By Alanna Taylor-Tobin, originally published on The Bojon Gourmet.
This tart was inspired by a few different sources: a raw pumpkin pie I tried at Cafe Gratitude many years ago, and Comfy Belly’s Raw Chocolate Cheesecake. I wanted it to look as pretty as the Marbled Pumpkin Gingersnap Tart in The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook. So I made something up, and tweaked it three times to get the flavor and texture just so. I start with a crust of pecans, almonds, coconut oil and maple syrup. A hit of salt gives the crust a crack-like addictiveness, and ginger and cinnamon add warmth. I found that toasting the nuts lightly makes the crust infinitely more flavorful. The filling begins with a cashew cream flavored with vanilla, a bit of salt, and maple syrup. Melted coconut oil, which is solid when chilled, sets the tart to a slice-able consistency.
Before adding butternut squash puree, carrot juice (to give the tart a brighter hue), and spices, I set aside some cashew cream to swirl into the top of the tart. A combination of cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and fresh ginger give the filling a classic taste which, it you’re like me, will bring on a flood of positive Thanksgiving dessert memories. I doubt that anyone would suspect this dessert of being free from dairy, gluten, eggs, and refined sugars. Thanks to modern appliances, the filling is silky smooth – light and dense at the same time, like a good cheesecake or a thick whipped cream.
A few things worth mentioning: Cafe Gratitude’s original recipe calls for raw, grated pumpkin, but I prefer to roast and puree my own butternut squash, as butternuts tend to have more consistent flavor, and the thought of eating raw squash gives me the willies. I’ve given directions on how to do this in the headnote below. If you’re not already a squash puree-maker, know that the process is simple. Most of the time is hands-off while the squash bakes and then cools, and extra puree can be refrigerated or frozen for future use.
Also, for this kind of dessert, it’s important not to over-process the filling once the coconut oil has been added, since this can cause the coconut oil to solidify into tiny, white speckles. If this happens, the dessert will still taste fine, but it will look grainy and curdled rather than silky smooth. To avoid this fate, work quickly once you’ve added the oil, and blend just enough to combine. I like to stir together the squash puree, carrot juice, and spices separately to minimize the blending time.
Kinda Raw Marbled Pumpkin Tart
(Grain-Free and Vegan)
With inspiration from the Marbled Pumpkin Gingersnap Tart in The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook, and Comfy Belly’s Raw Chocolate Cheesecake.
This recipe has several steps – making the squash puree, soaking the cashews, toasting and cooling the nuts (optional), and chilling the assembled tart for several hours – so you’ll want to begin this project a day ahead or early in the day. The tart keeps well airtight and refrigerated for three or four days, and the flavor only improves. It can also be wrapped snugly and frozen; defrost before serving.
I use homemade butternut squash puree in the filling, as the flavor is more clean and fresh than the canned stuff. To make butternut puree, cut a butternut squash in half lengthwise. Leave the seeds in (they’re easier to scrape out post-baking) and place the squash halves cut-side down on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake at 350ºF until the squash is soft and collapsing, about 45 minutes. Let cool enough to handle, scrape out the strings and seeds and discard. Scrape out the flesh, discarding the skin, and puree in a blender or food processor until silky smooth. The puree will keep in the fridge for up to several days, or it can be frozen for future uses.
I prefer the flavor of lightly toasted nuts in the crust, though if you prefer to go raw, or are short on time, you can skip this step. To toast the nuts, place the pecans and almonds on a smallish, rimmed baking sheet and toast in a 325ºF oven or toaster oven until fragrant and slightly darkened. Do make sure they’re completely cool before proceeding, lest you end up with steamy nut butter.
All ounce measurements are by weight.
Makes one 8 or 9″ tart; 8-10 servings
“Gingersnap” Crust:
1 1/2 cups (5.75 ounces/160 grams) pecan halves
3/4 cup (2.75 ounces/80 grams) sliced almonds
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
2 tablespoons (1 ounce/30 ml) maple syrup
1 tablespoon (.5 ounces/15 ml) melted extra-virgin coconut oil
Marbled Pumpkin Filling:
3/4 cups (4 ounces/115 grams) cashews, covered in cool water and soaked 4-12 hours
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons (3 ounces/90 ml) maple syrup
1/8 teaspoon fine sea salt
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons (3 ounces/90 ml) water
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons (5 ounces/150 ml) melted and warm extra-virgin coconut oil
1 cup (8 ounces/230 grams) roasted, pureed butternut squash
1/4 cup (2 ounces/60 ml) carrot juice
2 teaspoons finely grated fresh ginger
3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon cloves
Make the crust:
In the body of a blender or food processor, pulse together the pecans, almonds, ginger, cinnamon and salt until the nuts are finely ground (but not becoming nut butter). Drizzle over the maple syrup and coconut oil, then pulse just until the mixture begins to clump together.
Dump the crust mixture onto an 8- or 9-inch tart pan with a removable bottom. Use moistened fingers to press the crust squarely up the sides and into the bottom of the pan. Freeze the crust while you prepare the filling.
Make the filling:
Wipe out the blender (or food processor) body, and add the soaked and drained cashews, maple syrup, and salt. Pulse until the cashews are ground. Add the water and vanilla extract, and blend on high speed until the mixture is silky smooth, about 3 minutes, scraping down the sides of the blender as needed. With the motor running, pour in the melted coconut oil; mix just until combined. Remove 1/4 cup (60 ml) of the cashew cream and set aside for the swirl.
In a smallish bowl, stir together the squash puree, carrot juice, grated ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. Add this to the blender, and blend on low just until combined.
Assemble the tart:
Remove the crust from the freezer, and place on a platter or rimmed baking sheet for easy maneuverability.
Pour the squash mixture into the crust. Drop spoonfuls of the reserved cashew cream onto the surface of the tart. Use a toothpick or the tip of a paring knife to gently swirl the mixture; be careful not to over-swirl, or you will lose the definition of the swirls.
Chill the tart until completely set, at least 4 hours and up to a day or two. If you’re in a hurry, or if the tart is too soft to slice cleanly, place it in the freezer for a stint. (But defrost before serving.)
To serve, place the tart on a large can or an inverted ramekin. Gently east off the sides of the pan, taking care not to break the crust. Use a large, sharp chef’s knife, wiped clean between cuts, to cut the tart into wedges.
See the original post for step-by-step images.Alanna is a recovering pastry chef who loves sharing fresh, seasonal recipes from her San Francisco kitchen via her blog, The Bojon Gourmet (bojon = no job, backwards).
Obsessed with pumpkin recipes? Scroll GirlieGirlArmy’s pumpkin recipe archive here.