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    Home » Desserts

    Vegan lemon tart

    Published: May 8, 2021 · by Nico

    Jump to Recipe

    This vegan lemon tart is a popular recipe that everyone will love. It's sweet, refreshing, and made with really simple ingredients that you already have in your pantry. You can make it with a soft crust or crunchy crust. We'll show you both.

    It's nut-free, egg-free, dairy-free and suitable for people that follow a vegan lifestyle. You can serve it as a dessert after any meal, but also as an afternoon snack with tea or coffee.

    Vegan lemon tart with crunchy crust
    Vegan lemon tart with crunchy crust
    On this page:
    • Ingredients & Substitutions
    • Equipment
    • How to make a vegan lemon tart
    • Tips
    • Frequently asked questions
    • Which one should I make?
    • Storage
    • Variations
    • Recipe

    What to expect: clear lemon flavour and aroma, both in the crust and in the filling. You can make the crust soft or crunchy, just by tweaking the cooking method. We will show you how to do that.

    The base of this lemon tart is a vegan pie crust packed with lemon flavour. The crust is filled with a delicious dairy-free and egg-free lemon custard. The double lemon flavour in both the pie crust and the custard make this tart irresistible.

    vegan lemon tart with soft crust
    vegan lemon tart with soft crust

    As you can see from the pictures, we made two vegan lemon tarts: one with a crunchy crust (Nico's favourite) and one with a soft crust (Louise's favourite). The ingredients are exactly the same.

    The only thing that changes is the procedure. We'll show you both ways down below. But in any case, they are both delicious.

    Ingredients & Substitutions

    For the crust

    • Flour: we tested all-purpose flour, bread flour, first-clear flour, and whole-wheat flour. They all work great!
    • Sugar: we used white sugar. You can replace it with brown sugar, coconut sugar, or any other sugar, but for a crunchier crust stick to white sugar.
    • Water: plain tap water is best.
    • Oil: we use sunflower oil. You can replace it with any other vegetable oil that has a mild flavour. Refined oils are best for this tart as they have no flavour. I do not recommend coconut oil or olive oil.
    • Lemon: the zest of 2 medium lemons. This will give a delicious lemon aroma to the pie crust.
    • Baking Powder: we use it to make the pie crust lighter and more friable.
    slice of lemon tart on a table with lemons
    this one is with soft crust

    For the lemon custard

    • Plant milk: we use unsweetened organic soy milk. You can use any plant milk of your choice, such as oat milk, almond milk, rice milk, pea milk, etc. You can also use coconut milk, but then your custard will taste like coconut.
    • Sugar: we use white sugar. You can use any sugar you like.
    • Cornstarch: this is used to thicken the custard, instead of the eggs.
    • Lemon: we use both the juice and the peel of 2 lemons.

    Equipment

    • Pie dish: best if with removable bottom. We used one that is 10 inches (26 cm). Any between 9 and 10 inches will work.
    • Zester or grater: for the lemon zest.
    • Rolling pin.
    • Whisk.
    • Sieve.

    How to make a vegan lemon tart

    For the lemon custard

    In a sauce pan off the heat, add strained lemon juice, soy milk, sugar and cornstarch. Whisk until there are no lumps. 

    Now add the lemon peel (not the grated zest) and simmer while whisking over medium heat until thick and smooth.

    Remove the lemon peel and set aside to cool while you prepare the crust. Stir occasionally to avoid lumps. If you want, add a pinch of turmeric to give it a yellow colour.

    vegan custard just made

    For the crust

    Preheat the oven to 360F or 180C. In a bowl, add sugar, water, oil, lemon zest and mix with a spatula. Sift in the flour and baking powder all at once , then with the same spatula mix all the ingredients until they almost come together.

    sifting flour and baking powder into a bowl

    Transfer the dough to a worktop and knead with your hands for max 1 minute, just long enough to bring everything together into a smooth ball. Do not knead too much.

    Add a little flour if the dough seems too sticky. Sprinkle the worktop with flour, then with a rolling pin roll out ¾ of the dough into a 4 mm thin disk.

    rolling the vegan shortcrust pastry

    Oil the pie dish, then dust it with flour, then transfer the dough into it and fit it snuggly pushing with your fingers. Cut off the excess dough and poke holes in the bottom and sides with a fork.

    transferring the pastry into the pie dish
    transferring the pastry into the pie dish

    To make a soft-crust lemon tart

    Fill the crust with the lemon custard and spread evenly with a spoon.

    spreading the lemon custard in the pie

    Roll out the leftover dough thinly, then with a knife cut 9 strips and place them on top of the tart. 5 in one direction, the other 4 in the opposite direction. Brush the strips with vegetable milk.

    making a laced top
    making a laced top

    Bake at 360F or 180C for 40-45 minutes. We baked ours for 43 minutes, but baking time may vary depending on your oven and the thickness of the crust. Let cool completely for 2 to 3 hours before serving.

    vegan lemon tart with soft crust just baked

    To make a crunchy-crust lemon tart

    Bake the crust, without filling, at 360F or 180C for 15-20 minutes. The exact time depends on how thick it is and your oven. It should be lightly browned.

    empty crust just baked

    While the base is baking, roll out the remaining dough very thin, then with a small mold make little cookies with your favorite shape (we used stars) and place them on a baking tray lined with parchment paper. 

    Once the base is cooked, remove it from the oven and set aside to cool for 20 minutes. Meanwhile, bake the cookies at 360F or 180C for about 8 minutes, until golden on top.

    star shaped cookies for the top of the tart

    Just before serving, fill the base with the lemon custard. Place the cookies on top of the custard and there you have it. A delicious and crunchy vegan lemon tart to serve as a dessert or snack with tea and coffee. You can dust with powdered sugar if you like.

    Please note that the crunchy-crust lemon tart will stay crunchy only for about 1 day. So not ideal to prep in advance. You can however, prep all the elements in advance, and then build the tart last minute.

    vegan lemon tart with crunchy crust

    Tips

    • If you are making the vegan lemon tart with soft crust we recommend letting the tart cool down completely before eating it. The flavour will be richer and more intense.
    • If you are making the crunchy lemon tart, you might have some leftover dough. You can use that to make delicious extra cookies.
    • If your lemon custard gets lumpy after it cooled down, then beat it really fast with a whisk and the lumps will disappear.
    vegan lemon tart with crunchy crust
    vegan lemon tart with crunchy crust

    Frequently asked questions

    Can I use a different flour for the pie pastry?

    Yes! We tried this with all purpose, bread flour, whole-wheat flour, spelt flour, oat flour, and even first-clear flour. Our vegan pie pastry recipe works with most flours and our favourite is first-clear flour.

    Can I use a different milk for the lemon custard?

    Yes! You can use any plant milk of your choice. You can use even coconut milk or coconut cream for a super rich lemon custard. Check out our guide to vegan custards to learn more.

    Why is my tart soft?

    This tart is actually quite soft on the bottom due to the high moisture content in the custard. This is ok, it's supposed to be like that.

    If you don't like it soft, and would like it crunchy, then follow the steps to make our crunchy lemon tart in the recipe box.

    Which one should I make?

    It really depends on your preference. The only thing to keep in mind is, the crunchy crust will only stay crunchy for about a day, before it starts absorbing moisture from the air and from the lemon custard.

    So, if you want crunchy crust, my advice is to make the base, the custard and the cookies on top in advance, but then to build the lemon tart just before serving it. It only takes 2 minutes to build and it will taste so delicious.

    To make the soft crust lemon tart, you should cook the tart with the custard in. The lemon tart with soft crust is easier to store for a couple of days.

    Storage

    Store our vegan lemon tart on a plate, covered, in a dry corner of your kitchen. You can keep it out for 2 to 3 days. To store it for longer, put it in the refrigerator, covered.

    The flavour of the tart gets better the day after, but the crust will get softer if you store it in the refrigerator. This is true for both the soft and the crunchy lemon pie. We do not recommend freezing this dish.

    Variations

    Ricotta and chocolate chips pie

    Vegan ricotta pie is an easy recipe made with a few simple ingredients. We make a sweet vegan shortcrust pastry as the base for the pie. We then fill it with a creamy, sweet, aromatic ricotta cream, mixed with dark chocolate chips and orange zest.

    vegan ricotta pie
    vegan ricotta pie

    Strawberry tart

    An eye-catching dessert that will wow your friends and family thanks to its popping colour and flavour. Our tart is made with a crunchy shortcrust pastry base, filled with a smooth and creamy vanilla custard, and topped with sweet fresh strawberries.

    vegan strawberry tart with custard
    vegan strawberry tart with custard

    Mini apple tarts

    The perfect treat for a mid morning snack, or for a cosy tea-break in the afternoon. They are pretty, crunchy, filled with fresh apples and raisins, and made with a delicious vegan shortcrust pastry that is super easy to make, and even easier to eat!

    mini apple tarts
    mini apple tarts

    Easy crostata

    Learn how to make an authentic crostata (jam tart), an authentic Italian dessert and breakfast idea. Fill it with your favorite jam, custard or berries and enjoy a crusty slice of Italian tart in the comfort of your own kitchen.

    Crostata with slice on a white plate

    Fruit tart with custard

    This beautiful and delicious fruit tart with lemon custard is a classic Italian pastry recipe that everyone loves. It's egg-free, dairy-free, and made with whole grain flour and plenty of fresh seasonal fruit.

    fruit tart with custard
    fruit tart with custard

    Recipe

    crostata al limone vegan

    Vegan Lemon Tart

    Author: Nico
    This vegan lemon tart is a popular Italian recipe that everyone will love. It's sweet, refreshing, and made with really simple ingredients that you already have in your pantry. You can make it with a soft crust or crunchy crust. We'll show you both.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Share Recipe
    4.75 from 20 votes
    Prep Time 20 mins
    Cook Time 43 mins
    Total Time 1 hr 3 mins
    Course Dessert, Snack
    Cuisine Italian
    Servings 12 people
    Calories 287 kcal

    Equipment

    • Pie dish 9 to 10 inches (24 to 26cm) easiest if with removable base.
    • Rolling pin
    • Zester or grater
    • Whisk

    Ingredients
     
     

    For the shortcrust pastry

    • 350 g flour + 1 tablespoon for kneading and rolling
    • 100 g sugar
    • 70 g water
    • 70 g vegetable oil
    • 8 g baking powder
    • 2 medium lemons the grated zest

    For the lemon custard

    • 600 g plant milk
    • 120 g sugar
    • 80 g lemon juice + the peel of 1 lemon
    • 70 g cornstarch
    • 1 pinch turmeric (optional for the yellow colour)

    Instructions
     

    LEMON CUSTARD

    • In a saucepan, off the heat, add the strained lemon juice, soy milk, sugar and cornstarch. Whisk until there are no lumps.
      Add the lemon peel (not the grated zest) and simmer while whisking over medium heat until thick and smooth. Remove the lemon peel and set aside to cool while you prepare the crust. Stir occasionally to avoid lumps. Add a pinch of turmeric to give it a yellow colour.
      vegan custard just made

    SHORTCRUST PASTRY

    • Preheat the oven to 360F or 180C. In a bowl, add the sugar, water, oil, lemon zest and mix with a spatula. Sift in the flour and baking powder all at once , then with the same spatula mix all the ingredients until they almost come together.
      sifting flour and baking powder into a bowl
    • Transfer the dough to a worktop and knead with your hands for max 1 minute, just long enough to bring everything together into a smooth ball. Do not knead too much. Add a little flour if the dough seems too sticky.
      Sprinkle the worktop with flour, then with a rolling pin roll out ¾ of the dough into a 4 mm thin disk.
      rolling the vegan shortcrust pastry
    • Oil the pie dish and dust it with flour, then transfer the dough into it and fit it snuggly pushing with your fingers. Cut off the excess dough and poke holes in the bottom and sides with a fork.
      transferring the pastry into the pie dish

    FOR A SOFT LEMON TART

    • Fill the crust with the lemon custard and spread evenly with a spoon.
      spreading the lemon custard in the pie
    • Roll out the leftover dough thinly, then with a knife cut 9 strips and place them on top of the tart. 5 in one direction, the other 4 in the opposite direction. Brush the strips with vegetable milk.
      making a laced top
    • Bake at 360F or 180C for 40-45 minutes. We baked ours for 43 minutes, but baking time may vary depending on your oven and the thickness of the crust. Let cool completely (2 to 3 hours) before serving.
      vegan lemon tart with soft crust just baked

    FOR A CRUNCHY LEMON TART

    • Bake the crust, without filling, at 360F or 180C for 15-20 minutes. The exact time depends on how thick it is and your oven. It should be lightly browned.
      empty crust just baked
    • While the base is baking, roll out the remaining dough very thin, then with a small mold make little cookies with your favorite shape (we used stars) and place them on a baking tray lined with parchment paper.
      Once the base is cooked, remove it from the oven and set aside to cool for 20 minutes. Meanwhile, bake the cookies at 360F or 180C for about 8 minutes, until golden on top.
      star shaped cookies for the top of the tart
    • Just before serving, fill the base with the lemon custard.
      Place the cookies on top of the custard and there you have it. A delicious and crunchy vegan lemon tart to serve as a dessert or snack with tea and coffee. You can dust with powdered sugar if you like.
      vegan lemon tart with crunchy crust

    Video Recipe

    Notes

    Measurements: we recommend using the metric system for this recipe.
    WHICH ONE SHOULD I MAKE?
    It really depends on your preference. The only thing to keep in mind is, the crunchy crust will only stay crunchy for about a day, before it starts absorbing moisture from the air and from the lemon custard.
    So, if you want crunchy crust, my advice is to make the base, the custard and the cookies on top in advance, but then to build the lemon tart just before serving it. It only takes 2 minutes to build and it will taste so delicious.
    To make the soft crust lemon tart, you should cook the tart with the custard in. The lemon tart with soft crust is easier to store for a couple of days.

    Nutritional Values

    Nutrition Facts
    Vegan Lemon Tart
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 287 Calories from Fat 63
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 7g11%
    Saturated Fat 1g6%
    Trans Fat 1g
    Potassium 203mg6%
    Carbohydrates 51g17%
    Dietary Fiber 2g8%
    Sugar 20g22%
    Protein 5g10%
    Vitamin A 201IU4%
    Vitamin B6 1mg50%
    Vitamin C 16mg19%
    Vitamin E 2mg13%
    Vitamin K 4µg4%
    Calcium 109mg11%
    Folate 76µg19%
    Iron 2mg11%
    Manganese 1mg50%
    Magnesium 9mg2%
    Zinc 1mg7%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Did you like this recipe?We are not much on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. Leave us a comment below instead, it would mean the world to us 🙂

    « Vegan Panna Cotta
    Vegan Chocolate Chip Brioches »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Felicia

      January 08, 2023 at 8:17 pm

      Hi, I love your recipes but I am afraid there is something wrong with this one. I make crostates all the times and they are always great. I noticed the ingredients for this one are different. The dough came very hard and impossible to roll. The lemon cream will not thicken either.

      Reply
      • Louise Valentin

        January 09, 2023 at 7:03 pm

        Hi Felicia,
        Thanks so much for your message and for letting us know! We will redo this recipe first, and get back to you in a few days.
        So sorry the recipe did not turn out well, we promise we'll update the recipe and let you know as the first person.

        Thanks so much again, and have a wonderful week ahead. Kindest, Louise

        Reply
    2. Maia

      October 06, 2021 at 8:52 pm

      5 stars
      This tart.....I'm simply lost for words. I wonder, could the lemon filling also he used as a lemon curd? To spread on toast, bread, croissants etc. It's so creamy and smooth and divine! Thank you 🙂

      Reply
      • Nico

        October 25, 2021 at 3:08 pm

        Hi Maia, thanks for commenting. The cream in the tart is a lemon custard, I use it in croissants and cakes, mostly. With that being said, you can use the custard in your favourite pastries or really wherever you want. It’s pretty delicious in layered cakes too, haha.

        Reply
    3. Yumi

      August 04, 2021 at 2:21 am

      Hi! I was wondering whether anyone here tried this lemon filling with a no bake base, like a graham cracker one? I’m just wondering if the lemon custard would taste ok without baking it.
      Thanks!

      Reply
      • Nico

        August 11, 2021 at 12:12 pm

        Hi Yumi, I haven't tried, but that seems like a good idea. I think it would work. The custard tastes great without baking it 🙂

        Reply
    4. Tanya

      June 11, 2021 at 9:19 pm

      5 stars
      The only problem with this recipe is that the custard is so delicious that you might eat it all before it gets in the crust - especially if you make it with oatmilk because “it’s healthy, I’m just eating oatmeal”! - yeah - be careful.

      Reply
    5. Erin

      May 29, 2021 at 7:31 am

      5 stars
      great recipe! the custard was perfect and smooth. the crust was also surprisingly easy to work with and turned out really well! i tried the soft baked method but the tart was pretty overbaked at 35 minutes so i recommend checking for doneness at 30 minutes and adjusting the bake time from there 🙂

      Reply
      • Nico

        May 29, 2021 at 10:02 am

        That's awesome! Thank you sooo much for your message Erin. We are very happy the custard and the crostata turned out well. Thank you for the baking tip! Good one 🙂

        Reply
    6. Nico

      May 27, 2021 at 6:47 am

      Hi Maddy, thanks for your message. Not sure what might have gone wrong. It is possible that depending on the type of flour, altitude where you live and humidity, you might need to add a bit more or less water (but not a lot more).

      Just to make sure, did you use a scale or measuring cups? We noticed that our recipes turn out a lot better using a scale, especially the custards. Also, for the custard we noticed that some plant milks require a tad less corn starch. Which plant milk did you use? Let us know and we'll try to trouble shoot. Thaaaank 🙂

      Reply
      • Roxann

        June 04, 2021 at 12:23 am

        Would like to try this, Love 🍋 LEMON.
        But, I'm from NYS, don't do metric, and I've never seen 0.6, or 0.3, etc. Usually it's 1 1/2c, 1 tblsp, 1/3c, etc
        How do I do this, please ? ?

        Reply
        • Nico

          June 16, 2021 at 6:16 am

          Hi Roxann, thanks for your message and for the feedback. Yeah you're right, we are now going through all our posts and making them more US/cups/tbsp friendly 🙂 I just updated the lemon tart recipe, it should be easier to understand the measurements now, but let me know if it can be improved further. We are learning from your comments every day 🙂
          Thaaanksss so much and happy cooking.

          Reply

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