Thursday, April 5, 2012

chia-mel tarts

Get it? Caramel + chia seeds = chia-mel! I'm proud of the cleverness. Don't judge me.
Something else I'm proud of is the fact that these aren't primarily chocolate! However, I couldn't resist and put a little cacao in the crust.


They're super tasty, and super nutritious. Think of the healthiest, most delicious granola bar - this is like that in dessert form I guess. The crust is mostly almonds and prunes, while the center is pine nuts, chia seeds, dates, maple syrup and cinnamon. Oh... and I added a little peanut butter.


I actually used my caramel recipe, using chia seeds. But instead of almond butter and tahini, I used peanut butter =} And instead of Brazil nuts I used pine nuts. Equally as delicious. I had leftover filling so I ate it with a banana for breakfast - yom. I could also eat balls of the crust... it might even be better than the filling.

Either way, make these for a healthy snack and get your dose of EFA's, fiber, protein, iron, magnesium, plus a bunch of other goodies.


Chia Caramel Tarts: makes about 3, if you can resist eating the ingredients while you're making it

Crust:
Handful each of walnuts, almonds & coconut chunks
1/3 cup prunes and/or dates
1 Tb agave/maple syrup
Dash of salt, cinnamon
1 heaping Tb cacao

Filling:
Handful Brazil nuts
2-3 Tb raw agave/maple syrup
1 t vanilla extract
7-10 dates, soaked for 30 minutes or so if you can - but don't dump the water!
3 Tb almond butter
2 Tb tahini
2-3 Tb coconut butter, melted 
1/2 t cinnamon
Pinch salt 
Water as needed (preferably the date water)
1/6 cup or so coconut flakes
2 Tb chia seeds gelled with water (see note)
Crust: pulse nuts, dates/prunes and coconut together until they become very fine pieces, stating to stick together. Add the rest of the ingredients and pulse until it forms a ball. Press into tart tins and set in the fridge while you make the filling.

Filling: process Brazil nuts into fine pieces, add all other ingredients EXCEPT coconut flakes and chia seeds. Process until it has a caramel-y consistency. You may need to add some water or more of the other ingredients. Try it. Your mind should be exploding now. If not, continue tampering until it reaches the mind-blowing stage.

NOTE: Now if ya want, add the coconut flakes and gelled chia. This basically just dilutes the sweetness and gives you more. I did this to make the filling of the b-day tart. It's up to you, depending on what you're gonna use it for. Personally, I could just eat it all straight-up.


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