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Bittersweet Chocolate Tart with Irish Cream

Bittersweet Chocolate Tart with Irish Cream

This chocolate tart is so delicious—I want to make it a new tradition at the holidays. I had to pipe the whipped cream into fleur de lis to guild the lily and you must garnish with chocolate shavings! If you don't want to include the Irish cream, you can omit it.
Servings: 1 10-inch tart

Ingredients

Shortbread Crust

  • 10 tbsp (142g) unsalted butter room temperature
  • 1/3 cup (65g) granulated sugar
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 large egg, plus 1 large egg yolk
  • 1 tsp pure vanilla extract make homemade vanilla
  • 2 cup (284g) all-purpose flour
  • Egg wash See notes

Chocolate Filling

  • 9 oz (255g) bittersweet or semisweet chocolate
  • 3/4 cup (180g) heavy cream
  • 1/3 cup (80g) Irish cream optional
  • 1 large egg plus 2 large egg yolks room temperature
  • 1 tsp pure vanilla extract make homemade vanilla

Whipped Cream

Instructions

Shortbread Crust

  • In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle, beat the butter on low speed until creamy, about 1 minute. Add the sugar and salt and beat again on low speed until creamy and combined, 2 minutes. Scrape down the sides and add the egg, egg yolk, and vanilla and beat on low speed until combined. Add the flour and mix on low speed until the dough comes together.
  • Press the dough into the bottom and up the sides of a 10 in [25 cm] tart pan with a removable bottom (see note, page 104).Press and smooth the dough with your hands to an even thickness. Place the pan on a sheet pan and transfer to the freezer until the dough is firm, 20 to 30 minutes.
  • Adjust an oven rack to the middle position and preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C).
  • Remove the pan from the freezer and line the pan with parchment paper, covering the edges to prevent burning. Fill the center with pie weights.
  • Bake for 24 to 28 minutes, until the dough is light golden brown and no longer wet. Remove the tart pan from the oven and carefully remove the pie weights and parchment paper. Brush the center of the tart with the egg wash. Return the pan to the oven and bake for 3 to 6 minutes, until deep golden brown. Transfer the pan to a wire rack and let cool completely.

Chocolate Tart Filling

  • Place the chocolate in a medium bowl. Heat the heavy cream in a small saucepan over medium heat until it is simmering and just about to boil. Pour the cream over the chocolate, cover the bowl with plastic wrap, and let it sit for 5 minutes.
  • Remove the plastic and whisk until smooth. Whisk in the Irish cream, if using, egg, egg yolks, vanilla, and salt.

Assemble the Chocolate Tart

  • Pour the chocolate filling into the prepared tart shell. Bake until the center seems set but still jiggles slightly, like Jell-O, when the pan is shaken, 15 to 18 minutes.
  • Move the pan to a wire rack to cool. Serve at room temperature with whipped cream (instructions below). The tart is best eaten the day it is baked, but can be stored loosely covered in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.

Whipped Cream

  • Ten minutes before whipping the cream, place the bowl and whisk from a stand mixer in the freezer and let chill.
  • In a stand mixer fitted with the chilled whisk, whisk together the heavy cream, sugar, vanilla, and salt in the chilled bowl on low speed for 30 to 45 seconds.
  • Increase the speed to medium and beat for 30 to 45 seconds. Increase the speed to high and beat until the cream is smooth, thick, and nearly double in volume, 30 to 60 seconds. The whipped cream can be made 2 hours ahead of time and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Notes

Tart pans come in many different depths; some are very shallow. You will need a pan that is 1 1⁄2 to 2 in [4 to 5 cm] in height for this recipe.
To make an egg wash, use a fork to whisk 1 large egg, a pinch of salt, and 1 tablespoon of water together in a small bowl.