Vegan Mixed Berry Chia Jam Tarts

I loved Pop Tarts growing up. I was especially fond of the strawberry Pop Tarts... and no, not the frosted ones. Shocked? Well, call me a purist. I can't remember when I last had a pop tart, but the fond memories of carefully eating all of the edges off, before savoring that gooey center are fresh in my mind. Having such a delicious memory on my mind is great and all, but I'd rather have it on my taste buds. Alas, I am much more aware of what I put into my body (damn adult concsious!) so I decided to make my own, wholesome version. Alright, now before you accuse me of some kind of crime against Pop Tarts, I caved and topped them with pink frosting and sprinkles. We good? Cool.

Adapted from Minimalist Baker

• 2 cups whole wheat flour 
• 2/3 cup coconut oil (you can also use vegan butter or regular butter if not vegan)
• 2-4 Tbsp ice cold water
• 1 heaping cup frozen mixed berries
• 2 tbsp chia seed
• 1 Tbsp coconut sugar

Glaze

So, I just sort of whipped up a glaze without any real measurements. Here's what I did:

• About 1 cup powdered sugar
• A splash of unsweetened vanilla almond milk
• 1-2 tsp Karo Syrup
• A bit of red food coloring paste

Mix the powdered sugar and the milk together into a smooth paste. Add the Karo syrup and food coloring paste until you get the desired hue. The glaze should be liquid enough to easily drizzle over the top, but thick enough to stay in place and harden when cooled. 

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Prepare the mixed berry chia jam filling by placing berries in a small saucepan over low heat with 2 tbsp water. Cook for 5-8 minutes and smash with a fork once the berries are soft. Remove from heat and add chia seed and coconut sugar. Transfer to a bowl to cool.
3. To prepare crust, mix flour and salt in a large bowl, then process with coconut oil in a food processor.
4. Using a tablespoon, drizzle cold water over the mixture and pulse until it starts to form a dough. The dough should be moist enough to form into a ball, but not too sticky to roll out. Add more water if needed or more flour if it gets too wet and sticky.
5. Turn onto a floured surface, shape into a disc, and then use a rolling pin to roll into a large rectangle.I used a sheet of parchment on top to keep my rolling pin from sticking to the dough as I rolled it out.
6. Cut into equal squares or rectangles and carefully transfer each to the baking sheet. Use your fingers to press the centers down a bit to make a little "bed" for the chia jam. This will help to keep it from seeping out the sides while baking.
7. Place about 1 Tbsp of filling onto half of the squares, leaving a border to seal the edges. Then use your finger to dot water around the edges to help the squares stick together. Top the squares with their matching halves and then seal lightly with a fork.
8. Use a fork to poke holes in the top of each sealed tart, and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown.
9. Let cool completely, then top with glaze if desired. 

Happy tarting!

xoxo

Banana Bread Granola

I love baking, especially around the holidays. All of the usual festive treats are great, but sometimes I like to switch things up by baking something on the healthier side. Granola is one of my all time favorite snack foods, and it can actually be pretty good for you. Don't be fooled, though... some of those pre-packaged, store bought granola cereals are packed with sugar, and basically qualify as a dessert food. Making granola at home is a lot more wholesome and healthy, while still maintaining that dessert-like appeal! I was pleasantly surprised to find that granola is super easy to make, and only takes a few, quality ingredients. I almost always have some sweet, ripe bananas around, so I was so excited when I found this recipe for Banana Bread Granola from the magical miss Minimalist Baker (love her recipes!). Who doesn't love the smell of warm, freshly-baked banana bread? This granola will fill your entire home with the sweetness of this all-time-favorite comfort food.

Ingredients:
slightly adapted from The Minimalist Baker

3 cups old fashioned oats
1 cup of mixed nuts: I used pecans, almonds and hazelnuts
3 Tbsp coconut sugar
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/2 Tbsp cinnamon
1/2 Tbsp flax seed
1/2 Tbsp chia seed
1/4 cup coconut oil
1/3 cup honey (can sub maple if vegan)
1 tsp vanilla bean paste (extract works well too)
1 medium ripe banana, mashed (~1/2 cup)

Preheat oven to 350. Mix the oats, cinnamon, coconut sugar, salt, flaxseed/chia and nuts together in a large bowl, and toss together. In a small saucepan over low heat, warm the coconut oil, honey and vanilla until everything is melted together. Remove from heat and whisk in banana puree until combined. Pour over the dry ingredients and mix well, ensuring that the mixture is well coated.
Spread the mixture evenly onto one large or two small baking sheets (if you pile the granola onto the sheet, it won't bake evenly and may result in a chewy granola). Bake for 23-28 minutes or until golden brown. Note: For a more clumpy granola, don’t toss the granola while baking. If you prefer a more crumbly granola, stir the granola on the baking sheet halfway through baking to break up the clumps. Once the granola has browned, remove from the oven and toss just a bit to let the heat escape. Cool completely on the baking sheet before transferring to an airtight container.

Granola can be enjoyed with milk, yogurt or by the fist-fulls!

xoxo