CHEAT€™S CHOCOLATE TART
CHEAT€™S CHOCOLATE TART
CHEAT€™S CHOCOLATE TART

Ingredients
  • 175g/6oz plain flour
  • 40g/1½oz cocoa powder
  • 80g/3oz icing sugar
  • 140g/5oz butter
  • diced
  • 2 medium free-range egg yolks
  • 750g/1lb 10oz milk chocolate
  • 260ml/9½fl oz double cream
  • 120ml/4fl oz amaretto
  • 200g/7oz blanched almonds
  • 250g/9oz caster sugar
  • 100g/3½oz dark chocolate
  • finely grated
  • 75g/2½oz coffee beans
  • 1 tbsp freeze-dried coffee granules
  • dissolved in 1 tbsp boiling water
  • 3 tbsp coffee liqueur
  • 200ml/7fl oz double cream
  • 50g/1¾oz caster sugar
Directions
  • For the pastry
  • sift the flour
  • cocoa powder and icing sugar into a bowl. Add the butter and rub together using your fingers until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Add the egg yolks and mix together until it forms a dough. Add a little ice-cold water if the pastry feels dry. Wrap the dough in cling film and place in the fridge to rest for at least an hour.
  • Preheat the oven to 170C/340F/Gas 3½.
  • When the pastry is rested
  • lightly flour a work surface and roll out the dough into a circle about the thickness of a £1 coin. Lay the pastry over the tart case and gently push down to line
  • taking care to get the pastry right into the edges. Line the pastry with baking parchment and fill with baking beans or uncooked rice. Place the tart on a baking tray and bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes.
  • Carefully remove the baking parchment and beans and place the tart back in the oven to cook for a further 10-20 minutes
  • or until the base looks dry. Remove the tart from the oven and allow to cool. Once cooled
  • trim the pastry to tidy up the edges.
  • For the filling
  • break up the milk chocolate and place into a bowl over a pan of barely simmering water. Do not let the bowl touch the water. Once melted
  • remove the bowl from the heat.
  • In a pan over a medium heat
  • bring the double cream and amaretto to the boil. Pour the cream mixture over the melted chocolate
  • whisking everything together well. Pour this mixture into the cooked tart case and cool to room temperature before placing the tart in the fridge for 30 minutes
  • or until set.
  • For the topping
  • preheat the oven to 190C/375F/Gas 5 and place the almonds on a baking tray. Place in the oven and cook for 8-10 minutes
  • or until they are toasted and lightly browned. Remove from the oven and leave to cool for a few minutes. Line a tray or plate with baking parchment.
  • Put the caster sugar and 50ml/2fl oz water in a pan over a medium heat and cook until the sugar starts to colour. Stir in the almonds and mix until the sugar coats the almonds to give a frosted appearance. Transfer the almonds to the lined tray or plate and leave to cool. Once completely cooled
  • roughly chop the almonds into pieces.
  • For the coffee cream
  • mix the dissolved coffee granules and coffee liquor to a paste in a large bowl and add the sugar. Pour in the double cream and whisk to firm peaks
  • being careful not to over-whip it. Cover with cling film and place in the fridge until needed.
  • Check that the tart has set. If not
  • leave it in the fridge for a further 20 minutes. Once set
  • cover with grated chocolate and sprinkle with the coffee beans and frosted almonds. Serve with the whipped coffee cream.