Lemon Sugar
chocolate

Dark Chocolate Shortbread Tart

Is it me, or does this just scream Valentine’s Day?  It’s decadent and indulgent, a dark chocolate custard atop a buttery, shortbread crust.  Oh, and if that wasn’t enough –…

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By Lemon Sugar
Dark Chocolate Shortbread Tart

Chocolate Tart with Shortbread Crust | lemon-sugar.com

Is it me, or does this just scream Valentine’s Day?  It’s decadent and indulgent, a dark chocolate custard atop a buttery, shortbread crust.  Oh, and if that wasn’t enough – how about the heaping mound of sweet whipped cream right on top? I’m pretty sure this is why we have Valentine’s Day.  So we can eat things like this. Let’s just have another look, shall we?

Chocolate Tart with Shortbread Crust | lemon-sugar.com

 I’m a big fan of a standard graham cracker crust, and even a good chocolate wafer crust – but this?  Crumbly, buttery shortbread cookies pressed into a tart crust?  Major win. But here’s the best part:  the amazing shortbread crust is filled to the brim with a dark, slightly-sweet-slightly-bitter chocolate that thickens just the right amount.  And just when you think the chocolate is going to be too dark, (is there such a thing?) the sweetness takes over and is further relaxed by a nice big hit of sweetened cream. You guys.  I can’t.  I don’t have the words to express just how luxurious this tart really is. Here’s the secret: good chocolate. Not just good chocolate, really good chocolate.  REALLY, REALLY good chocolate.

Chocolate Tart with Shortbread Crust | lemon-sugar.com
When you find a good baking chocolate, you’ll know it.  The texture is better, the cocoa flavor is more prevalent.  It’s smoother, and more flavorful – perhaps not as sweet, but it doesn’t need to be as sweet because the ingredients are better. Cue my latest and greatest discovery:  Green & Black’s Organic Chocolate.  I love them for oh-so-many reasons – and if you’ll indulge me, I’d like to tell you about them here because not only am I smitten with the chocolate, I’m also kind of in love with the company. As you know, I’m a huge proponent for good quality, organic, local-when-possible ingredients.  I like to feel good about what I eat, what I serve to my family and friends, and who I support with my hard-earned money. Green & Black’s has a great story.  They were founded in 1991, and have always produced a high-quality, organic chocolate.  They have 11 different varieties; I like to bake with the dark and milk chocolates, and I like to eat the almond bar on days when I just need a little treat.
Chocolate Tart with Shortbread Crust | lemon-sugar.com

Even better?  Green & Black’s is Fairtrade certified. What the heck does that mean, anyway? Don’t feel bad, I didn’t know until several months ago, either. Essentially, it involves the production of certain foods (like cocoa, coffee, bananas, tea, and sugar) —in that they must be free of forced labor or poor working conditions for laborers. And perhaps most importantly, participating in a Fairtrade production chain can result in huge benefits for farmers. There are set “floor” prices, which protects smaller farms from fluctuating prices and from bigger, corporate farms from buying them when they are in a weaker market. Pretty awesome cause to support, right? Plus, you can just tell when good quality ingredients are used – and Green & Black’s is committed to creating a great-tasting organic chocolate bar – and I think the fact that they’re socially responsible just makes them taste even better.  They’re a great company, and I invite you to support them next time you see them at your market.  If you want more information about them, check out their website, their Facebook page and find them on Twitter.

Chocolate Tart with Shortbread Crust | lemon-sugar.com

I hope you give this recipe a try.  It’s a true treat, and for a chocolate lover, you just can’t go wrong.  Not a big dark chocolate fan?  Swap it out for some milk chocolate and you won’t be disappointed. What’s your favorite kind of chocolate – are you a white, dark or milk chocolate fan?  Let me know in a comment below, and you’ll be automatically entered for a chance to win a $100 cash equivalent gift card and a Green & Black’s Organic Chocolate prize pack of your own! Enjoy!  

This sweepstakes is sponsored and fulfilled by BlogHer. Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Green & Black’s Organic Chocolate. All opinions are 100% mine.
Dark Chocolate Shortbread Tart
 
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Inspired by Matt and Renato of Baked Elements: The Importance of Being Baked in 10 Favorite Ingredients">Baked Elements, this Dark Chocolate Tart is decadent, indulgent, and the perfect end to a celebratory feast.
Serves: 12-16 servings
Ingredients
Crust:
  • 8 ounces shortbread cookies
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 2 ounces (½ stick) unsalted butter, melted
Filling:
  • ¾ cup heavy cream
  • ⅓ cup whole milk
  • 5 ounces good-quality dark chocolate (60 to 72%), coarsely chopped
  • 4 ounces good-quality milk chocolate, coarsely chopped
  • 1 large egg, plus 1 large egg yolk
  • 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoons good-quality vanilla extract
Whipped Topping:
  • 1 and ½ cups whipping cream
  • ¼ cup confectioners sugar
  • 2 teaspoons good-quality vanilla extract
Instructions
Crust:
  1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees (F).
  2. Prepare a 9-inch springform pan with a light coating of cooking spray. Set aside
  3. In a food processor, pulse the cookies into fine crumbs.
  4. Pour the crumbs into a large bowl, and add sugar and salt. Stir to combine.
  5. Pour melted butter over the top of the crumbs and combine with a fork until all crumbs are moistened.
  6. Pour crumbs into springform pan, and use your hand or a flat-bottomed cup to spread into an even layer, coming up the sides of the pan about an inch and a half.
  7. Place crust into the freezer for about 15 minutes.
  8. Place the springform pan on a baking sheet, and bake for 10-25 minutes (depends on moisture content of cookies, mostly) or until the crust is just dry. Do not allow the crust to brown, but it must dry before you add the filling or you'll have a soggy crust. You can cover the pan with foil if yours takes a long time to dry.
  9. Remove from oven and set aside while you prepare the filling.
Filling:
  1. In a small saucepan over low heat, warm the milk and the cream until they begin to bubble at the sides of the pan and just start to steam.
  2. Remove from heat, and stir chopped chocolate into the cream mixture. Stir with a rubber spatula until chocolate is melted, completely combined, and smooth. Set aside to cool for about 15 minutes.
  3. Meanwhile, whisk together egg, egg yolk, flour and vanilla. Whisk vigorously until flour dissolves.
  4. Pour cooled chocolate into egg mixture, and whisk until completely combined.
  5. Pour chocolate mixture into the prepared tart crust.
  6. Again, place the pan on a baking sheet, and bake for about 25 minutes, or until the edges are slightly wet and the center is slightly jiggly.
  7. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
  8. Once cool, run a thin, offset spatula or a butter knife around the edge of the crust. Carefully release the springform.
Whipped cream:
  1. In a large bowl, beat cream on medium-high speed until the cream starts to firm up.
  2. Add vanilla and confectioners sugar, and continue beating until stiff peaks form.
  3. Spoon over top of tart, and enjoy!
  4. Keep refrigerated.

Entry Instructions: No duplicate comments. You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods: 1. Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post 2. Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: “#SweepstakesEntry”; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post 3. Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post 4. For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry. This sweepstakes is open to US Residents age 18 or older (or nineteen (19) years of age or older in Alabama and Nebraska). Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. The notification email will come directly from BlogHer via the sweeps@blogher email address. You will have 2 business days to respond; otherwise a new winner will be selected. The Official Rules are available here. This sweepstakes runs from 2/5/2015 – 3/31/2015. Be sure to visit the Green & Black’s Organic Chocolate brand page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ posts!
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Reader Notes 137 Comments View notes

  2. I like Milk Chocolate the best! I like the Green&Black’s Milk Chocolate the Best!

    my email jewelwood55(at)gmail(dot)com

    Reply

  3. I like white chocolate when it is mixed with other items such as pretzels and popcorn. I like milk chocolate on its own.

    Reply

  4. My ultimate top pick for a favorite in chocolate is the extra dark chocolate, so delicious.
    Nicole.ddziedzic at gmail dot com

    Reply

  6. I’m a fan of all chocolates. If I had to pick just one, I would go with white chocolate.

    mami2jcn at gmail dot com

    Reply

  13. I prefer mlk chocolate for frostings especially. But I can enjoy a good dose of dark chocolate, as well! Thank you!

    Reply

  14. I love my dark chocolate. The darker the better for eating and most baking. Truly enjoy Green and Black toffee bar for a treat too!

    Reply

  19. I’m definitely a dark chocolate-aholic. And scientific studies have shown that it’s good for you, so…no guilt right? 🙂

    Reply

  33. Dark Chocolate, please! Green & Black’s 70% is excellent! The quality of their chocolate is a difference you can taste!

    Reply

  36. I like dark and milk chocolate equally well – sometimes I’m in the mood for one and other times I’m in the mood for the other. I cannot eat white chocolate, however. I overdosed on it one Easter when I was a child and to this day it makes me ill just to think of it.

    Reply

  38. I am definitely a fan of milk chocolate the most.. I don’t really like white chocolate at all.

    prettyinhotpink6 at gmail dot com

    Reply

  70. My favorite is white chocolate! I have the ingredients to try making my own white chocolate, but I know nothing is better than having the best chocolate made – like Green and Blacks – yum!

    Reply

  73. I like milk chocolate and dark chocolate. My favorite changes by the mood I’m in. lol Thank you!
    crystalfaulkner2000 at yahoo dot com

    Reply

  74. Dark chocolate is my favorite! I like all chocolates if they are paired with other flavors correctly!

    Reply

  80. I love chocolate in all forms but I think when it comes to cookies or candy I like Dark Chocolate! truckredford(at)Gmail(Dot)com

    Reply

  92. I’ve never met a chocolate I didn’t like. I want to try their Ginger Dark chocolate.
    Thanks for the contest.
    slehan at juno dot com

    Reply

  98. Dark chocolate is by far my favorite. As I get older, I almost find baking chocolate appealing 😉
    dmarie824 at aol dot com

    Reply

  101. I enjoy both dark chocolate and milk chocolate, especially
    organic, but I am not a big fan of white chocolate.

    Reply

  123. I am definitely all about milk chocolate. I never eat white chocolate because, let’s face it, it is not REALLY even chocolate! LOL Dark chocolate is usually not on my radar because it is too bitter.

    Angie

    14earth at gmail dot com

    Reply
  136. Pingback: NewsCheek » 15 Dazzling Pies And Tarts Guaranteed To Make You Drool
  137. Pingback: 15 Dazzling Pie And Tart Recipes Guaranteed To Make You Drool! ⋆ Nifymag.com

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