Valentine's Day is right around the corner. Whether you are trying to forget the holiday or you are pumping up your romance muscles, you cannot possibly ignore the mounds of boxed candies at the grocery store, the cheesy Hallmark cards, and the increased frequency of the Kay Jewelers commercials.
I think most people take issue with Valentine's Day because it is a specific day artificially designated to show your spouse/girlfriend/boyfriend/secret lover (ha!) just how much you care by showering them with expensive gifts or fancy dinners. Frankly, most people don't like to be told what or when to do something, and they also don't feel like they need to go to extreme measures to share their affection. Fair enough. If you are one of these people, then honestly, don't do it. Seriously.
But if you do your best to shun the commercialized products and get over your issues with the big V Day, you just might be able to get to the core of a holiday that is supposed to be only about love. And no matter how big of a scrooge you are, don't try to tell me that spreading a little bit of extra L.O.V.E. around is a bad thing.
Here's what I say: forget about the actual day, and just let it serve as a reminder. Instead of celebrating love only on Valentine's Day, we should use the other 364 days of the year to take the time to show those we love that we care about them and appreciate them. Tell your husband that you love him everyday; hug your kids and tell them how special they are; talk to your mom and tell her how much you miss her; and while we are at it, remind yourself of how amazing you are. These are things that we cannot do often enough.
And since you don't need to wait for Valentine's day to show affection, there is no reason to wait for a special occasion to make this Dark Chocolate Truffle Tart. Sure, chocolate is almost synonymous with Valentine's Day so of course it would be perfect for your sweetheart, but I sort of think that any day is a good day for chocolate. (Please tell me you agree, I will be very sad if you don't.)
If you go ahead and surprise someone with this tart (or um, make it all for yourself?) they will certainly think you are a culinary cupid who has mastered the art of baking; go ahead and let them think that, while you sit comfortably knowing that you produced this luscious dessert without even using a mixer. Yes, you heard me right, all you need is a whisk and a pan and you can deliver up rich, creamy, dark chocolate any day of the week.
Can anyone resist chocolate? I think not. Now go spread some chocolate love.
Thinking you would rather have a different sort of dessert to show your love? Check out one of these other swoon-inducing recipes:
Dark Chocolate Truffle Tart
Adapted from Gourmet
This is dessert is labelled as a tart, but you make it in a springform pan so it is sort of non-traditional. The 'truffle' part of the name comes from the dusting of cocoa powder on the top that is reminiscent of a classic chocolate truffle. The original recipe just calls for dark chocolate, but I tried it with Lindt Excellence 'Hint of Sea Salt' and also Green & Black's 'Maya Gold' and both times it was delicious. This tart is rich, so either serve it in small slices or accompany it with some whipped cream or berries.
3/4 stick butter, melted and cooled
1 3/4 cup chocolate cookie crumbs
2 eggs, plus 1 yolk
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup heavy cream
2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp salt
10 oz dark chocolate, not more than 60% cacao
1 stick butter, cut into small cubes, room temperature
Cocoa powder for dusting on the top
Special Equipment: A 9-inch springform pan*, the bottom wrapped with foil (in case of leaks)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. In a medium bowl, mix chocolate cookie crumbs with the melted and cooled butter. Spoon the crumb mixture into the springform pan, and pat the crumbs onto the bottom and about 1 1/2 inch up the sides. (Use a measuring cup or a glass to help press the crumbs on the sides and into the corners.) Bake the crust in the preheated oven for about 10-13 minutes, or until dark and slightly puffed. Cool the crust on a wire rack while you prepare the filling.
To make dark chocolate filling, first whisk together eggs, sugar, heavy cream, salt, and vanilla extract in a large bowl and set it aside. Next, melt chocolate and butter in a heavy pot over medium heat, stirring continuously. When the chocolate is smooth and glossy, remove it from the heat and let it cool for about five minutes. (If you add it directly to the eggs and cream, it could scramble the eggs.) Once the chocolate is cooled, whisk it into the egg mixture until smooth. Don't overdo the whisking, or you will incorporate a lot of air bubbles.
Pour the chocolate filling into the baked and cooled crust, and tap the pan once against the countertop to let any air bubbles come to the surface. Smooth out the top, then put the tart into the oven and bake for about 22-28 minutes; the range of baking time is large because if you take the tart out sooner, the center will be more pudding-like, while if you let it bake longer, the center will set more fully and the consistency of the tart will be uniform from edge to center (this is what I preferred). Fully cool the tart on a wire rack, then chill for an additional 3-4 hours. Sift cocoa powder over the top in a thin layer. Let the tart come to room temperature before slicing to get the best rich, creamy consistency. Tart can be kept chilled for 1 week.
*If you don't have a springform pan, I think you could bake this in a regular 9-inch diameter round baking pan. But, I haven't tried it myself.
Wow that looks decadent...give me a fork and tall glass of milk and I'm good.
ReplyDeleteOk that looks fabulous beyond words. And I love how easy it looks to make. I've just been on a baking frenzy for Valentine's but this has been bookmarked for future use!
ReplyDeleteo man...this truffle tart looks sinfully decadent!
ReplyDeleteThat looks amazing... and you didn't bring any on our road trip north! ;) And don't get me started on jewelry store commercials.
ReplyDeleteWhat a sinfully delicious tart! The filling is so luscious.
ReplyDeleteCheers.
Rosa
What a rich and indulgence tart and you are right, this can be had any day and not just V day :)
ReplyDeleteGoodness that does look rich! You're right everyday is a good day for chocolate.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like a rich chocolate filling :) and looks really amazing
ReplyDeleteMmmm,mmmm, mmmm. No one should have to wait for Valentine's Day for a dessert this amazing!
ReplyDeleteOh, my, you're speaking my language...what a spectacular tart!!!
ReplyDeletebeautifully presented looks delicious
ReplyDeleteI approve of Valentine's Day for only one reason... any excuse to have chocolate is a good one. :)
ReplyDeleteAnd really, who wouldn't want an excuse to make such a gorgeous tart? (Not that it isn't justifiable in and of itself, mind you)
I'm making this for MYSELF this Valentines. Wow- gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteYour tart looks devine.
ReplyDeleteThis Tart looks absolutely Divine! I want a piece right now! Happy Valentines Day! :)
ReplyDeleteOh, oh, oh MY!!! This one has my heart. Your pictures are so beautiful and I can almost taste it thru the screen. Absolutely divine!!!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos, Amanda! I do not need Valentine's day to make something as amazing as this tart. My girls will haunt me for days to do it. Chocolate=love any day of the year:)
ReplyDeleteI hope you feel better.
Sinfully rich and delicious! Love it!
ReplyDeleteThat looks like one rich tart! It's definitely an 'any-day-of-the-year' kind of treat!
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness this looks fabulous! We're not big Vday celebrators but I think I could get away with making something like this! Delicious!!
ReplyDelete365 days of chocolate love~ I can do that!
ReplyDeleteHappy Valentine's Day
This looks beyond decadently delightful. Pure chocolate bliss.
ReplyDeleteYour photographs are GORGEOUS. And your desserts always look absolutely delicious.
ReplyDeleteFabulous fabulous.
You inspire me!
I'm with you- people shouldn't wait for a special day to let people know how special they are. :) Your chocolate truffle tart would definitely be a wonderful way to show chocolate love. :)
ReplyDeleteWow this looks absolutely amazing!!
ReplyDeleteI would love a bite of this :)
Can i be your valentine? So I can get a slice of that pie hehehe.
ReplyDeletewe don't celebrate V-day, but i'll pretend for your benefit if you'll be kind enough to share your tart! epic deliciousness!
ReplyDeleteJust when I think that I can't love chocolate anymore than I do, you go and prove me wrong. Yum!! :o)
ReplyDeleteI would definitely love you if you shared this tart with me! Ha. Happy Valentine's Day!
ReplyDeleteOh my word... Could that look any more decadent? I can just imagine this being a blissful treat to eat!
ReplyDeleteYes, let's celebrate chocolate all year round! This tart looks rich and tasty. Love the crust.
ReplyDeleteisn't chocolate tart the most romantic kind of dessert?! I made a kind of chocolate tart yesterday for the Valentines Day as well and this is what I'm gonna try next :-)
ReplyDeleteHappy valentines day!!
wowzer, what a beautiful tart!
ReplyDeleteOh my word, that looks so good. I seriously want to reach into my computer screen and take a slice out right now. Hope you enjoyed it! :)
ReplyDeletethis looks so good!
ReplyDeleteOh my, my favorite things all in one tart...looks delightful! Hope you had a wonderful valentines day :)
ReplyDeleteI love dark chocolate and this looks sinful in the best way possible!
ReplyDeleteOh wow, that looks AHmazing! I need to make this asap!
ReplyDeletethats awesome! mmm...
ReplyDeleteThis is really delicious! My sweet tooth is telling me to make some!
ReplyDeleteone word....DELICIOUS!!!!!
ReplyDeleteMade it today and brought to a good friend´s Birthday party. It was a huge hit! Thx!
ReplyDeleteJanieBAKER: Glad to hear your friends loved it! This would be the perfect thing for a birthday celebration! :)
ReplyDeleteI definitely have issues with Valentine's Day. I think it's a lot of pressure for one day to show the person you care about that you, er, care. And though I'm all for spreading and sharing the love, I don't think you need to do it specifically on Valentine's Day.
ReplyDeleteBut hey, I'm a single girl saying this, so what do I know, right? ;) But seriously, even when I have been loved up in time for V-Day I've still never really held much stock in it. Last year I went over to my boyfriend's, we went out for a random dinner (the only Italian joint in town, which was terrible and covered in cheesy heart balloons, so we spent the entire time making fun of everybody around us), then went home, watched a movie and fell asleep. No cards, no gifts, no homebaked goods. And that's fine! I showed him plenty that I cared about him outside of that one day.
This year I spent my V-Day with a girl friend, getting our hair, nails & make-up did, then hopped a bus to Seattle to see the Salty One, and y'know what? That was as just a good a V-Day as any!
HOWEVER. Having rambled on about that for long enough, I would happily make this truffle tart for anybody, regardless of whether or not I was dating them, regardless of the day, based purely on the fact that it looks wonderful and I'd be happy to make it for anybody I loved, friend, lover, family or otherwise! ;)
Jax x
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeletewho needs boyfriends when you have this tart??!!
ReplyDeleteI just made one, and epically awesome does not even come close to describing it :) thaaaank you!!
(http://cafe-couture.blogspot.com)
I love that even the base of this tart is chocolate. Although Valentine's Day has come and gone, I'm bookmarking this recipe in my head for the next time I need a lil' love (and chocolate) :)
ReplyDeleteThat is one AMAZING looking tart! Wish I had a slice right now. This will be a perfect dessert for an upcoming dinner party.
ReplyDeleteI just fainted at the sight of this...
ReplyDeletelooks sinfully good..
ReplyDeleteI am in love with this tort! I used ghiradelli 60% dark chocolate and baked it for 26 minutes with perfect consistency throughout. I will 100% make this tort again...and probably again after that!
ReplyDeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteI'd love to feature this recipe in a slideshow for HuffPost Taste. Can we feature the photo?
Joseph
joseph.erdos@huffingtonpost.com
This recipe was phenomenal and a huge hit with my husband who is the dark chocolate lover. I couldn't find chocolate cookies and used chocolate graham crackers which were just fine. It was a great Valentine's/Anniversary gift from me to my husband. Thank you. Barbara Z
ReplyDeleteThis remind me of something I can't quite grasp the memory of, very pleasantly I might add. Smooth, velvety chocolate, lovely. Thanks for the recipe.
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