Oatmeal Cookie Tarts with Vanilla Bean Cream Filling

This is the first cookie I've made so far this winter and it's not even 100% a cookie! How is this possible!? I'm pretty sure next week is going to be filled with endless stacks of cookies, sugar coated counters, and an oven that's on for days.

But before I go into total cookie-bake-mode over here, I busted out something a little fancy to line your dessert table with this year. These Oatmeal Cookie Tarts with Vanilla Bean Cream Filling are pretty much all of my favorite dessert flavors + textures packed into a 2-bite treat.

Vanilla + oat lover 4 life.

This post is sponsored by Rodelle.

The other day, I tried making no-bake pecan tart crusts in a mini muffin pan. Total fail. They may look okay in this photo but they were pretty much a hot mess. After 10 minutes sitting out at room temp they would turn crumbly in your hand. The dough was also difficult to work with and it ended up being too soft paired with the vanilla cream filling. I'm sure I could have tested the pecan dough 17 more times to get it right, but I had another idea in mind.

Oatmeal cookie tart shells!

I remembered my vegan deep dish oatmeal cookie recipe from a few years ago and thought it might be the perfect dough to make a tart shell from. It's a little bit chewy, very sturdy, and doesn't have an overpowering flavor. I really wanted the vanilla cream filling to shine, so this oatmeal cookie crust is the perfect little nest to house that insanely delicious filling. I made a few tweaks, pressed the dough into the pan, and triple crossed my fingers while they were in the oven.

I had a mild panic attack when I pulled them out of the oven because they puffed all the way up to the top of the pan! However, this was quickly remedied with the back of a small spoon and 30 seconds of my time. Phew.

The filling was also a bit trickier than I anticipated. I didn't want to go fully cashew-based and coconut cream wasn't the direction I wanted to go in, either. The answer? A mix of silken tofu and cashews and loads of vanilla beans. 

I used to be freaked out about using tofu in desserts. It definitely seems a little hippy-dip, out there. But once you see how easy this cream filling is to make and get your first taste, I can guarantee you'll be on board.

Just make sure you're using the silken (and firm) variety!

Creamy vanilla.

Chewy oatmeal cookie.

Sweet, juicy raspberry.

Kissed with chocolate shavings on top.

Oy.

You'll probably have a little cream filling leftover after filling the shells, but I promise you won't mind. Spoon to face.

Print Recipe!

tart shells adapted from my vegan deep dish cookie // cream filling adapted from Kathy

Oatmeal Cookie Tarts with Vanilla Bean Cream Filling 

gluten-free, vegan // yields: 24 mini tarts

for the vanilla bean cream:

• 3/4 cup raw cashews, soaked (at least 4hrs) + drained
• 3/4 cup packed silken-firm tofu
• 6 tablespoons pure maple syrup (room temp)
• 1 1/2 vanilla bean pods, seeds scraped
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon almond extract
• 3 tablespoons melted unrefined coconut oil

for the tart shells:

• 1 1/2 cups gluten-free rolled oats
• 1/2 cup gluten-free oat flour
• 1/2 cup almond meal
• 1/3 cup muscovado sugar (or coconut sugar)
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/3 cup softened unrefined coconut oil (not melted)
• 1/4 cup pure maple syrup (room temp)
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• toppings: 24 raspberries, dark chocolate shavings

Place cashews, tofu, maple syrup, vanilla beans (scraped from pods), salt, cinnamon, and almond extract into your blender. Blend, working up to high power until creamy and smooth (30-60 seconds). Add the melted coconut oil and blend again until fully smooth. Pour into a sealable container and refrigerate until fully chilled and thickened (at least 4 hours).

Preheat your oven to 350° F. Grease a 24-mold mini muffin pan with softened coconut oil.

Place oats, flour, meal, sugar, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt in a large mixing bowl and stir to combine. Add the softened coconut oil, syrup, and vanilla. Start to combine with a large fork then use your hands to finish mixing the dough, making sure the coconut oil is evenly dispersed. The dough should be stiff and hold together well when pressed. 

Place just over 1 tablespoon of packed dough into each muffin cup. Press dough down to form the base and then work up the sides to create a thick edge all the way around (refer to photo 2). I used my thumb and pointer finger for this.

Bake for 8-11 minutes, until light golden brown (8 minutes for a chewier shell, 11 minutes for a crispier texture). Remove from the oven and gently press the center of each tart shell with the back of a small spoon while hot (I used the back of a rounded, 1 teaspoon measuring spoon). You want about a 3/4-inch deep pocket with 1/4-inch edge all the way around.

Allow to cool in the pan for 30 minutes, then gently press down on an edge to loosen and pop each tart shell out. Use a thin knife if needed. (Mine popped out very easily.) Fill the cups once fully cool. Top with a raspberry (patted dry after rinsing) and chocolate shavings and serve immediately. 

Notes:

You can make the cream filling 24 hours ahead. The cookie shells can also be made 1 day ahead. Keep covered after fully cooled. Fill tarts just before serving for the best taste. Refrigerate leftovers (they do hold up well overnight in the fridge).

The coconut oil adds a mild, coconut flavor. If you despise any coconut flavor at all, simply use refined coconut oil in it's place. Do not sub with any other other type of oil or butter.

Be sure to use firm-silken tofu for the creamiest texture. This type of tofu is found in the ethnic aisle of your store and is not refrigerated. It comes in a small cardboard box. 

To quick soak the cashews: Cover with water in a small pot then bring to a boil. Remove from heat and cover in the pot for 1 hour. Drain and rinse cashes with cold water.

I used Rodelle Madagascar Vanilla Beans and their organic Bourbon Pure Vanilla Extract in this recipe. 

Happy Friday, friends. I so hope you're enjoy this season!

Much love,

Ashley

Today's post is sponsored by Rodelle. Product opinions are always my own. If I didn't love it, you wouldn't hear about it. Thank you for your continued support over the years! It is truly appreciated.

Vegan Chocolate Mousse

I'm thinking we need to start off the week with something sweet. And I'm thinking this vegan chocolate mousse is just the thing. It's a simple dessert with five main ingredients and little risk for disaster. No oven necessary, just your blender and fridge. I promise you can make this happen! 

A few weeks ago, the hardworking + generous staff at Fair Trade USA contacted me about a campaign they were working on and asked if I'd like to help spread the word. Of course! It's called, Moms Make A World of Difference. With Mother's Day just around the corner they thought it was the perfect time to honor and celebrate all of the moms out there and also bring awareness to the women working in agriculture in developing countries.

By choosing Fair Trade products you help support these hardworking women, their families, and communities. Did you know 50% of the world's food is produced by women, but women only own 2% of the land (source)? Fair Trade gives workers opportunities for things like education, microloans, maternity leave, fair pay, safe working conditions, and more. By purchasing Fair Trade you're not only getting a quality product, but most importantly, you're helping families and communities in developing countries thrive.

Today I wanted to share a little snippet of Maria's story. Not only is she a hardworking mom who strives to improve the life of her family, but she is also committed to helping her community grow as well.

Maria Quishpe, 31, from Saquisili, harvests Fair Trade certified roses. Maria, who has been working at Agrocoex since 2003, is a mom of a 2 year old toddler and the president of the Fair Trade prize committee. Currently on her third term as president, she has been on the committee for five years. Maria, who finished her High School equivalent degree through a Fair Trade holarship for adult employees, states: "Our main focus right now is the housing project for 200 families [of Agrocoex employees] in Latacunga. I ask that you please continue to buy our flowers, as each rose represents a step towards our collective dream of improved housing. Each rose is gathered with lots of love. I want to end my presidency with the housing dream as a reality." The housing project consists of a track housing development on the outskirts of Latacunga city where Agrocoex employees will have favorable credits and other benefits in order to become homeowners. Many state that living in Latacunga will provide better health, education and income possibilities for their loved ones - children and spouses.

In honor of Moms Make a World of Difference, I've created this vegan chocolate mousse with a handful of my favorite Fair Trade certified ingredients. And today you have the chance to win everything you see below! This is thanks to the lovely people at Fair Trade and the extremely hard workers around the world who strive to bring you the highest quality Fair Trade products possible.

For this mousse recipe I utilized the Lake Champlain drinking chocolates (they melted wondefully and are vegan!), Nutiva organic coconut oil, and the Wholesome Sweeteners organic blue agave. I don't use agave too frequently, but I must say the caramel flavor of this variety was outstanding. 

Now, onto the mousse.

This velvety smooth, chocolate mousse is made possible by just a few ingredients:

• silken tofu
• coconut oil
• coconut cream
• melted chocolate
• agave nectar

Once everything is blended together you're left with a lightly sweetened, chocolaty dream of a dessert. It needs a few hours in the fridge to fully chill and firm and then you can dive on in. As it firms in the fridge, the texture also lightens. It really has a true mousse-like texture. It's the coconut whipped cream that adds lightness and also helps to firm the ingredients together, along with the coconut oil.

The coconut flavor is subtle and adds an extra layer of richness. You can definitely play around with adding more melted chocolate or more or less agave. It just depends on your taste buds. 

I originally tried adding a small amount of coconut flour (you'll notice in the ingredient photo) to the mix for added coconut flavor, but the flour also added a slight gritty texture that was not so pleasant for mousse. But without it, we were golden.

Print Recipe!

Vegan Chocolate Mousse

gluten-free, vegan // yields: 4, 1/2-cup servings

• 6 - 8 tablespoons vegan semi-sweet/dark chocolate chips (I used 54% cocoa - standard size chips)
• 1, 13.5oz can full fat coconut milk, refrigerated overnight
• 2-4 tablespoons agave nectar, divided (or coconut syrup)
• 1, 12oz block firm silken tofu
• 3 tablespoons softened unrefined coconut oil
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• pinch of fine grain sea salt
• toasted flaked coconut

Melt the chocolate using a double-boiler over low heat or in 30-second increments in your microwave, stirring after each. Set aside to cool for 10-15 minutes (not in the fridge).

Open your fully chilled can of coconut milk. Scoop out only the solid coconut cream from the top of the can and place it in a mixing bowl. Add 1 tablespoon agave and beat until smooth with soft peaks, about 1 minute (yields appx. 3/4 cup). Transfer to a bowl and place in the fridge.

Place tofu, coconut oil, melted + cooled chocolate, 1 tablespoon agave, vanilla, and salt in your blender. Blend working to high speed until fully smooth. Scrape the sides as needed. Taste and add more melted chocolate and/or agave if desired. Transfer to a medium-sized bowl and refrigerate for about 30 minutes.

Add a 1/2 cup of the coconut cream to the chocolate mixture and fold together until combined. Cover and refrigerate remaining coconut cream. Portion mousse into 4 dessert cups with plastic wrap draped lightly on the surface of the mousse. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours and serve with a dollop of coconut cream and toasted coconut. Will keep in the fridge for about 3 days.

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Notes:

• Be certain you buy "silken" tofu that typically comes in a cardboard container and is not refrigerated. Also look that the box says "firm." If there is only extra-firm that should also work. If you can only find soft, the pudding my not firm up as much. Adding a bit more whipped coconut cream and 1-2 tablespoons more coconut oil should help.
• This can be made one day ahead. Cover the mousse and refrigerate, waiting to portion into cups until before serving. Give the mousse a quick whip with a whisk, portion into cups, top if desired and serve.
• If you want a thick layer of coconut whipped cream over the mousse, refrigerate 2 cans of full fat coconut milk and whip the coconut cream from both cans with 2 tablespoons agave. Use 1/2 cup in the mousse mixture and reserve the rest for topping.
• Feel free to sub honey instead of agave if not vegan.
• The higher the cocoa content of your chocolate, the richer and less sweet this dessert will be. Add agave in small increments until it's to your liking.

GIVEAWAY:

To enter: Leave a comment below about your favorite Fair Trade products or anything to do with Mother's Day (something about your mom, maybe your brunch menu, etc.)

Giveaway details: 1 winner will receive all of the Fair Trade certified items you see a few photos up. Giveaway ends Friday, May 8th at 5pm EST.

Good luck!!

Ashley

A big thank you to Fair Trade USA and all of the wonderful companies who participated in this campaign. 

| just love coffee roasters | whole foods market | barkthins | lake champlain chocolates | | wholesome! | traditional medicinals | nutiva | numi organic tea | unreal | eco lips |
| arrowhead mills | vosges haut-chocolat | simple truth | near east | cascadian farm | prana |

This giveaway was sponsored by Fair Trade USA and the companies mentioned above. I was not compensated for this post.