Chocolate Sweet Tart Crust Recipes

CHOCOLATE SWEET TART CRUST

Steps:

• In a bowl, whisk together the flour and cocoa powder until combined.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (or with a hand mixer), cream together the butter, sugar and salt until smooth. Scrape down the sides.
• Add in the egg and mix until incorporated, then scrape down the sides again.
• Add the flour and cocoa powder and mix on low until just incorporated.
• Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and flatten into a 1-inch thick disc. Place in the fridge for two hours.
• Remove the dough from the fridge and allow it to sit at room temperature for about 15 minutes. Then, remove the plastic wrap.
• Flour your work surface and rolling pin and roll out the dough until it's ⅛-¼" thick. This dough is very forgiving, so if it cracks, you can patch it later. Roll the dough so it's about 2 inches wider than the tart pan.
• Transfer the dough to the pan and press it into the bottom, corners, and sides of the tart pan. Roll the rolling pin over the top of the pan to remove the excess dough, then push the sides in once again and use a finger to slightly push down the top to smooth it out. Use any of the scraps to patch holes or weak spots.
• Transfer to the freezer for 15 minutes, and preheat the oven to 325℉/163℃. Remove the dough from the freezer and dock the bottom of the tart with a fork multiple times. Line the shell with parchment paper and fill completely with pie weights (or dried beans/rice).
• Bake for 10-15 minutes. Carefully remove the weights and parchment, and continue to bake for another 10-15 minutes until lightly golden. When done, the middle of the tart should not look moist or raw. Remove the pan to a wire rack to cool completely.

JULIA'S CHOCOLATE TART DOUGH

Steps:

• To make dough in food processor fitted with metal blade: put the flour, cocoa, sugar and salt in work bowl and pulse just to blend.
• Add butter and pulse 8-10 times, until pieces are about the size of small peas.
• With machine running, add yolk and ice water and process, in short bursts, until JUST crumbly- don't overwork it!
• Turn it out onto the work surface and, working with small portions, smear the dough across the surface with the heel of your hand.
• Gather the dough together and shape it into a rough square.
• Pat it down to compress it slightly, and wrap in plastic.
• Chill until firm, at least 30 minutes.
• The dough can remain in the refrigerator for 3 days, or it can be wrapped airtight and frozen for a month.
• Thaw the dough, still wrapped, overnight in the refrigerator before rolling it out.
• Cook's note: When I made this, I stuck the dough in the freezer to chill, then promptly forgot about it.
• 4 hours later, when I remembered to pull it out, it was frozen solid.
• I pulled out my box grater and grated it directly into the pie pan.
• It worked beautifully, no roling involed: just patted it all down into place.