No-Bake Pecan Pie Tarts

Mini no-bake pecan pie tart topped with 3 pecans on a small plate.

5 from 2 votes

Serve these no-bake vegan pecan pie tarts with whipped cream for a crowd-pleasing dessert that's perfect for holidays and special occasions. No one will guess they're made with just 7 simple ingredients!

Prep Time20

Chill Time1

Total Time1 20

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Diet: Vegan

Servings:

Author: Deryn Macey

Ingredients

For the Crust

1 cup walnut pieces 125 g
¾ cup lightly packed soft pitted dates 130 g
2 tbsp coconut oil 30 g
¼ tsp kosher salt
½ tsp cinnamon

For the Filling

1 cup lightly packed pitted dates
½ cup water 120 mL
2 tbsp maple syrup 30 g
1 tbsp coconut oil 15 g
1 tbsp pure vanilla extract 15 mL
¾ cup pecan halves 90 g, plus more for topping, if desired

For Serving

coconut whipped cream or vanilla ice cream optional

Instructions

Place the dates for the filling (1 cup, 175g) in a bowl, cover with hot water and soak for approximately 15 minutes. While the dates are soaking, start preparing the crust.
Add all of the crust ingredients to a food processor and blend into a crumbly but sticky “dough” you can press together between your fingers.
Line a standard 12-piece muffin pan with paper liners then add a large heaping tablespoon of the dough to each liner. Once you’ve filled them all, divide any remaining mixture between the cups. Use your fingers or the back of a spoon to firmly press the dough into a flat layer in each cup. Place the muffin pan in the freezer while you prepare the filling.
Drain the dates, pressing them down into the bowl as you drain to help remove excess water.
Add the drained dates, water, maple syrup, coconut oil and vanilla to the food processor (no need to clean between uses) and blend until fully combined. It’s ok if there are some chunks of dates but it should be fairly smooth.
Add the pecans and pulse or blend briefly to break the pecans down into small bits and combine. There should be some texture to the filling after adding the pecans.
Add a large heaping tablespoon of the filling to each cup then divide any remaining filling between the cups. Use the back of a spoon to smooth the surface of each into a flat, even layer. If desired, place 3 pecans on top of each in a little star shape, slightly pressing them into the filling.
Place the tarts in the freezer for at least 1 hour to firm.
Remove from the freezer and let sit at room temperature for 5-7 minutes before serving topped with coconut whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

Notes

Store the tarts in a sealed container in the freezer for up to 3 months. You can enjoy them frozen but they’re best after they soften at room temperature for a few minutes. It’s suggested to keep frozen until just before serving. They can be stored in the fridge but the filling will be softer.

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