Chocolate Crostata Recipes

CHOCOLATE CROSTATAS WITH MARMALADE

Steps:

• Line a heavy large baking sheet with parchment paper. Mix the flour, cocoa powder, sugar, orange peel, and salt in a food processor. Add the butter. Blend until clumps form. Add 2 tablespoons of ice water and blend. Add more ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the dough forms. Turn the dough out onto a work surface and knead briefly to form a smooth dough. Gather the dough into a ball then divide the dough into 8 equal pieces. Flatten each piece into a disk.
• Press 1 dough piece on the prepared baking sheet into a 4 1/2-inch round. Spoon 1 generous tablespoon of the marmalade into the center of the round. Fold the dough border in to form a 3-inch round and allow the center of the crostata to remain uncovered. Pleat loosely and pinch the dough to seal any cracks. Repeat with the remaining dough pieces and marmalade, spacing the crostatas evenly apart. Cover and refrigerate the crostatas until they are cold, at least 45 minutes and up to 4 hours.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Bake the crostatas until the crusts are set, about 18 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes. Slide a metal spatula under the crusts to free the crostatas from the baking sheet. Garnish with the candied orange peel and serve warm.
• Using a vegetable peeler, cut the orange part of the peel from the stem end of the orange down to the navel end, forming long 3/4 to 1-inch-wide strips. Bring a heavy small saucepan of water to a boil. Add the peels and cook for 1 minute. Drain and then rinse the peels under cold water. Repeat cooking the peels in the saucepan with fresh boiling water and rinsing under cold water.
• Stir the sugar and 1/2 cup of fresh water in a heavy small saucepan over medium-high heat until the sugar dissolves. Bring to a boil. Add the orange peels and simmer over medium-low heat until tender, about 15 minutes. Using tongs, transfer the peels to a sheet of parchment paper to dry slightly, about 1 hour.
• Line a small baking sheet with parchment paper. Stir the chocolate in a small bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water until melted and smooth. Dip 1 1/2-inches of each candied orange peel into the chocolate then place them on the prepared baking sheet and refrigerate until the chocolate is set, about 15 minutes.
• Yield: about 12 candied peels
• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 35 minutes
• Inactive Prep Time: 1 hour, 15 minutes

PEAR, CHOCOLATE, AND HAZELNUT CROSTATA

Steps:

• Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 375°F. Place large sheet of parchment paper on work surface. Place crust dough atop parchment; roll out dough to 14-inch round. Transfer parchment with dough to large unrimmed baking sheet. Whisk egg and cream in small bowl. Brush center 10 inches of dough with some of egg glaze, leaving 2-inch plain border. Arrange pear slices in concentric circles atop glaze on dough. Sprinkle hazelnuts and both chocolates, then 4 tablespoons raw sugar over pears. Fold dough border over filling to form 11-inch round, pleating loosely and pinching to seal any cracks in dough. Brush crust with egg glaze; sprinkle with remaining 2 tablespoons raw sugar, then with 1/4 teaspoon sea salt, if desired.
• Bake crostata until crust is deep golden and pears are tender, about 40 minutes. Transfer baking sheet to rack. Run long thin knife under crust to free from parchment. Cool to lukewarm on parchment on sheet. Using large tart pan bottom as aid, transfer crostata to platter. Serve lukewarm or at room temperature.

HAZELNUT FUDGE CROSTATA

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Roll crust to 12 inches. Fit in bottom and up side of 10-inch tart pan with removable bottom. Trim edge. Bake 5 to 8 minutes or until beginning to brown. With back of wooden spoon, gently press out any bubbles.
• Meanwhile, in medium bowl with electric mixer on medium speed, beat butter and Stevia In The Raw until creamy. Add hazelnuts, eggs and melted semisweet and chocolate; mix well. Spread in partially baked crust. Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until filling is set. Cool 1 hour. Mix melted white chocolate baking bar with oil. With fork, drizzle over surface of tart. Let stand until set, about 1 hour. Or place in refrigerator 15 minutes to set quickly. Cut in wedges to serve. Garnish each wedge with a dollop of whipped cream, a raspberry and green leaves.

DARK CHOCOLATE AND PINE NUT CROSTATA

Steps:

• For crust:
• Blend flour, powdered sugar, and salt in processor 5 seconds. Add butter, yolks, and egg. Blend until moist clumps form. Knead dough into ball and flatten into disk. Wrap and chill at least 30 minutes and up to 1 day.
• Roll out dough on lightly floured surface to 14-inch round. Transfer to 10-inch-diameter tart pan with removable bottom. Cut off all but 1/2-inch overhang. Fold overhang in, pressing to form double-thick sides that extend 1/4 inch above rim. Chill crust 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 375°F. Bake crust 5 minutes. Using back of fork, press up sides of crust if slipping. Bake until golden, pressing up sides and piercing with fork if crust bubbles, about 25 minutes longer. Cool crust completely.
• For filling:
• Place chocolate in medium bowl. Bring cream to simmer in saucepan. Pour cream over chocolate; whisk until smooth. Whisk in honey. Pour filling into crust. Chill until set, at least 2 hours and up to 1 day.
• For filling:
• Sprinkle tart with pine nuts. Serve with whipped cream.