Showing posts with label mint. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mint. Show all posts

Sunday, May 23, 2010

Fresh Mint Chocolate Truffle Tart

I love chocolate mint combinations and this did not fail. However I will note that this chocolate mint combo is not similar to an Andes mint or a girl scout cookie. This is fresh mint...it's like if you were to purchase some mint and smell it, that's the mint taste in this dessert because its fresh mint and not mint extract. That being mentioned, this would also be wonderful using the extract versus the fresh mint if you prefer. (Wow I just used the word 9 times is 4 sentences-yikes)

This tart was fairly quick and easy, I made the dough in a food processor, though you don't have to. Instead of chopping up chocolate bars, I used chocolate chips. Please give this a try!



Fresh Mint Chocolate Truffle Tart (from William Sonoma)

1 rolled-out rectangle of basic tart dough (from here)
1 1⁄2 cups heavy cream
8 to 10 fresh mint sprigs (about 40 leaves), plus sprigs for garnish
12 oz. semisweet chocolate, chopped into small slivers, or use chocolate chips
2 Tbs. light corn syrup
Confectioners’ sugar or unsweetened cocoa powder for dusting

Fold the dough rectangle in half and carefully transfer to a 9" tart pan, preferably with a removable bottom. Unfold and ease the rectangle into the pan, without stretching it, and pat it firmly into the bottom and up the sides of the pan. Trim off any excess dough by gently running a rolling pin across the top of the pan. Press the dough into the sides to extend it slightly above the rim to offset any shrinkage during baking.

Refrigerate or freeze the tart shell until firm, about 30 minutes. Meanwhile, position a rack in the lower third of an oven and preheat to 375°F.

Line the pastry shell with aluminum foil or parchment paper and fill with pie weights or raw short-grain rice. Bake for 20 minutes, then lift an edge of the foil. If the dough looks wet, continue to bake, checking every 5 minutes, until the dough is pale gold, for a total baking time of 25 to 30 minutes. Remove the weights and foil. Continue to bake until the shell is golden, 7 to 10 minutes more. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool completely.

In a small saucepan over medium heat, warm the cream until small bubbles appear on the surface. Remove from the heat and add the mint sprigs. Let stand for 20 to 30 minutes.

Put the chocolate in the top of a double boiler, set over but not touching barely simmering water and melt, stirring occasionally. Pour the cream through a fine-mesh sieve into the melted chocolate, discarding the mint sprigs. Add the corn syrup and stir until smooth. Pour the filling into the tart shell.

Refrigerate until well chilled, about 1 hour. If using a tart pan with a removable bottom, let the sides fall away, then slide the tart onto a serving plate. Let stand at room temperature for 20 minutes before serving to take the chill off. Just before serving, lay strips of waxed paper over the top of the tart and dust lightly with confectioners sugar. Carefully remove the strips and garnish with fresh mint sprigs.

Enjoy!