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Nut Free Vegan Fruit Slice

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Nut free vegan fruit slice is a healthier treat option with a bit of a festive feel! Gluten free and dairy free with loads of natural sweetness from dried fruit, bananas and coconut flour. Throw in some cranberries or goji berries to give it a little holiday cheer with for a Christmas sweet treat!

Nut Free Vegan Fruit Slice in baking tray topped with coconut yoghurt and fresh cherries!

Note: this is an older recipe of mine (originally published December 2015) which has had a significant revamp! After re-testing the original nut free vegan fruit slice that appeared in this post, I knew I could improve it (after a few more years baking experience). I think this slice is now more dense, fruity and delicious! Combining coconut flour, brown rice flour and yummy fruit for a healthier sweet treat.

When a recipe starts off with “nut free vegan” – especially a baking recipe – you’re tempted to ask, err what’s left, right?! But please don’t let these qualifications turn you off, because this nut free vegan fruit slice is super tasty and can definitely be enjoyed by anyone and everyone. Whether or not you’re avoiding nuts, dairy, gluten…or you love all of those things!

Nut Free Vegan Fruit Slice (gluten free) - easy to make, loads of natural sweetness, serve it with a dollop of coconut yoghurt and a sprinkle of pumpkin seeds like shown here. #vegan #fruitcake #glutenfree

As we’re getting quite shockingly close to Christmas now (WHERE has this year gone) I wanted to make something a little fruity and festive. A nice kind of sweet treat that’s got a healthier spin on it, is easy to make and perfect for sharing. Studded with colourful dried fruit, my nut free vegan fruit slice is just right for such an occasion. Plus it’s got tahini in there…one of my favourite things to eat, ever.

Instead of using eggs, this nut free vegan fruit slice uses mashed banana and flaxseed to bind the slice. The dough gets kind of wet and sticky, but once you press it down into a baking tray and into the oven the stickiness goes and it forms a beautiful slice. You can use whatever dried fruit you like in here. If you use larger pieces like apricots or dates, I’d recommend chopping them into smaller pieces. And definitely add in some goji berries or cranberries to give it some festive colour!

Nut Free Vegan Fruit Slice - a #glutenfree healthier sweet treat loaded with dried fruit, banana, coconut flour and tahini. So yum! #vegan #fruitcake #nutfree

Nut Free Vegan Fruit Slice

Nut free vegan fruit slice is a healthier treat option with a bit of a festive feel! Gluten free and dairy free with loads of natural sweetness from dried fruit, bananas and coconut flour. 
5 from 7 votes
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Course: Desserts and Sweets, Healthy Baking
Cuisine: freezer friendly, gluten free, nut free, vegan, vegetarian
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings: 12 pieces

Ingredients

  • 2 large overripe bananas - 180 - 200 grams mashed banana
  • 1/2 cup coconut flour - 65 grams
  • 1/2 cup brown rice flour - 75 grams
  • 3 tbsp ground flaxseed
  • 2 tsp mixed spice
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1 tsp baking powder (ensure this is gluten free if required)
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 cup melted coconut oil - 60 mL
  • 1/4 cup tahini - 60 mL (I use hulled tahini)
  • 1/4 cup brown rice syrup - 60 mL
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 3 tbsp hot water
  • 1 and 1/2 cups dried fruit *if you are using goji berries I recommend soaking them first, see notes

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 160 C and line a square baking tin with baking parchment. I would recommend either a 20cm or 22cm square tin.
  • Combine the coconut flour, brown rice flour, flaxseed, spices, baking powder and salt.
  • In a separate bowl, mash the bananas thoroughly until you get a thick puree and then stir in the melted coconut oil, tahini, brown rice syrup and vanilla.
  • Combine wet and dry ingredients; the mixture should be very thick. Fold in all of the dried fruit. As you're mixing, add 3 tablespoons of hot water to help the mixture form a wet, sticky dough.
  • Scoop the mixture into the baking tray and press down so the top is even and there are no gaps. (Dampen your fingertips and use them to press the slice down!)
  • Bake for approximately 45-50 minutes or until the slice has started to turn golden brown on top and the edges are darkening.
  • Remove from the oven and allow to cool to room temperature before slicing. Store the slice in the fridge for up to a week, or freeze for a longer life. (I've found the slice will keep for 2-3 days at room temperature, too.)

Notes

*if you are using goji berries in the slice I recommend pre-soaking them, as they're quite often fairly hard and dry. Simply pop them in a heatproof bowl, pour over boiled over and let them soak for 5-10 minutes. Then drain and use the softened berries in the recipe.
*if you don’t need to avoid using nuts in this recipe you can substitute the tahini for almond butter.
*you can add more spices into the slice if you like! try adding a teaspoon or two of ground ginger, or a pinch of ground cloves or ground nutmeg.
*you can also add some seeds to the slice for crunch - pumpkin seeds and/or sunflower seeds work nicely!
*p.s. the images of the slice in this blog post are topped with coconut yoghurt, pumpkin seeds and rose petals.
Have you made this recipe?I love seeing your creations! Take a photo and then tag me @nourish.everyday on Instagram!

Nut Free Vegan Fruit Slice is made with coconut flour, brown rice flour, banana and tahini. Studded with loads of dried fruit. A healthier sweet treat! #fruitslice #vegan #glutenfree

Nut Free Vegan Fruit Slice - a #glutenfree healthier sweet treat loaded with dried fruit, banana, coconut flour and tahini. So yum! #vegan #fruitcake #nutfree

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5 from 7 votes (1 rating without comment)

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