An easy, 10 ingredient vegan pomegranate chocolate tart that would be delicious to serve on a date night, Valentine's Day, or holiday. There is no baking required, and the results are a stunning tart that looks way fancier than it was to make!

A vegan chocolate tart with three slices.

Have you ever wished for an elegant, no-bake vegan dessert that’s also healthier than most desserts? If the answer is yes, join the club! Thankfully, I landed on a real winner with this 100% vegan pomegranate chocolate tart recipe!

This recipe is so indulgent and decadent, yet it’s a relatively healthy dessert thanks to a lack of refined sugar, a pecan-based crust, and pomegranate, a total superfood. Plus, while it looks super fancy, it requires relatively little effort. I call that a win-win! This recipe would be especially perfect as a date night or Valentine’s Day dessert (or really any holiday or special occasion!).

So, read on to learn how you can make this delicious vegan pomegranate chocolate tart that’s also free from gluten, dairy, eggs, and refined sugars!

A Healthier Vegan Dessert

A pomegranate chocolate tart with a bite on a fork.

Just about everyone loves dessert! Apart from eating just fruit, however, it can be tough to find really satisfying vegan desserts that deliver richness without a bunch of unrefined sugars and other unhealthy ingredients.

So, to create a healthier dessert, I made this vegan pomegranate chocolate tart recipe lean on pecans for its crust and focus on pomegranate, which is arguably one of the healthiest foods around. It also uses coconut oil, which is a good source of antioxidants, and no refined sugars at all—instead, it gets its sweetness from the pomegranate juice and maple syrup!

Vegan Chocolate Tart Ingredients

Ingredients to make a flourless tart crust made from pecans. — Pecan crust ingredients

Ingredients for the chocolate tart filling. — Pecan crust ingredients

Many of these ingredients are vegan staples so you’ll probably already have a lot of these on hand! There are just 10 ingredients that make up this indulgent vegan dessert:

Raw pecans – Did you know that pecans come from a type of hickory tree that’s naturally found in Northern Mexico and the Southern U.S.? No wonder pecan pie is so popular in the South! On their own, pecans are loaded with nutrition, including omega-3s, vitamin A, vitamin E, calcium, fiber, magnesium, zinc, and more!
Medjool dates – Dates are technically a fruit that comes from the date palm tree, and they’ve become increasingly popular in the Western world in recent years as a natural sweetener. While they’re relatively high in calories, they’re equally high in nutrients and antioxidants: e.g. potassium, magnesium, copper, manganese, iron, and vitamin B6.
Cocoa powder – Cocoa powder (or cacao powder) comes from cocoa/cacao beans, which famously form the basis for chocolate. Cocoa or cacao? The difference often comes down to marketing, but pay attention as some cocoa powder has lots of sugar added. Pure cocoa powder will be extremely rich in beneficial compounds such as polyphenols, which are potent antioxidants, as well as magnesium and flavanols, which have been shown to have mood-boosting properties. Delicious and an anti-depressant? Win-win!
Coconut oil – Coconut oil is rich in medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), which may help promote weight loss. Coconut oil is also rich in a variety of antioxidants, including tocopherols, flavonoids, and polyphenols. Although high in saturated fat, coconut oil carries many benefits and also works well as a high-temperature cooking oil as it has a very high smoke point.
Vanilla extract – It’s not a huge deal if you don’t include it, but vanilla extract definitely helps take this recipe to the next level!
Salt – If you try to be health-conscious like me, it can be tempting to skip or reduce the salt, but don’t! Adding even a little salt really helps bring out the other flavors.
Dark chocolate – See above on cocoa (or cacao) powder. Dark chocolate, in moderation, can be a very healthy addition to our diets! Just check to make sure yours is proper dark chocolate, i.e. it has a high percentage of cacao and doesn’t include milk.
Maple syrup – Maple syrup is a delicious sweetener, as we all know from pancakes. That said, it’s a great vegan sweetener in general, and its unique flavor is especially well-suited (in my humble opinion) for fall/winter recipes such as these vegan pumpkin pie bars! It’s also a more natural sugar than many refined sugars.
Coconut milk – Coconut milk is a rich and creamy liquid made from coconuts. Did you know it’s actually a mix of coconut flesh and water? It’s usually about 50% water, whereas coconut water is about 94% water. Coconut milk is high in calories, yes, but it also contains a ton of nutrients. It also brings the perfect level of richness to this vegan pomegranate chocolate tart.
Pomegranate juice and seeds – Both pomegranate juice and its seeds contain potent health benefits! In fact, you could argue that pomegranates are among the healthiest fruits on the planet thanks to their high concentration of essential nutrients, such as vitamins C and K, as well as folate, potassium, fiber, heck—even protein! Plus, thanks to the potent antioxidants found in pomegranates, these unique fruits may also have anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. And the cherry on top is how beautiful the juice and seeds are!

Step-by-Step Recipe Instructions

Ingredients for a pecan crust in a food processor. — Pecan crust ingredients in a food processor

Food processor with a crumbly sticky pecan crust. — Pecan crust ingredients in a food processor

For the crust: Place all of the crust ingredients in a food processor, and pulse until a sticky, crumbly mixture forms. You might have to stop once or twice to scrape down the sides with a silicone spatula and pulse again. Transfer the mixture to your pie or tart pan, and use your clean hands to press the crust into an even layer on the bottom and sides of the pan. Place the pan in the freezer to set while you make the filling.
For the filling: Place the chocolate, vanilla extract, and maple syrup in a heat-proof mixing bowl. In a small saucepan, bring the coconut milk and pomegranate juice to a boil. Pour the hot liquid over the chocolate, and stir until completely combined and smooth.
Pour the filling into the crust. Chill the tart in the refrigerator for at least 3 hours or overnight until it sets. Then, garnish with pomegranate seeds.
Once the tart has set, slice and serve!
Store the leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to five days.

What Should I Top This Dessert With?

Two pieces of chocolate tart on glass dessert serving plates.

I personally love to keep things simple with this one and just use pomegranate seeds. The beautiful color and the contrast it provides with the chocolate is downright gorgeous! Plus, they provide extra nutrition and a lovely crunch. The options are truly endless, though, so here are some other toppings you might consider:

A chocolate drizzle
Chocolate chips
Coconut whipped cream
Fresh fruit (e.g. berries)
Powdered sugar
Nut butter
Crushed nuts
Sea salt

Recipe FAQ

A piece of chocolate tart on a serving spatula.

My crust seems too dry - what should I do?
Try adding a little more coconut oil! The crust should be crumbly but still stick together when you press it into the tart pan.

My crust is too wet - what should I do?
Adding a few more pecans should help balance it out.

Is this recipe gluten-free?
Yes! The crust is pecan based so this recipe is completely gluten-free.

Can I use a cake pan?
Yes. If you don’t have a tart pan, I would suggest using a springform pan so you can easily pop the tart out

A chocolate tart with pomegranate seeds as a garnish and rose petals scattered around.

What tart pan did you use?
I highly recommend using a tart pan with a removable bottom. It makes it so much easier to remove the tart after it has set. Click here for the exact tart pan I used.

Can you make this in advance?
Yep! You can store this vegan pomegranate chocolate tart in the fridge for up to five days or in the freezer—just defrost when you’re ready!

Which chocolate should I use?
Any chocolate should work fine—just make sure you like the taste of it!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Upclose of a piece of chocolate tart showing the crumbly crust and rich filling.

This recipe looks so fancy and elegant that people would never believe it’s so simple! It’s indulgent enough to satisfy your sweet tooth without overdoing it, and it’s also a gorgeous dessert for any holiday or a romantic date night. This vegan dessert has got it ALL because it's...

Elegant – This is perfect for any kind of special occasion, especially ones centered around love or romance, whether that’s Valentine’s Day or just a special night in.
Simple – No-bake desserts are my favorite because they’re typically much simpler and way quicker overall! Just five steps and you can even make it easier if you opt for a pre-made crust.
Indulgent – Rich chocolate-y goodness and delicious pomegranate make this dessert downright heavenly! At the same time, it’s relatively healthy compared to many desserts.

A vegan chocolate pomegranate tart surrounded by rose petals and chopped chocolate.

Let me know if you try this recipe for a vegan pomegranate chocolate tart, and if you do, I would love it if you left a rating and review below! Make sure you are also following along on Instagram and Pinterest for more food inspiration.