TWD: Chocolate Truffle Tart

Before I even looked at this recipe, I knew that I would have to make this one on a day that I was having company.  The name alone, I thought, conveyed its decadence. It turns out that I was wrong.  I assumed that the tart would be sweet (it was);  require a coffee alongside of it (it did); and pack more calories than my postpartum self cares to consume at the moment (it probably does).  However, what I had not counted on was the intense chocolate flavor coming from the bittersweet chocolate that is the main ingredient in the tart.  In the end, it turns out that the calories don't concern me that much because I can't eat more than a sliver of this dessert before deciding that I am done.  It is actually so rich that even I, a consummate chocoholic, can resist overindulging in it.

Before baking it, I was not sure what to expect in terms of the tart's consistency.   Would the filling be creamy?  Would it be like a mousse?  Or, would it be like a brownie?  As it turns out, the filling has a consistency that is somewhere between that of a fudge brownie and that of a mousse.  It holds its shape perfectly when it is cut and it is soft to the bite, but it is denser than a mousse.  The almost cookie-like chocolate crust and the biscotti pieces that are folded into the filling act as perfect foils to the filling's soft texture.

While the recipe as written makes smaller tartlets, I used a 10" tart pan to make one large tart.  I figured that this would be less time consuming; after all, time is of the essence when you have a four-month-old baby dictating your schedule.  Also, I had spent some extra time making the biscotti for this recipe from scratch, so I figured a shortcut was warranted elsewhere.

Making one tart worked out perfectly.  I found that the crust cooked in 20 minutes and, after that, the filled tart  took another 20 minutes to bake.  While this recipe was time consuming, it was pretty easy.  So easy, in fact, that I think I will make tarts more often from now on.  That said, while I did enjoy this one, I personally prefer tarts with a lighter flavor.  If only strawberries were in season....

If you would like to get the recipe so that you too can indulge in a slice of utter decadence, please visit A Whisk & a Spoon, Spike Bakes, Good Eats and Sweet Treats, or Cookbookhabit.