I grew up in Colorado (among other places) and I collected several cookbooks from the Junior League of Denver. My favorite cookbook is Colorado Collage. I believe it’s still in print, so look for it online and snap up a copy. You can find this recipe, Chocolate Raspberry Tart, in the cookbook on page 350, but I tweak it a bit. I use the crust recipe from my other favorite dessert recipe, Almond Tart, on page 348. I don’t like to roll out and chill pie crust, so this crust recipe is actually fairly simple.
I love this dessert because it is delicious, not overly complicated, and perfect for a special occasion. But buckle up, because you’re going to need 2 sticks of butter and a special tart pan with a removable bottom. It’s worth it!
Chocolate Raspberry Tart
(inspired by Colorado Collage cookbook)
Crust:
1 cup flour
1 T sugar
pinch of salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
1 T vanilla
1 1/2 tsp water
Filling:
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
4 ounces semisweet chocolate
3/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 egg yolk
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/4 cup half and half
Topping:
1/2 cup seedless raspberry jam
1 cup fresh raspberries, rinse and pat dry
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. You’ll need a 9-inch tart pan with a removable bottom. Lightly grease the pan. (I use cooking spray). In a food processor, combine flour, sugar, salt, and butter. Mix or pulse until it is crumbly. In a separate small bowl, combine the vanilla and water. Slowly add this vanilla mixture to the flour mixture while the processor is running. Process the dough until it forms a ball. [Note: you can make the crust without a food processor, but I find it takes significantly longer.]
Press the dough into the tart pan. Pat the crust until it covers the bottom of the pan and up the sides. Bake for 10 minutes. It will be light brown. Cool the crust on a rack and reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees.
In a medium saucepan, melt the butter and chocolate over low heat. When melted, add the sugar, eggs, yolk, and vanilla. Stir until smooth, remove from heat, and stir in the half and half. Pour into the prepared crust. Bake for 25 minutes until set. Cool on a rack.
In a small saucepan, melt the raspberry jam over low heat. Carefully spoon half the melted jam over the tart. Decorate with the fresh raspberries and drizzle the remaining jam over the fruit.
You can serve the tart at room temperature or chilled.
Let me know if you make it. It really is divine, but with two sticks of butter, chocolate, and fresh raspberries it has to be amazing. Enjoy!
