Over the years we’ve learned to tweak our recipes so all of our guests, especially those with dietary restrictions, could enjoy them. A few years ago that might have been a daunting task. But not anymore, thanks to all the amazing products available on the market. When it comes to dairy free cooking, one of our go to products are dairy free cream cheese alternatives (like GO! Veggie). It’s not only super versatile and a perfect alternative to its dairy counterpart, but it’s also completely dairy free and vegan, gluten and preservative free.
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Vegan Chocolate Salted Caramel Tarts
- Total Time: 1 hour 20 mins
- Yield: 6 1x
Description
If you have any leftover dough and filling, use it to make fabulous chocolate filled sandwich cookies! Roll out the dough, cut out circles with a cookie cutter and bake until golden brown. Let them cool and fill with chocolate.
Ingredients
Crust
- 1 1/4 cups (300 ml) unbleached all purpose flour
- 5 tbsp coconut oil
- 3 tbsp Plain Cream Cheese Alternative
- 1 1/2 tbsp granulated sugar
- Pinch of salt
- 6 tbsp (90 ml) ice water
Caramel
- 1/4 cup (60 ml) coconut oil
- 1/4 cup (60 ml) full fat coconut milk (not beverage)
- 1/2 cup (120 ml) light brown sugar
- ⅛ tsp Himalayan Pink Salt (you can also use regular sea salt)
Chocolate filling
- 7oz (210 g) vegan chocolate chunks (about 3/4 cup)
- ⅓ cup (80 ml) full fat coconut milk (not beverage)
- 1/2 cup plus 2 tbsp (150 ml) Cream Cheese Alternative
- 2-3 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder (use 3 for a stronger cocoa taste)
- 1 tsp scotch or bourbon (optional)
Instructions
To make the crust:
- Combine flour, coconut oil, vegan cream cheese, sugar and salt in a food processor. Pulse a few times it has the consistency of coarse corn meal
- Add water and keep pulsing until it forms a dough (Note: if the crumbs don’t come together in the food processor, but they do when you pinch them with your fingers, place them on a floured surface and knead with your hands until it forms a soft dough)
- Divide the dough in 6 pieces. Roll out each piece on a floured surface into a round disk big enough to fit into a tartellette mold, about ⅛ inch thick (trim the excess if necessary). Prick the dough with a fork and refrigerate for 20 minutes
- In the meantime, preheat oven to 350F. Bake chilled dough for about 25 minutes, until golden brown. Set aside to cool
To make the caramel:
- Combine all ingredients in a medium sauce pan. Cook at medium heat for about 9-10 minutes, whisking constantly, until it thickens and turns a golden color. Set aside
To make the chocolate filling:
- Place chocolate chunks in a heat proof bowl. Bring coconut milk to a simmer and poor over chocolate, stirring constantly until it’s completely melted. Set aside to cool slightly.
- In a medium bowl, whip vegan cream cheese with an electric mixer at medium speed. Reduce speed, add cocoa powder and melted chocolate and mix until well incorporated. Fold in scotch or bourbon (if using)
To assemble the tart:
- Spoon chocolate filling onto the tarts. Pour caramel over and sprinkle with salt. Drizzle melted chocolate for decoration
- Prep Time: 45 mins
- Cook Time: 35 mins
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: Vegan
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 tart
- Calories: 490
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good substitute for the vegan cream cheese alternative?
The recipe specifically calls for a vegan cream cheese alternative, such as GO! Veggie, which is dairy-free and gluten-free. If unavailable, you could try using another brand of vegan cream cheese that matches these dietary needs. 
Can I use regular coconut milk instead of full-fat coconut milk?
The recipe requires full-fat coconut milk to achieve the desired creaminess and texture in both the caramel and chocolate filling. Using regular coconut milk may result in a thinner consistency.
How can I ensure the caramel thickens properly?
Cook the caramel ingredients over medium heat for about 9-10 minutes, whisking constantly until it thickens and turns a golden color. Consistent whisking is key to achieving the right texture.
