serves
8-12
prep
40 minutes
cook
35 minutes
difficulty
Mid
serves
8-12
people
preparation
40
minutes
cooking
35
minutes
difficulty
Mid
level
Ingredients
Crust
- 1¼ cups (185 g) plain (all-purpose) flour
- ¼ cup (30 g) Dutch process cocoa powder
- ¼ cup (50 g) granulated sugar
- ¼ tsp (1 g) salt
- ½ cup (115 g) cool (not cold) butter, cut into pieces
- 1 large egg yolk
- 3 tsp (15 ml) cool water
Truffle Layer
- ½ cup (125 ml) whipping cream
- 120 g (4 oz) chopped bittersweet chocolate
- 25 g (1½ tbsp) granulated sugar
- 1 large egg, at room temperature
- 1 tsp (5 ml) vanilla extract
Fluffy Layer
- 3 large eggs
- ⅓ cup (70 g) granulated sugar
- 1½ tbsp (30 ml) water
- pinch salt
- 360 g (12 oz) milk chocolate, chopped
- 115 g unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1 cup (250 ml) whipping cream
- 1 tsp (5 ml) vanilla extract
- chocolate shavings, for décor
Chilling time: 2 hours + 30 minutes + 1 hour + 3 hours.
Instructions
1. For the crust, sift the flour, cocoa, sugar and salt into a large mixing bowl or in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Add the butter and mix or cut in with a cut a pastry cutter, if mixing by hand, until a rough crumbly texture, and no large bits of butter are visible. Whisk the egg yolk and water together and add this to the bowl, and blend until the dough just comes together. Shape this into a disc, wrap in plastic wrap and chill for at least 2 hours.
2. Lightly knead the dough a minute on a lightly floured surface, to soften it just slightly. Roll the dough out into a circle just under 6 mm (¼ in) thick. Line a 23 cm (9 in) fluted removable-bottom tart pan with the pastry and press in, trimming away any excess. Chill this for at least 30 minutes.
3. Preheat the oven to 160°C (325 °F). Dock the bottom of the pastry with a fork (this prevents the crust from developing air pockets) and bake for about 20 minutes, until the pastry loses its shine at the centre of the shell. Cool the pan on a rack and keep the oven at 160°C (325 °F).
4. For the truffle layer, bring the cream to a boil in a small saucepan (watch it carefully – it will boil up quickly) and pour this over the chopped chocolate. Let this sit for 30 seconds then slowly stir it until smooth. Whisk in the sugar. Break the egg into a small dish and stir it a little before adding to the chocolate along with the vanilla and whisking in well. Pour the truffle filling into the cooled shell and bake for 10 minutes (there will be no visible difference – it will still seem fluid). Cool the tart on a rack and then chill for at least an hour.
5. For the fluffy layer, whisk the eggs, sugar, water and salt in a metal bowl placed over a pot of gently simmering water and whisk vigorously until the mixture holds a ribbon when the whisk is lifted, about 8 minutes. Pour this directly over the chopped milk chocolate and whisk until smooth, returning to the heat if needed, to make sure there are no unmelted chocolate bits. Set aside to cool to room temperature (this won’t take too long).
6. Using electric beaters, or placing the chocolate base into the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whip attachment, add the butter and whip until it is fully incorporated. In a separate bowl whip the cream and vanilla to a soft peak and fold into the chocolate until evenly combined. Spread this over the tart (it will be soft but not fluid) and chill for at least 3 hours before serving. Use a vegetable peeler to make chocolate shavings and sprinkle them over the tart.
Cook's Notes
Oven temperatures are for conventional; if using fan-forced (convection), reduce the temperature by 20˚C. | We use Australian tablespoons and cups: 1 teaspoon equals 5 ml; 1 tablespoon equals 20 ml; 1 cup equals 250 ml. | All herbs are fresh (unless specified) and cups are lightly packed. | All vegetables are medium size and peeled, unless specified. | All eggs are 55-60 g, unless specified.
