Luscious Lemon Pudding Tart

I have always had a huge love for lemon and sweets.  Since I started Trim Healthy Mama, I have hesitated to eat a lot of dessert type foods because I know that eating sweets was something that I always enjoyed.  I, however, have been craving something with lemon as of late.  I searched and searched trying to find something that already existed, but nothing seemed just what I was looking for.  I ran ran across a recipe for a lemon poppy seed muffin by Rohnda Sue that gave me great inspiration.  I experimented with different sugar types and flour ratios hoping to come up with a bit of a dryer crumbly crust, similar to a graham cracker to no avail, then one particular time, this happened.  I believe this is due in part to the Xylitol, because other times this worked out just fine like a muffin should. The centers of the muffin sunk and I had a light bulb moment.

The birth of the lemon tart, verified by Trim Healthy Mama trained folks as a Heavy S, came together.  I remembered having seen several recipes for puddings, but didn't have the main ingredient to make a successful pudding at this time that would be on plan.  I am anxiously waiting on my first delivery of Glucomannan Powder, but decided that I couldn't wait for that to arrive to get a little closer to these beauties.  I remembered as a child my mother making her puddings from scratch using egg yolks and set out to come up with one that would work for these.  I wanted something a little heavier than a normal pudding so I experimented.  Quite honestly I like the recipe the best without the almond milk due to the thickness of the lemony delight with the sunken centers of these failed muffins.

The custard consistency of the pudding was perfect.  I will be experimenting with other flavors of pudding, as I believe that the possibilities with these beauties are endless.  I would love to try making a chocolate muffin of sorts with chocolate pudding.  So the basic recipe for the pudding can certainly be expanded upon to make many other delightful flavors. Perhaps even a key lime pudding?? I will continue to perfect the crust of the tart as I believe that there is still perfecting to be done with this but I know that many will enjoy the yummy Heaven on Earth within the confines of these tasty lemon beauties.  I personally will be leaving the poppy seed out on my next batch, as it isn't one of my most favorites.  I was wondering what adding chia seeds to this right before filling the muffin cups would result in.  I hadn't gotten a chance to experiment with that thought yet.  Have others had experience baking with chia seeds?  I would love to hear your thoughts. 

I had these beautiful tart looking treats but decided that I would need to top it off with a little lemon cream or something.  Then I remembered that the original lemon poppy seed muffin recipe that I used had a glaze recipe.  So I played around with the glaze trying to get it a lighter, fluffier consistency similar to that of a whipped cream or a whipped frosting like on many birthday cakes.  I really only wanted a small dollop of the fluffy white goop.  I used a little almond milk within the glaze recipe on the muffins for a thinner cream.  It is all a matter of personal preference where the almond milk is concerned.  This recipe is very adaptable to arrive with many other flavors and a variety of treats.  I can already see these in an assortment on my holiday dessert platters.  I just need to expand on them some more.  So for those of you who have other flavor ideas and thoughts on these beauties, please feel free to comment below with your ideas.  The moment many have been waiting for the recipe for these beauties is below. I hope that many of you will try them, adapt them, love them and come up with and share many varieties of your own. Enjoy your Heaven on Earth.

Luscious Lemon Pudding Tart

Printable Recipe

For the Crust:

¾ Cup Xylitol

1 pkg Stevia Powder

4 Eggland’s Best Cage Free Large Brown Eggs at room temperature

1 tsp Lemon Zest

1/2 cup Lemon Juice

1 tsp Lemon Extract

1/3 cup Coconut Oil, melted

1 1/2 cup Almond Flour

1/4 cup Golden Flax Meal

1/4 cup Coconut Flour

4 tsp Baking Powder, Aluminum Free

1/4 tsp Salt

1 T Poppy Seeds

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

 Break the eggs in a bowl and let them set 15 minutes to warm up to avoid solidifying the melted coconut oil. Whisk together with the eggs, lemon zest, lemon juice, lemon extract and melted coconut oil.  In a separate bowl, combine the sweeteners.  Gradually whisk them into the liquid mixture.

In a separate bowl, combine the dry ingredients; except the Poppy Seeds.  Slowly whisk all dry ingredients into the above mixture.  Gently fold in the poppy seeds just before filling the muffin cups.  Pour into paper muffin cups about ¾ full in a muffin tin.  Bake for 27-30 minutes.  The centers will cave in a little, do not panic.  This is where you will put your lemon cream.  Let cool 10 minutes and remove from muffin pan.  Makes 18 muffins!

Lemon Pudding

1/2 cup Butter

1/8 Cup Almond Milk (Optional)

1/2 cup Xylitol

1/2 cup Lemon Juice

1/4 T Lemon Zest

6 Egglands’s Best Cage Free Egg Yolks

 Over low heat in a small saucepan, melt the butter.  Remove the butter from heat. Combine xylitol, lemon juice, almond milk and lemon zest in a bowl and whisk for 30 seconds.  Whisk the mixture into the butter until the sweetener is dissolved.  Whisk the egg yolks into the mixture.  Return to heat and whisk until well combined.  Increase heat to medium and continue to whisk until mixture thickens to pudding consistency.  Pour into a pint size mason jar and allow it to cool to room temperature.  Cover with a lid and store in refrigerator.

  

Lemon Cream

4 oz Cream Cheese (room temp)

1 Pkg Stevia

¼ Cup Almond Milk (Optional)

¼ Cup Lemon Juice

1/8 tsp Lemon Extract

Combine all ingredients and mix until smooth, may need to microwave for 15 seconds to eliminate any chunks.

  

Once the muffins have cooled, the center will sink a little don't panic.  This allows a nice spot for 1 Tbls of the Lemon Pudding.  Top it off with a tsp of the Lemon Cream.  And OMG experience heaven on earth.