Chocolate Custard Tart Recipes

CHOCOLATE CUSTARD TART

Steps:

• Dough: Sift the flour with the cocoa and salt. Cream the butter and sugar in the bowl of a mixer fitted with a paddle on low speed until fluffy.
• Add the egg, and mix just until incorporated. Add the dry ingredients, and mix until a dough forms. Shape into a ball, cut in half, flatten both halves, wrap each in plastic, and chill for at least 1 hour.
• Working quickly, roll out one of the dough balls on a large piece of lightly floured parchment paper to form a 13-inch circle about 1/8 inch thick.
• Place the parchment on a baking sheet, cover the dough with plastic, and chill it for at least 1 hour. Keep the remaining dough in the freezer for another tart.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
• Carefully fit the dough into a 9½-inch tart shell with a removable bottom, taking care not to stretch or pinch it. Freeze the dough for at least 15 minutes.
• Bake the crust until it puffs, about 10 to 15 minutes. Flatten the base by pressing it down with a measuring cup, then continue baking until the crust is crisp, about 10 to 15 minutes more. Set aside to cool.
• Chocolate Custard: Preheat the oven to 250 degrees. Place chocolate in a bowl. Bring the cream, milk, and sugar to a boil in a saucepan.
• Add the mixture, a third at a time, to the chocolate, stirring each addition until combined. (If it's added all at once, the chocolate will become grainy.) Beat the egg in a large bowl.
• Whisk in a quarter of the chocolate-milk mixture until just combined, and add to the remaining chocolate. (Do not whisk hard.).
• Tap the bowl to get rid of any air bubbles. Pour the custard into the baked tart shell, filling it to the top.
• Bake for 20 minutes, rotate front-to-back, and bake for another 20 minutes or until the custard is set around the edges but jiggly in the center. Serve with brandy whipped cream.

CHOCOLATE CUSTARD-BERRY TART

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Blend flour, butter, and sugar together in a food processor until crumbly. Pour in water; mix until crust dough holds together. Press into the bottom and sides of a 9-inch tart pan. Poke holes in dough with a fork to eliminate air bubbles.
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, about 20 minutes. Remove from oven; increase oven temperature to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Chop chocolate and place in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 15-second intervals, stirring occasionally, until melted; spread over baked crust.
• Beat cream cheese, sugar, flour, vanilla extract, and egg together in a bowl using an electric mixer until smooth; spread filling over chocolate layer.
• Arrange berries tightly and evenly over cream cheese filling. Mix raspberry syrup and blackberry schnapps together in a small bowl; brush over berries using a pastry brush.
• Bake in the preheated oven until berries are reduced and filling begins to set, about 35 minutes. Remove from oven; filling will set completely as it cools.

CHOCOLATE CUSTARD TART

Steps:

• For the Dough: Sift dry ingredients. Cream butter and sugar until fluffy, then add egg. Add dry ingredients until combined. Shape into a ball, cut in half, wrap in plastic and chill one hour (extra dough half can be frozen.) Roll out dough to 13-inch circle and chill one hour. Fit into 9-1/2 inch tart pan (removable bottom works well) and freeze 15 minutes. Bake at 350F for 20 minutes until the dough puffs up. Flatten the bottom with a measuring cup, pressing all around. Bake another 20 minutes until crisp. Cool.
• For the custard: Preheat oven to 250°F Heat cream, milk and sugar. Pour over chocolate 1/3rd at a time, stirring. Beat egg in a separate bowl and whisk in 1/4 of the cream mixture. Whisk egg mix into remaining cream mix. Tap to get rid of extra bubbles. Pour into shell. Bake 40 minutes, rotating pan once. Custard should be set at edges and still jiggly in the center.
• Serve with whipped cream.

CHOCOLATE TART

Steps:

• To make the pastry: combine the flour, sugar, and salt in a large mixing bowl. Add the butter and mix with a pastry blender or hands until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Make a well in the middle of the pastry. Combine the egg yolk with the ice water in a small bowl, whisking to blend; pour it into the well and work it in to bind the dough until it holds together without being too wet or sticky. Squeeze a small amount together, if it is crumbly, add more ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time. Form the dough into a disk and wrap in plastic; refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
• Roll out the pastry on a lightly floured surface into a 12-inch circle, about 1/4-inch thick. Carefully roll the dough up onto the pin (this may take a little practice) and lay it inside a 9-inch tart pan with a removable bottom. Press the dough into the pan so it fits tightly; press the edges into the sides of the pan. It is important to press the dough evenly into every nook and corner of the ring, especially the scalloped edges. Shave off the excess hanging dough with a knife. Put the tart in the refrigerator for 15 minutes to relax.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Place the tart pan on a sturdy cookie sheet so it will be easy to move in and out of the oven. Line the tart with aluminum foil and add pie weights or dried beans to keep the sides of the tart from buckling. Bake for 30 minutes, then remove the foil and weights. Using a pastry brush, lightly coat the crust with a beaten egg white. Return to the oven and continue to bake for another 8 minutes until the tart is golden in color, but not brown. Remember the tart will be cooked again with the filling. It should be cooked but light in color so that it will not burn on the second bake. Set aside to cool and lower the oven temperature to 325 degrees F.
• To make the filling: Heat the heavy cream and milk in a pot over medium-low flame, until it simmers slightly around the edges. Remove from the heat; add the chopped chocolate and stir until melted and smoothed out. Add the sugar and salt and whisk until well incorporated. Beat the eggs in a small bowl until blended and add them to the chocolate mixture, stir until completely blended. Pour the filling into the cooled tart shell and bake at 325 degrees F for 15 to 20 minutes until the filling is set and the surface is glossy. If you see any bubbles or cracks forming on the surface, take the tart out right away - that means it is beginning to become over baked. Cool before cutting.

EASY CHOCOLATE TART

Steps:

• For the crust: Add the cookies to a food processor and pulse to fine crumbs. Pour in the melted butter and pulse together. Tip into an 11-inch fluted tart pan with a removable bottom and press the mixture in with a 1/4-cup measure to form an even crust on the bottom and sides. Put it in the freezer for 15 minutes to set.
• For the ganache: Put the cream and butter in a pan and heat until the mixture starts to bubble.
• Put the dark and milk chocolate in a bowl and pour the warmed cream and butter over it. Mix everything together until melted and fully combined, then pour it into the chilled tart base. Refrigerate the tart overnight until set.
• For the chocolate curl garnish: Put the white chocolate and coconut oil in a bowl and set over a pan of simmering water until the chocolate is melted; mix together. Pour the melted mixture onto the underside of a clean baking sheet and spread it in a very thin layer with an offset spatula or knife. Put it in the freezer until set, about 2 minutes. (To check if it is set, press it with your fingertip; it should leave the slightest mark but not a depression.)
• Using a sharp-edged spatula, scrape the chocolate from the bottom of the baking sheet into curls. Remove the tart from the pan and decorate with the curls.

CHOCOLATE & CARDAMOM COCONUT TART

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325°. Cream butter, sugar and orange zest until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Beat in egg. Add flour and cardamom, mixing well. Divide dough in half. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes., Meanwhile, pulse pistachios in a food processor until finely chopped; remove. Repeat with cranberries. For filling, in a small bowl combine the chopped cranberries, coconut, 1/3 cup bittersweet chocolate chips, milk and 1/3 cup chopped pistachios. , Press half the dough onto bottom and 1/4 in. up sides of a greased 9-in. springform pan. Spread cranberry mixture over dough. Between sheets of waxed paper, roll remaining dough into a 9-in. circle. Remove top sheet of paper. Gently flip dough and place over pistachio filling; remove remaining paper. Press dough around edge to seal. Place pan on a 15x10-in. rimmed baking pan., Bake until golden brown, 50-60 minutes. Cool in pan 15 minutes. Loosen sides from pan with a knife; cool completely. Remove rim from pan. Microwave white baking chips on high until melted, stirring every 30 seconds; remove. Repeat with remaining 1/2 cup bittersweet chips. Drizzle tart with white and bittersweet melted chocolate. Sprinkle with remaining 1/3 cup chopped pistachios and, if desired, shredded orange zest., Freeze option: Cover and freeze unbaked tart. To use, remove from freezer 30 minutes before baking (do not thaw). Preheat oven to 325°. Place tart on a baking sheet; cover loosely with foil. Bake as directed, increasing time as necessary. Cool and top as directed.

CHOCOLATE GANACHE CUSTARD TART

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
• In a large heatproof bowl, combine the chocolate and cream or half-and-half. Set the bowl over a pan of simmering water, stirring occasionally until the chocolate is melted and the mixture is smooth.
• Remove the bowl from the saucepan and whisk in the egg, egg yolk, and Cognac. Pour the mixture into the prebaked tart shell, tilting and shaking it very gently to even out the filling.
• Set the tart pan on a baking sheet and bake until the filling looks almost set but still quivers when the tart is gently jiggled, about 20 minutes. Don't overbake. Let cool completely.
• Remove the tart pan sides by setting the tart on an overturned bowl or other tall, wide surface (a large can of tomatoes works well). Gently press down on the outer ring and let the ring fall to the countertop. Set the tart on a flat surface. Release the tart from the pan bottom by sliding the blade of a knife between the crust and the pan bottom, then slip the tart onto a serving plate. (If it doesn't release cleanly, simply serve the tart on the pan bottom.)
• Whipped cream (page 239) is one possible accompaniment to a wedge of this delectable tart, but Caramel Ice Cream (page 144) dials up the richness. Or, a scribble of Orange Caramel Sauce (page 242) will add a pleasant citrusy note.
• The tart should be served the same day it's made. Keep it at room temperature until ready to serve.

CHOCOLATE CREAM TART

Steps:

• Make the crust: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a food processor, pulse wafers until fine crumbs form. Add butter, sugar, and salt, and process until well combined. Press mixture firmly into bottom and up sides of a 9-inch fluted tart pan. Bake until crust is fragrant, about 15 minutes. Let cool completely on a wire rack.
• Make the filling: In a medium saucepan, heat milk, egg yolks, sugar, and cornstarch over medium-high, whisking occasionally, until simmering. Reduce heat to medium and add chocolate. Continue to cook, stirring constantly, until bubbling and thick, 4 to 5 minutes (about 2 minutes after it comes to a boil). Add salt and remove from heat. Stir in vanilla or bourbon. Let cool about 10 minutes, whisking 2 or 3 times.
• Pour custard into baked and cooled crust. Press a piece of plastic wrap directly on surface of custard. Refrigerate until filling is firm, 4 hours or up to 1 day.
• Make the topping: With an electric mixer on medium-high speed, whisk cream just until soft peaks form. Add confectioners' sugar and whisk until stiff peaks form. Spread whipped cream over custard. Garnish tart with chocolate curls just before serving.

CAST-IRON WHITE CHOCOLATE TART

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°. Place biscotti, amaretti cookies and sugar in a food processor; pulse until coarsely ground. Add butter; pulse until combined. Press crumb mixture firmly into bottom of a 9-in. cast-iron or other ovenproof skillet. Bake until lightly browned, 12-15 minutes. Cool on a wire rack. In a small heavy saucepan, mix 1/4 cup sugar and flour. Whisk in milk. Cook and stir over medium heat until thickened and bubbly. Reduce heat to low; cook and stir 2 minutes longer. Remove from heat. In a small bowl, whisk a small amount of hot mixture into egg yolks; return all to pan, whisking constantly. Bring to a gentle boil; cook and stir 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in white chocolate, butter, orange extract and 1/4 teaspoon salt until chocolate is melted., Preheat oven to 350°. For meringue, in a large bowl, beat egg whites with remaining dash salt on medium speed until foamy. Gradually add remaining 1/4 cup sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating on high after each addition until sugar is dissolved. Continue beating until soft glossy peaks form. , Transfer hot filling to crust. Spread meringue evenly over filling, sealing to edge of crust. Bake until meringue is golden brown, 12-15 minutes. Cool 1 hour on a wire rack. Refrigerate at least 6 hours before serving.