HEALTHY HOLIDAY SNACK

Celebrity Chef Sandi Morais shares her recipe for  her Vegan No-Bake Coconut Gizzada Tart

     Coconut Gizzada Tart is a traditional Jamaican pastry that I always enjoyed as a snack when I was growing up in Jamaica.  It is also known as pinch-me-round because of the pinched crust.

When I became a Vegan and also gluten-free, I could no longer enjoy my favorite baked Gizzada because the Gizzada was made with flour, butter and sugar.  I wanted to enjoy my favorite childhood snack so I decided to create a No-Bake Vegan style Coconut Gizzada Tart by substituting healthier ingredients.  I made the crust with almond, walnuts and coconut as a substitute for the flour.   I included the traditional spices such as vanilla, nutmeg and cinnamon to spice up the crust, and dates as the sweetener instead of sugar.  I made the filling for the Gizzada with coconut cream instead of butter.  I was very happy that I was able to recreate one of my favorite childhood snacks to fit into my vegan lifestyle.  This is a simple, tasty, healthy Gizzada Tart recipe that you can make and add to your holiday table.

Serves: 2

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Total Time:  30 minutes

 CRUST

1/2 cup raw unsalted almonds

1/2 cup raw unsalted walnuts

3 tablespoons unsweetened shredded coconut

1/2 cup pitted dates

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

TOPPING

4 tablespoons unsweetened shredded coconut

2 tablespoons coconut cream

1 tablespoon maple syrup

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

(Mix ingredients together in a bowl)