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Think lemon cheesecake. These are raw, gluten free, AND vegan…right up my alley!
Very recently, many of my respected food blogger comrades began mentioning Hail Merry Tarts. At the recent Food Allergy Conference, these little morsels won “Best in Show.”. I was dying to get my hands on one of these to try them out…but none of my local stores had them yet: they are relatively new to the market. So then I looked at ordering some online…but because they need to be refrigerated…the shipping was something obscene like $40! I submitted requests to both of my local natural food stores to start carrying them: I mean the way people were talking about them, I was DETERMINED to get one without going broke!
A month later (I am sure nothing to do with me), I happen to walk by the “New Products” at my local Whole Foods: and there they lay!! (This is where to cue exalting, angelic singing)
Finally, I was going to get to try one! I purchased one Chocolate Mint, and one Meyer Lemon Miracle Tart And while the chocolate mint was good, the lemon really knocked my socks off! Both of them reminded of cheesecake. Dense, decadent, and oh so good! I could find no knock-off recipes online, so I had to come up with my own here. The results are SO worth it! Creamy, dreamy, and melt-in-your mouth, you will not be disappointed! You can bet I will be working on a chocolate version next! And if you prefer lime or orange over lemon, just sub the lemon ingredients for the one you’d like! And if you like their raw chocolate macaroons, check out my knock off recipe for those!
UPDATE July 14, 2012: I have drastically changed the proportions in this recipe and left the gum out. I have learned a lot about these ingredients since I originally created this recipe and feel this recipe is new & improved!
Crust:
- 1 cup raw almonds
- 1 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
- 1/4 cup honey
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- Zest one lemon
- Optional: Vanilla Creme Stevia
to taste ( I used 5 drops)
Filling:
- 1 cup raw cashews, soaked a minimum of one hour, longer great!
- 1/2 cup coconut oil
- 1/3 cup full fat canned coconut milk or homemade thick and creamy nut milk
- 1/3 cup lemon juice
- 1/4 cup honey ( I replace half with liquid stevia equivalent)
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 1 teaspoon lemon extract (the lemon is optional, however it really heightens the lemon flavor)
- Grated zest of 1-2 lemons (essential to the lemon flavor, don’t leave out!)
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Method:
- For the crust, process almonds in the food processor until you have a meal/flour consistency.
- Add in remaining crust ingredients and pulse until well blended. You should be able to press the mixture together into a crust, add more agave/lemon juice if necessary.
- Press into greased individual tartlet pans, muffin tins, or make them into a bar using an 8 x 8 pan.
- For the filling, process all ingredients until silky smooth (multiple minutes).
- Taste and add more sweetener if you prefer, or more lemon!
- Spread into the awaiting crust, and refrigerate until set and ready to eat!! Heaven!
- If you have leftover filling like us, we sandwiched the creamy filling in between two Kinnikinnick Gluten Free Graham Crackers, Smoreables
. I called them “Ice Cream Sandwiches” for my kid’s sake. Can you imagine a chocolate version oozing amongst these…yum!!
This recipe was shared on Make Your Own Monday, Slightly Indulgent Tuesday, Tasty Tuesday, Traditional Tuesdays, Hearth & Soul, Healthy 2Day, Gluten Free Wednesday,Cast Party Wednesday, Real Food Wednesday, Whole Foods Wednesday, Frugal Days Sustainable Ways, Kids in the Kitchen, Keep It real Thursday, Simple Lives Thursday, Pennywise Platter, Home is Where the heart Is,Wellness Weekend, Freaky Friday,Full Plate Thursday, Fresh Bites Friday, Fight Back Friday, Foodie Friday, GAPS Friendly Friday, Seasonal Celebration Sundays, Sugar Free Sundays, Monday Mania, Melt in Your Mouth Monday, My Meatless Monday, Made From Scratch Monday, Allergy Friendly Friday,
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When her third child was born with severe food allergies, Tessa took to the kitchen to figure out how to feed her family well. Always up for a culinary challenge, their journey has taken many twists and turns! Lots of Paleo, and lots of top 8 free. Good food for families, that's what she's about!
This looks delicious. I love the Hail Merry Tarts! Would you please tell me where I can find guar gum?
Thanks, Whitney
Hi WHITNEY, THANKS FOR STOPPING BY! Guar gum and xanthum gum are sometimes in bulk in natural food stores, and they are also sold in little bags by the rest of the baking flours, ask a store associate if you need help finding it! They can be used interchangeably, however guar gum is cheaper! The items are also online. I pay about$6 for an 8 ounce bag of guar gum that last me months, and xanthum gum is more like $13 a bag.
I'm so excited to try this – I lOVE the Hail Merry tarts!! Thank you
Thank you for taking the time to craft this recipe and share it! I can't wait to try it. I'm curious: did you try making it using only the ingredients listed on the Hail Merry packaging? For example, instead of coconut milk, did you try using coconut butter? And have you tried it without guar gum? I wouldn't mind trying to make this with just the ingredients on the packaging. Thanks again!
I did try keeping things as close to the hail merry ingredients as possible….but had to tweak when it wasn't thick enough. I will keep trying every time I make this though! I think I might have enough practice with all these ingredients now to have a good go at it! If I do, I will update this recipe!
Please Please try the chocolate one (not the mint)!!! I have attempted it a few times and the results were very good tasting, but not quite the same as theirs. I tried to reverse engineer it so to speak using their ingredients listed on the package since I know the first ingredient listed is the biggest quantity in the recipe, and so on. My tries tasted good and not too far off, but was kind of sticky and would not come out of the container I poured it into to imitate the tart shape. Any ideas? I am DYING for a good recipe and I find none on the web so far.
Will do! I was so drawn to the lemon version, I went for it first!! I have a lot more experience with all these ingredients now, so hopefully it won;t take me too long to figure it out!
On the sticking….what did you use as a crust? Stickiness suggests too much moisture…..
It’s amazing how smooth and creamy that looks! Thanks for sharing a lemon recipe for this month’s theme.
Had my first Hail Mary tart today and googled for a knock-off. Cannot wait to try this. Thanks so much for sharing!
Hope you enjoy it Stephanie!! I have been playing around with the recipe…I have since learned loads about the ingredients and can use just the package ingredients. I will post changes soon…it leaves the guar gum out and adds coconut/or coconut butter. Slightly different ratios (and I now sweeten exclusively with stevia or a bit of honey or coconut nectar.)
This cheesecake looks absolutely fantastic! I love the thought of adding lemon to the crust!
Thanks Amanda…one can never have too much lemon in my book! One of my very favorite flavors!
Looking good. Found you via Beyond the Peel’s Keep it Real Thursday. I linked in a simple salmon pizza. Have a nice week.
Tessa, darling, when do you sleep? Seriously, you are AMAZING. I love how you’ve created this knockoff recipe and improved it more. You are the queen of Hail Merry knockoff recipes … love you for it!
xo,
Shirley
This is in old recipe Shirley…I have been quite missing from my blog this summer actually!! With all three kiddos home, life is crazy busy and there is not much time leftover for me and my passion! Fall will be here soon enough and I will have more time again! My goal is once a week for now….
I love anything lemony, and your Hail Mary Lemon Tart Knock-off sounds just delicious. I like all the lovely wholesome ingredients you have used as well.
These look wonderful. I have a nut (peanuts and tree nuts) allergy.
Is there any way to make them without all the nuts. Lemon tarts were my favorite before going gf in 2008
I haven’t tried it yet, but know that soaked raw sunflower seeds might work. My friend Danielle at Fresh 4 Five has a Meyer Lemon Cake you should check out! http://fresh4five.blogspot.com/2012/02/paleo-meyer-lemon-dreamcake.html
Thanks Adele!
Allergy free or not this sounds delicious. Thanks for sharing the recipe on foodie friday.
Hi Tessa,
You sound like you are as determined to get something right as I am and we are sure glad you are. Your new recipe for the Hail Merry Lemon Tart Knock Off looks delicious, looks like you got it right. Hope you are having a great summer week end and thank you so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday.
Come Back Soon!
Miz Helen
Thank you for your submission on Nourishing Treasures’ Make Your Own! Monday link-up.
Check back later tonight when the new link-up is running to see if you were one of the top 3 featured posts!
My daughter will love this! Thanks!
I hope YOU do too Mari!
Tessa, these sound divine! I’ve never been a big fan of lemon, but my son and husband are. So, looks like I’ll be giving this recipe a try in the near future. Thank you for sharing in our linky this week ☺
Thank you for your submission on Nourishing Treasures’ Make Your Own! Monday link-up.
Check back later today when the new link-up is running to see if you were one of the top 3 featured posts!
As a strict vegan, I don’t eat honey. Can I sub agave?
Oh sure Meghan, agave, and coconut nectar would oth be good…even maple syrup, or part liquid stevia too!
I used agave!
The agave worked in my recipe. This recipe is so easy and was truly amazing. I zested my first lemon today
I want to make this recipe but it seems that it’s missing directions. I have tried to print this and it prints even worse then how it shows on the screen. If you look at it it gives the ingredients list and how to make the crust, then it shows some pictures and starts mid sentence on how to make the filling but doesn’t actually tell you how. can you please fix this so I can make this. thank you!!!
Everything looks normal on this end Paula…I DID reformat for you, see if that helps. If not, I will copy and paste the recipe into an email for you!
I made this today!!! OH EM GEE!! Just like Hail Merry! Thank you so much for your smarts. It truly is an identical match.
Glad you loved them Shasta..only problem is having so much around now! (;