My dear friend Veronica asked me for a lemon inspired dessert recipe months ago and it has honestly taken me this long to come up with something! Lemon is definitely a wonderful flavor in desserts but because it is also sour, you generally have to add a lot of sugar to make it sweet. Fortunately, in the world of raw vegan desserts there is usually a way to make any traditional dessert idea at least a bit healthier. This recipe truly is healthy though! There is quite a bit of maple syrup but other than that, the remaining ingredients are all very healthy. I know there is only a small amount of turmeric for the coloring but turmeric, ginger, and lemon are all pain relievers and natural anti-inflammatories, and the nuts and coconut oil are healthy fats that are good for your heart and brain.
Make the crust in a food processor by combining:
3/4 cups raw almonds
1 medjool date, pitted
1 T coconut oil
Once those ingredients have been processed then add 1 T maple syrup and process it again.
You can use a 5" Spring-form Pan or I like to use silicone cupcake molds. Transfer the crust mixture to form a crust along the base and place in the freezer while you do the next step.
Make the filling in a blender by combining:
3/4 cup raw cashews (pre-soaked and strained)
5 T lemon juice (requires 2-3 lemons)
zest of one lemon
3 T maple syrup
2 T coconut oil
1 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/8 t turmeric
To soak the cashews - just cover them in a bowl or glass of water for four hours. If you forget, cover them in boiled water for 15 minutes.
Blend all ingredients until smooth and then add 1 T of chia seeds. You can just stir them in or turn the blender on for 5 seconds.
Pour this mixture into the pan over the crust and smooth out the top. Freeze for 5 hours or overnight. You can decorate with a rosemary sprig, candied ginger, or a slice of lemon for decoration. Take these out of the freezer and let thaw slightly before serving. This made 9 cupcakes.
That's it - quick, easy and no baking required. A perfect dessert recipe for a hot summer day. I hope you enjoy it, I know we did!!
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