This gluten free cherry and apple tart is simply delicious! Last weekend I had lunch with the girls and was asked to bring along a gluten free dessert. It is vegan, dairy free, lactose free, egg free and vegan too. And the only sugar is from green apples and cherries. This is super simple …

Ingredients:

1 cup raw almonds
1/2 cup shredded or desiccated coconut, sugar free
2 tblsp coconut oil
4 tblsp water

2 green apples, peeled, cored and chopped
600g fresh cherries, pips removed,
1 cup almond meal
1/2 cup coconut oil
1/3 cup coconut butter
1/4 cup water

Process:

Preheat oven to 200oC

In a blender mix the almonds, shredded coconut and coconut oil with a little water until it forms a dough.

Gently press the mixture into a 25cm flan or quiche dish so you have a base about 5mm thick.

Bake in the oven for about 10-15 minutes. Keep an eye on it – the cooking time will depend on your oven.

While the base is baking, peel, core and chop the apples into pieces. The labour of love is removing the pips from the cherries. Take a small, sharp knife and run it around to slice the cherry in half around the pip. Twist the cherry gently and one half will come away easily. Take the tip of the knife and carefully work around the pip and remove it from the other half.

Set aside about 28 cherries for the top – how many will depend on the size of your flan dish.

Put the cherries and apples into the cleaned blender with the almond meal, coconut butter, oil and water and blend to a smooth paste. You will need to work it all from the edges so it blends to a smooth, thick consistency.

Remove the base from the oven and allow to cool fully.

Gently spoon the apple and cherry mixture into the flan base and put into the fridge to allow to set. Takes about two (2) hours.

When the flan is set, delicately arrange the cherries on top of the tart.

Perfect to have a gluten free dessert, dairy free and simply wonderful to share with everyone!