or cutting quality (a tart rejoinder)

Tart, noun

1. a dish baked in a pastry shell : pie: as a) a small pie or pastry shell without a top containing jelly, custard, or fruit, or b) a small pie made of pastry folded over a filling

2. [earlier slang, girlfriend, probably short for jam tart, rhyming slang for sweetheart]

I love all of these definitions, except for the last one—or at least its present day suggestion of promiscuity. I’ve got a special penchant for tart foods (I’m often accused of adding too much lemon to recipes), and I certainly love a good, biting rejoinder. Now that I’ve finally made my first ever tart at home, I think I can safely say that “small pie or pastry shells with a top containing jelly, custard, or fruit” is yet another meaning of the word “tart” that I love.

These tartelettes were made possible by the simple investment in a set of two mini tart shells on Amazon. Well worth it, since I’m far more likely to make and eat two smaller tartelettes on my own than polish off an entire tart before it starts to lose its freshness. The recipe makes enough for four 4-inch tartelettes or 2 6-inch tartelettes. And there will definitely be ganache leftover. Poor you

Raw desserts that go above and beyond chocomole have always intimidated me a bit. Whenever I get around to making one, though, I’m reminded of how easy it really is to create incredible raw desserts without a lot of work. I find it a lot easier than baking, and often a lot more creative and fun. For this recipe, you’ll need only some straightforward ingredients (cocoa or cacao powder, cashews, walnuts, rolled oats, vanilla, and coconut oil) as well as the patience to let the tartelettes cool in the fridge till they’re set. Good luck with that.

These guys really did come together quickly, and fabulously.

Note that, if you’re a strict raw foods eater, you can certainly use a crust of 1 1/2 cups walnuts, and no rolled oats. I like the texture that some oat flour lends, but it’s totally up to you. And if you don’t have a high speed blender, you can definitely still make the ganache in a food processor, but note that soaking the cashews is really essential! Or else you’ll have an uneven ganache. Smoothness is what you’re going for.

These tartelettes, in spite of their diminutive size, are very rich and very filling. So you’ll likely be able to split one with a friend, a family member, or even a Valentine. I dare you to show off how delicious raw and vegan desserts can be!

Wherever you are, and whatever you’re doing, I wish you a happy Valentine’s Day tomorrow. Mine will involve…studying. And some more studying. Kind of like last year. But if I play my cards right, a viewing of Manhattan may be in order as an end-of-day reward. With a generous helping of chocolate, of course.

xo

No Bake Tartelettes with Raw Vegan Chocolate Ganache Filling