Caramel Macadamia Anzac Tarts

These tarts are a twist on an Australian/New Zealand classic biscuit. I have used organic buckwheat flour to create my healthy version of an ANZAC biscuit, which acts as the base, and I have filled it with a nutritious caramel made of dates, almond butter and organic coconut cream. If you do not have a blender to make the caramel, simply simmer a can of coconut cream and ½ cup honey/maple on the stove until thickened and then stir through some sea salt and vanilla. Either version is absolutely delicious. To top it off, I have included caramel’s best friend, toasted macadamias! Give these little treats a go this ANZAC Day and enjoy while commemorating and honouring those who have fought for our freedom. Note: The bases are not too sweet. This is to allow for the rich, caramel filling, so the base recipe alone will not work as a plain ANZAC biscuit.

Makes 12-17 tarts

Anzac Biscuit Base:

1 cup buckwheat flour

1 cup rolled oats (gluten free) OR quinoa flakes

¾ cup desiccated coconut

½ tsp. bicarbonate soda

½ cup coconut oil, melted

1/3 cup raw honey OR pure maple syrup

¼ cup boiling water

Caramel Filling:

1 cup dates, soaked for 1 hour

½ cup almond butter

½ cup coconut cream
(I use the brand Ayam)

1 tsp. vanilla

Pinch Himalayan rock salt

½ cup macadamia halves

1. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius and lightly grease a 12-hole paddy tin.

2. Place the buckwheat flour, oats, coconut, and bicarbonate soda into a medium bowl and stir to combine.

3. Melt the coconut oil in a small saucepan and add the honey and hot water. Whisk to combine and then pour into the dry mixture and stir with a wooden spoon until well combined.

4. Take tablespoons (or just less) of the mixture and roll it into a ball before flattening it into a disc and pressing it into the paddy hole.

5. Once you have lined each paddy hole with the biscuit mixture, place the paddy pan into the oven and bake the bases for 10 minutes or until beginning to turn golden.

6. Meanwhile, to make the caramel, drain the soaked dates and add them to the blender with the almond butter, coconut cream, vanilla and salt. Process until completely smooth, with no lumps of date remaining.

7. Once you have removed the tart shells from the oven, place the macadamias onto a baking tray and into the oven for 5 minutes or until golden brown and roasted. Allow to cool before placing onto a chopping board and roughly chopping.

8. Once the tart bases have cooled, spoon in about a tablespoon of the caramel to fill each one and sprinkle over the chopped macadamias. Enjoy!