This surprising Gluten Free Date Caramel Chocolate Tart is easily made and will compete with any caramel “slice”you put up against it. Plus you can make it gluten free or vegan
I made this Gluten Free Date, Caramel, Chocolate Tart especially for you. Yes you, that really can’t fathom coconut butter and no sugar and no eggs. You want gluten free and you want that caramel that everyone is talking about….you know the one that’s made of dates and cashews?. This is it.
You will be able to make this in no time at all and you don’t need anything too fancy to do it except a blender.
It is a caramel that doesn’t need any cooking over a high heat, no smoke and the possibility of burns, but you really do need a blender. Without a blender you won’t get the very creamy smooth texture of the caramel.
I started to get a little worried a while ago. The world seemed to be going nuts with vegan and gluten free cooking and I was not prepared. Would I ever learn to make cakes and slices using coconut butter, fusing without dairy and eggs and would I want to? I felt like my years of experience with baking would be wasted. Would anyone still be interested in the cakes I can make or the pastries I can cook?. I got a bit lost for a while. I really love baking. I love the science I know, I don’t have to think about it, it’s like magic. But there is a place in my life for new ingredients and techniques, and I am learning. I am not so fond of coconut butter, it’s not a flavour I like, but I have now taught myself to make caramel from dates and creamy fillings from nuts and even meringue without egg.
This is a very simple version of a slice I made a couple of months ago. This is far more basic and uses a gluten free rice cookies as the base for the tart shell. That means it is even quicker and easier, but I promise you will love it. This recipe contains dairy but please replace it with coconut butter if you want a dairy free version. This has little sugar and no eggs and you will not miss them, you will not care.
The guinea pigs that tried this caramel tart sensed it had a slightly different taste but they all loved it…..completely. Give it a try and let me know.
Gluten Free Date Caramel Chocolate Tart
Ingredients
- 200 gram rice cookies or gluten free shortbread biscuits
- 50 gram butter melted
- 250 gram raw cashews soaked overnight or boiled till soft - 10 minutes
- 400 gram dates de-seeded, fresh or dry
- 200 ml water
- 80 ml maple syrup pure
- 100 ml butter melted
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 100 gram dark chocolate chopped fine
- 100 ml cream or coconut cream
Instructions
- Oven 180 C/ 350 F
- Crush the biscuits in a food processor. Add 50 ml of melted butter and process. Add more of the butter if the crumbs look very dry ( All biscuits vary)
- Press the crumbs onto the bottom of the cake tin/ pie tin and flatten with the back of a spoon
- Pop this into the pre- heated oven and back for 12-15 minutes or until just starting to brown. Set aside to cool. Refrigerate to set.
- Put the dates with enough water to just cover (3/4 cup) and simmer till they are a nice soft purée, stirring every couple of minutes braking up, then put the dates into a blender with the cashews, maple syrup, vanilla and melted butter. Start to blend. It will be very thick so add 1/4 cup of water and blend again, scrapping down the sides. You will soon have a very smooth caramel tasting purée.
- Put the caramel mix into the shell and smooth over. Refrigerate while you make the chocolate topping
- Put the cream into a jug and heat till just under boiling. Add the chopped chocolate to the cream and stir till thick and smooth.
- Spread over the top of the tart with a palette knife till nice and smooth.
- Decorate with grated chocolate and dates. keep refrigerated.
I just discovered your blog and love the look of your recipes and your pics are fantastic!
This dish is a must try, caramel and chocolate are always winners and if you can make it healthy(ish) why not! 🙂
Thank you so much Dee.
lol it does feel like everything is going gluten-free these days. I’d happily eat a slice of this, though!
Mmm dates and caramel go well together 😀
I love every single ingredient and would love this dessert. In fact, if I close my eyes now…I can almost taste it. Almost 😉
Look out Mexici you are in for caramel Tart!
Yes, I do want this date caramel! I’m actually super into dates lately so this sounds like the perfect way to keep that celebration going.
Joanne Bruno recently posted..Tuscan Kale, Bell Pepper, Zucchini, and Tomato Pasta Salad with Basil Pesto Vinaigrette
I don’t have to eat gluten-free, but I always like trying new recipes that I can make for friends who DO have those restrictions. This sounds like a great one for that. 🙂
Krista recently posted..Medieval Medicines and Modern Spiders
It looks like you’ve embraced the new era of cooking just fine 😀 This looks delicious!
Kari @ bite-sized thoughts recently posted..Out and about in London #5: Museums, Regent’s Park, the Grand Union Canal and plenty of vegan food
Thanks Kari.
I love the look of the caramel and this is a fantastic GF dessert. My mother is GF and when she comes over for dinner I’m always looking for a GF option for her. Thanks for adding to my collection xx
Hotly Spiced recently posted..Peppers Seminyak, Bali
YUM! This looks just downright delicious! Caramel and Chocolate are the PERFECT combination! 😀
Kennedy Cole| KCole’s Creative Corner recently posted..Smoked Salmon Two Ways (Citrus Dry Rub+ Dijon Marinade)
I have to admit that when I read, “and would I want to,” I felt some affinity. I am not gluten intolerant and I have no trouble with dairy or eggs. I would make this tart because it tastes good which is how I feel about everything I cook. Does this make me bad??? 🙂
Maureen | Orgasmic Chef recently posted..The Loose Goose
I’ve made a similar slice but mine was raw-they’re so easy. The only thing I miss is having the oven on for warmth but yours uses it so I may have to try it!
Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella recently posted..Sweet Street 2015
Yep it’s a pretty popular thing to make right now, but delicious!
400 grams of dates..this is going to be a calorie bomb..but it definitely looks worth all of the calories!
Angie@Angie’s Recipes recently posted..Blueberry, Nectarine Spelt Cake with Yoghurt and Almond
Yes but if you used sugar and butter and cream it would be even more of a calorie bomb minus the fibre, Angie!