Vegan Fruit Tart

A beautiful, light and creamy, no-bake vegan fruit tart that will put you in a summer mindset without the hassle of baking a pie. It's sweet, but not too sweet. With the addition of almond extract, it has a slight almond flavor that is a lovely complement to the fresh fruit.

This beauty is a lighter, healthier (and easier) version of a classic French tart. It happens to be dairy-free, gluten-free, and it doesn't require any baking!

My vegan fruit tart uses simple ingredients, makes a beautifully stunning presentation, and is easily customizable (use your favorite fresh fruit)!

Making pies can be a bit of a pain, so this is a great alternative for a summery vegan tart without the hassle of making pie crust and turning on the oven. Just refrigerate until ready to serve!

For more vegan dessert recipes, try my blueberry cobbler, peach crisp, and peanut butter pie!

Jump to:

• ⭐ Why This Fruit Tart is the Best
• 🍓 Ingredient Notes
• 📝 Tart Variations & Substitutions
• 🔪 How To Make Vegan Fruit Tart
• 👩🏼‍🍳 Expert Tips
• 💬 Frequently Asked Questions
• 🥧 More Vegan Desserts
• Vegan Fruit Tart Recipe

⭐ Why This Fruit Tart is the Best

• Chewy crust with a thick and creamy vanilla custard filling, and topped with fresh berries
• Simple vegan tart recipe that's no-bake and easy enough for beginners
• Makes a beautiful presentation for a special occasion or in the heat of summer
• Healthy dairy free tart that's gluten free, protein-rich, contains healthy fats, and is low in carbs
• Customizable vegan berry tart with variations for your favorite fruit or individual mini tarts
• Make in advance instructions provided

🍓 Ingredient Notes

• Whole medjool dates - They provide natural sweetness to our crust and overall tart, like in my avocado chocolate mousse. I recommend soaking your dates in warm water (try to use pitted if possible) for around 10 minute to soften them up before using.
• Toasted almonds - Gives a nutty crunch to our crust and adds protein and healthy fats. Using toasted almonds (rather than raw) gives the crust a deeper, richer flavor. If you use salted almonds, you don't need to add additional salt here.
• Cornstarch - This helps to thicken our pastry cream/custard filling
• Almond extract - I love the flavor of almond extract, especially when making desserts with almonds. This adds just a hint of almond flavor, but you can leave it out if you prefer.
• Strawberries - If you have strawberries to spare, try my strawberry cornmeal cake.
• Apricot jam (optional) - We use apricot jam to cover our fruit and give it a beautiful polished look (and prevent browning). However, if you plan on serving your tart immediately, this step isn't necessary.

📝 Tart Variations & Substitutions

• Plant-based milk. You can substitute another dairy-free milk (soy milk, oat milk, coconut milk etc.) for similar results.
• Make individual tarts using mini-tart pans. This recipe should make 8 mini-tarts.
• Fresh fruit. Use any fruit that's in season.

🔪 How To Make Vegan Fruit Tart

(See recipe card below for printable instructions)

Make the Crust:

In a food processor, pulse the almonds, dates, and salt (if using unsalted nuts) until coarsely chopped. Add water 1 tablespoon at a time until the dough just comes together.

Press the dough into a 9-inch tart pan, pressing the mixture all the way up the sides of the pan. Chill the crust until firm, at least 30 minutes.

Make the Vegan Pastry Cream/Custard:

Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine 2 tablespoons of almond milk, cornstarch, and sugar. Mix until well incorporated.

In a medium saucepan, gently heat 2 cups of almond milk, vanilla extract, and almond extract. Bring just to a boil and remove from heat.

Pour in the cornstarch slurry and whisk vigorously.

Return to the stovetop and continue to cook over medium-low heat for 7-10 minutes, until mixture starts to thicken and bubbles form. Whisk in vegan butter until completely melted.

Set aside to cool for 15 minutes, whisking occasionally. The mixture will continue to thicken as it sets up.

Assemble Vegan Fruit Tart:

Pour pastry cream onto chilled crust and spread evenly using the back of a spoon or rubber spatula.

Arrange sliced fruit in desired pattern on top of pastry cream. If using apricot jam, use a pastry brush to lightly brush on top of fruit. Serve cold.

👩🏼‍🍳 Expert Tips

• Make in advance instructions: Make the filling and crust up to 2 days in advance. Store them separately (covered) in the refrigerator until ready to use.
• How to store: Store covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
• Freeze the crust. I don't recommend freezing this tart simply because the texture of the pastry cream will get a bit wonky when thawed. However, you could freeze the date-nut crust and use it a later date. It can be stored in the freezer for up to 2 months. To thaw, place in the fridge overnight.
• Keep an eye on your pastry cream/custard mixture. It will start to thicken fairly quickly and you want to whisk it continuously while cooking.
• Use fresh fruit. I don't recommend using frozen fruit for this vegan fruit tart recipe due to the high water content.
• Brush fruit with a thin layer of apricot jam to preserve their bright colors and give them a beautiful glossy finish. It helps to thin it out with a small amount of water before using.

💬 Frequently Asked Questions

🥧 More Vegan Desserts

Tried this recipe? Please leave a star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page. You can also stay in touch with me through social media by following me on Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok, and Facebook.

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