Chocolate Espresso Tart Recipes

CHOCOLATE-ESPRESSO TART

Steps:

• Make the ganache: Put chocolate into a medium heatproof bowl, and set aside. Bring cream and espresso to a boil in a small pan. Pour through a fine sieve over the chocolate; discard solids. Let stand 2 minutes, then whisk until smooth. Let cool to room temperature, 1 to 2 hours.
• Make the tart shell: Sift flour, salt, and cocoa powder into a medium bowl; set aside. Put butter and sugar into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment; mix on medium speed until pale and fluffy, about 4 minutes. Add egg and vanilla, and mix until combined, scraping down sides of bowl as needed. Reduce speed to low. Gradually add the flour mixture in 3 batches, alternating with the cream. Shape dough into a thick rectangle; wrap in plastic. Refrigerate until cold, about 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Roll out dough between 2 pieces of lightly floured parchment paper to a 16-by-6-inch rectangle, about 1/4 inch thick. Press dough into a 14-by-4 1/2-inch rectangular flan frame set on a baking sheet lined with parchment. Trim dough flush with top edge. Prick all over bottom of shell with a fork. Bake until firm, 18 to 20 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack; let cool completely. Unmold.
• Put ganache into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment; beat on medium-high speed until soft peaks form, about 4 minutes. Transfer to a pastry bag fitted with a large star tip (such as Ateco No. 828).
• Smooth mascarpone cheese over bottom of tart shell with an offset spatula.
• Pipe ganache rosettes, one next to the other, on top of mascarpone to cover.

CHOCOLATE-ESPRESSO KAHLUA TART

Steps:

• Crust:Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Toast hazelnuts in oven on a rimmed baking sheet until skins split and flesh turns deep golden brown, 10 to 12 minutes. When cool enough to handle, rub nuts in a clean kitchen towel to remove skins (some will remain). Let cool completely. Finely grind in a food processor. Reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees.
• Stir together nuts, cookie crumbs, espresso powder, salt, and butter. Press onto bottom and up sides of an 11-inch round tart pan with a removable bottom. Refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes.
• Bake tart shell on a baking sheet until firm to the touch, about 20 minutes. Let cool completely on a wire rack.
• Mousse:Whisk liqueur, cocoa, egg yolks, espresso powder, and salt in a medium bowl. Melt chocolate and butter in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water. Whisk in liqueur mixture. Cook, whisking, until mixture is thickened and registers 160 degrees on an instant-read thermometer. Let cool completely.
• Beat cream just to stiff peaks; set aside. Whisk egg whites and sugar in the heatproof bowl of an electric mixer set over a pan of simmering water. Cook, whisking, until sugar is dissolved and mixture registers 140 degrees on thermometer.
• Fit mixer with the whisk attachment; transfer bowl with meringue to mixer. Starting on medium speed and gradually increasing to high, beat meringue until shiny and cool. Using a rubber spatula, fold chocolate mixture and then whipped cream into meringue. Spread in tart shell. Refrigerate until set, about 1 hour.

CHOCOLATE ESPRESSO TORTE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F Butter an 8-inch cake pan (I used a springform pan) and line bottom with parchment paper. Butter the parchment and lightly flour (or use cocoa) the pan, shaking out excess.
• In a small, heavy-based saucepan, melt chocolate and butter over medium heat, stirring frequently. Set aside.
• Using the whisk attachment of a stand mixer, whip the eggs, sugar, brewed espresso, ground espresso beans, and salt on medium-high speed until thick and voluminous, at least 8 minutes (I mixed about 10 minutes). Turn the mixer to low and mix in the chocolate-butter mixture. Turn off mixer and sift the flour over the batter and fold until all the ingredients are fully incorporated.
• Pour batter into prepared pan and bake until a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean, 25-30 minutes.
• Cool in the pan on a rack for 10 minutes. Set a plate over the torte and carefully invert the torte onto the plate; peel off the parchment. Flip the torte back onto the rack to cool completely before slicing. (Since I used a springform pan, I let it cool completely in the pan.).

CHOCOLATE ESPRESSO KAHLUA TART

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• Spread hazelnuts in a single layer on a baking sheet.
• Toast until skins split and nuts turn golden brown, around 10 minutes, shaking pan a few times so the nuts do not burn.
• Remove from oven, reduce heat to 325 degrees.
• Rub nuts with a towel to remove skins.
• Cool then finely grind in a food processor.
• In a small bowl combine the ground nuts, cookie crumbs, espresso powder, salt and butter.
• Press into the bottom and up the sides of a 11 inch round tart pan.
• Chill for 30 minutes.
• Place chilled tart shell on a baking sheet and cook for 20 minutes.
• Cool Completely.
• In a medium bowl whisk together the Kahlua, cocoa, egg yolks, espresso powder and salt.
• Melt butter and chocolate in a double boiler.
• Whisk in Kahlua mixture.
• Continue whisking until mixture has thickened and registers 160 degrees on an instant read thermometer.
• Remove from heat and let cool completely.
• Using an electric mixer beat cream until you get stiff peaks.
• Whisk egg whites and sugar in a double boiler over simmering water.
• Keep whisking until sugar is dissolved and meringue registers 160 degrees on thermometer.
• Remove from heat.
• Whisk on medium speed until soft peaks form.
• On high speed continue to whisk until peaks are stiff and glossy.
• Using a spatula gently fold in chocolate mixture, then whipped cream.
• Spread evenly into cooled tart shell.
• Chill 2 hours or overnight.