I should have named this recipe Dark Side Chocolate and Chambord Tart, as I am pretty sure that it was this tart and not the Emperor that turned Anakin Skywalker from the Jedi’s path. Please pardon my blatant display of dorkery, Phil and I had a Star Wars marathon over the holidays and neither of us can seem to stop making wise cracks about the force. It has been like living in a Kevin Smith film.
Moving on.
On New Years Eve we had my old friend Marisa and her partner Carlos over for a late supper and a great view of the fireworks at the Space Needle. I planned to serve an early version of my smoked salmon pie (revised recipe to come), my favorite fennel salad (click the link, there is a new variation!), but until that morning I hadn’t even taken a moment to turn my mind toward dessert. I did however have a cupboard full of Theo Chocolate and a bottle of Chambord, both demanding to be used. I think some sort of Jedi mind trick may have been involved.
I simmered, melted and whisked my way to this gloriously luscious tart that bursts with flavor and melts on the tongue. I used the pate sablee recipe from The Chocolate & Zucchini Cookbook, but your favorite pate sucre would do just as well. I urge you to use a good quality chocolate, no higher than 75% cacao. The Theo blend I used, while robust in flavor is not sharp or winey and allows the juicy fresh raspberry flavor of the Chambord to burst forth.
I highly recommend only serving small pieces of this tart. Normally, I would serve a tart between eight people, this could easily serve sixteen as it’s decadence can bring down even the strongest among us.
Dark Chocolate Chambord Tart
1 recipe Pate Sucre or Pate Sablee, prepared and baked until golden
2/3 cup Heavy Cream
1/3 cup Chambord
6 oz.-8oz. (see note) Dark Chocolate, chopped fine and placed into a large bowl
A pinch, Fine Grained Sel de Mer
Over medium low heat bring the Cream and Chambord to a simmer in a sauce pan. When the steam begins to rise from your pot, remove from the heat and pour into the bowl of chocolate whisking well to combine. Add in your pinch of salt, mixing well. Allow the mixture to cool slightly before pouring into your prepared tart shell. Allow your tart to set before serving.
Notes:
Do not put the tart in the refrigerator until it has cooled fully or risk blooming.
I used a vegan bar made by Theo Chocolate, which is quite dense and a little different to work with than some chocolate. Depending on the dairy content of your chocolate, you may want to add a bit more than 6 oz. of chocolate.
Variations:
During Raspberry season, top the ganache filling with fresh raspberries.
Spread a thin layer of raspberry jam on the crust before adding the ganache filling for a little surprise at the bottom.
Make a simple sauce of sugar and Chambord and drizzle lightly over the plate before serving.
Use Milk Chocolate.
That has got to be one of the most decadent and delicious things I’ve ever seen. I think you’ve done Theo and his chocolate very proud.
Thanks Leslie!
See?! I’ve got about 10 holiday pounds to take off and then you put up something irresistible like this. I have to go pout.
I love that trick of a little something lurking underneath the chocolate! I also love Chambord.
Rainey, I promise to put up something spectacularly healthy in the next couple of weeks. Thanks!
This tart could definitely lure me to its side..dark or otherwise! It sounds amazing!
Actually I think it was the Emperor’s version of this tart that turned Anakin to the Dark (and gooey) side of the Force. But I could be wrong.
Here we had four lots of Wallace and Gromit including the new one A matter of Loaf and Death starring Wallace’s new love – Pie-ella Bakewell!
I suspect that Rainey would like this one. It could have you baking, but with one eye on the kitchen door, just in case!
Griffin, I’ve heard the Emperor is really quite something in the kitchen!
mmm . . . Bakewell tarts, delicious.
that looks amazing! something about the holdiays makes everyone crave chocolate — i just made a mega-chocolate dessert too.
Thanks Katy, and welcome to The Endive Chronicles!
Erin,
Are you trying to kill John? Sounds yummy but I will have to resist. No need to send my husband into a chocolate induced coma. Love H.
This looks absolutely delicious! I must try it soon.
Heidi, I guess you’ll just have to drink the Chambord instead of eat it!
Bret, Thank you and welcome!
That sounds incredible! A mix of all my favorites. Yum.
Deelish Dish, Thank you and welcome!
It’s shameful, I know, but I have never seen Star Wars. However, I’m much more interested in this beautiful chocolate tart! It’s just gorgeous!!
Andrea, it is a brave thing to be able to admit that out in the open. The next step is to see it, if you can find the original cut without all of the “tweaking” that is. Thank you, I hope you enjoy the tart and welcome!