Healthy Key Lime Tarts

These delicious and healthy key lime tarts are no-bake, vegan, gluten free, dairy free and perfect for spring or summertime. Made with cashews, dates, lime and zest, they are wonderfully fresh and delightful tasting! 

Healthy Key Lime Tarts via Nutrition in the Kitch

Healthy Key Lime Tarts

 

Hello August! I made these Key Lime Tarts years ago on the blog (in the middle of winter… which is kind of odd) and because the recipe has been so popular, I knew it was time for a recipe revamp, and what better a time than August long weekend.

These tarts are rich, creamy, tangy, dairy and gluten free, and they most definitely will satisfy a hankering for something sweet and cool in the hot weather. The lime flavor comes through just enough to give them a citrus hint which goes wonderfully with the richness from a few other healthy ingredients.

Healthy Key Lime Tarts via Nutrition in the Kitch

Just how are these “rich & creamy” tarts “dairy free”? Avocados and cashews!

Both avocado and cashews are perfect fats to make a creamy dessert as the taste from both is pretty much undetectable, the dynamic duo simply lends to the luscious, silky, texture of the top limey layer in these tasty tarts.The avocados also help to give the tarts their beautiful green shade, and not to mention the healthy omega fatty acids that avocados are known so well for.

Healthy Key Lime Tarts via Nutrition in the Kitch

With all of the healthy fats coming from the avocados and cashews, and the vitamin C rich limes, this really is a “beautifying dessert”. For the crust I used dates, coconut, and walnuts crust which lends protein, fiber, omega fatty acids, and many vitamins and minerals to this seemingly indulgent treat and for natural sweetness I used raw unpasteurized honey. (Strict vegans, you can easily swap out the honey for coconut nectar or agave nectar.)

When it comes to the lime… well, I have a confession to make. In the revamping of this recipe I actually used regular lime because I literally could NOT find any key limes in any of my local grocery stores. The joys of living in the prairies.

Healthy Key Lime Tarts via Nutrition in the Kitch

The good thing was that these tarts tasted just as amazing as the original recipe using regular lime instead, so I’m confident to say that when you are making these tarts you can use either regular lime or key lime.

In the original post I also used sliced kiwi as a garnish and I just love the look of the green kiwi on top of the pretty little green tart, so when I created them to rephotograph I decided to stick with the kiwi and then top the other half of the batch in a very thin slice of lime.

Healthy Key Lime Tarts via Nutrition in the Kitch

I hope you’ve enjoyed this simple recipe revamp and the new and updated recipe photos. I always have a chuckle going back to posts I created when I first started the blog to see my photography back then. While I also sometimes cringe, seeing the progress I’ve made over the years is really encouraging!

4.8 from 4 reviews
Key Lime Tarts (Dairy & Gluten Free)
 
Store in the fridge or freezer.
Serves: 12
Ingredients
  • Crust:
  • 1 cup unsweetened coconut, shredded
  • 1 cup walnuts
  • ½ cup pitted dates (soaked in warm water for 30 minutes)
  • Filling:
  • 2 firm and ripe avocados (not over-ripe)
  • ½ cup soaked raw cashews (soak for at least 6 hours in water, then drain)
  • ¼ cup fresh lime or key lime juice
  • 1 teaspoon lime or key lime zest
  • ¼ cup raw honey or agave nectar (for vegan)
  • Garnish:
  • 12 thin slices of kiwi or 12 very thin slices of lime or key lime
Instructions
  1. Soak the cashews ahead of time, drain and set aside.
  2. Grease a 12-muffin tin, set aside.
  3. Place the coconut and walnuts in a food processor. Blend until coarsely ground. Add the dates and process until the mixture begins to stick together. Press about 1½ tablespoons of the mixture into the bottom of each cup, about ¼ full.
  4. Process all of the filling ingredients in a food processor until smooth. Pour 1 heaping tablespoon of the filling into each muffin cup. Smooth the top.
  5. Garnish with a fresh slice of kiwi or a very thin slice of lime.
  6. Freeze for 60 minutes to set.
  7. Enjoy!
Notes
Store in the freezer. When ready to serve, thaw for 10-15 minutes then enjoy immediately!
Nutritional Information
Serving size: 1 tart Calories: 192 kcal Saturated fat: 3.3g Unsaturated fat: 9.9g Carbohydrates: 17.3g Sugar: 11.4g Fiber: 4.6g Protein: 2.4g

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Try this healthy and gluten free vegan / plant based key lime mini tarts recipe that is easy to make, no-bake, with a healthy naturally sweet filling, and perfect for a spring or summer brunch, or mother's day!

Christal // NITK

Author: Christal Sczebel

Christal is the creator of Nutrition in the Kitch. She's a Certified Nutritional Consultant, twice published author, gluten and dairy free recipe developer, food photographer, speaker, wife, and mama. Christal loves good food, all things wellness, and loves to travel. Her wellness philosophy is centred around balance and sustainable health, life's way too short for boring diets and restriction!

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