Taste the love this Valentine’s with our Strawberry Bakewell recipe

A twist on the original Cherry Bakewell Tart, this strawberry version is the perfect dessert for any romantic meal you have planned. It’s simple to make, and is perfect served with plant-based cream or custard.

We have a completely vegan recipe guide for Valentine’s Day, too. It features a variety of heavenly recipes, such as creamy polenta with mushrooms and truffle oil. Another decadent dessert – the flourless beetroot chocolate cake – is also sure to go down smoothly.

Strawberry Bakewell Tart

For the pastry (OR use a packet of shortcrust pastry)

• 125g vegan margarine
• 220g plain flour
• 30g icing sugar

For the strawberry sauce

• 300g strawberries, fresh or frozen
• 1–2 tbsp caster sugar

For the sponge

• 170g self-raising flour
• 170g ground almonds
• 170g caster sugar
• ½ tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp almond extract
• 150ml vegetable oil
• 200ml water
• Flaked almonds and icing sugar to decorate

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 190°C/375°F/gas mark 5.
2. If making the pastry, rub the margarine into the flour and icing sugar until it looks like fine breadcrumbs. Add a little cold water until it comes together as a dough.
3. Roll pastry to about a 3mm thickness. Line a tart tin with it and blind bake for 10 minutes.
4. Meanwhile, place strawberries and sugar in a pan. Cook for around 15 minutes until mixture is thick and reduced. Set aside to cool.
5. Make the sponge by combining the dry ingredients, then adding the wet ingredients. It should be quite runny.
6. Spread the cooled strawberry reduction onto the pastry case. Pour the sponge batter on top and finish with flaked almonds.
7. Bake for 10 minutes, then lower the heat to 180°C/350°F/gas mark 4. Bake for a further 25 minutes.
8. Allow to cool then dust with icing sugar and serve with vegan cream, ice cream or custard.

You can also spread the love this Valentine’s Day by reaching out to a care home. If you know someone who lives in or works at the home, then that’s wonderful – but you don’t need to.

Help us make a difference by contacting a care home near you, and asking them to take V for Life’s Memory Care Pledge.

We want all care homes to have a plan ready for when issues arise related to resident’s memory and beliefs. This is what taking the pledge ensures, providing peace of mind for everyone by making sure we know what to do if a vegan or vegetarian in care starts to lose capacity.

Amanda Woodvine, Chief Executive of Vegetarian for Life, said: “If you work at a care home or have a loved one in a care home, we would urge you to encourage the home to take out a Memory Care Pledge.

“As part of a pledge, an example of best practice could be that if a vegan resident were to accidentally choose a meat-based or non-vegan option, catering staff would do their very best to ensure that a plant-based alternative similar to the chosen dish would be offered.

“This would give family members peace of mind knowing everything was being done to help look after their loved one in the way that they wanted.

“But we can’t do this alone; we need as many care homes to sign up as possible. It’s free, and really simple to do.

“Let’s ensure that meal times are inclusive, enjoyable and in line with all residents’ beliefs and wishes for their whole lives.”

You can find more information about the Pledge here. 

With love, V for Life.