The Painted Apron

Creamy Chocolate Strawberry Tart

Posted by the Painted Apron on August 5, 2012 · 1 Comment 

I am starting to panic because it’s August and summer’s almost over…the Farmer’s Markets will dwindle, the displays of produce will get smaller,  melons will disappear and all those luscious summer vegetables will be replaced by root vegetables, acorn squash and pumpkins…With this thought in my subconscious, the other day I woke up with an overwhelming urge to make a strawberry pie.  Not the sugary gelatinous gloppy  types that you can buy at the grocery store bakery, but a homemade pie with large fresh strawberries…..Yes, I know you can buy strawberries all year long these days, but they often have NO TASTE.  I got spoiled living in California where my Mom would buy freshly picked strawberries from the local farmers, so I’m some what of a strawberry snob. I wanted to celebrate the last of the summer strawberries and make something fabulous.

Checking the pantry and fridge to see what I had,  I remembered the Chocolate Cream Cheese I bought the other day for no reason other than it intrigued me [and it was chocolate] and started thinking how I could incorporate that…

So I decided on making a tart, a cross between a strawberry pie and a fruit pizza, with a creamy pillow of chocolate flavored whipped cream  on top of the tart crust to lay the strawberries on.  Notice the Cream Cheese is labeled “Indulgence.”  I’m pretty sure that’s what caught my eye….so here’s what happened

After washing the strawberries,  I cut off the stem ends.  I chose to leave the berries whole, I’m all about drama, but you can slice them if you prefer… Next I baked the tart crust

I use the ready crusts from the grocery store because they are so convenient [translate that to I am lazy] but if you want to make your own crust, please do.

Line the raw dough with foil and top with pie weights or beans to keep dough from puffing up during baking.  Bake until golden.  Cool.

Meanwhile make the glaze for the strawberries.  In a saucepan bring water to a boil and add the cornstarch and granulated sugar, stirring often until mixture clears and thickens.  Add the Jello and set aside to cool.

Mix cream cheese with Confectioner’s sugar and gently fold in Cool Whip.  Spread over bottom  and part way up the sides of cooled crust.

Arrange berries on top of the whipped cream layer

Top with glaze.  I didn’t use too much because of my aversion to gelatinous glop, but use as much as you want.  This recipe makes enough for a deep dish pie so you will have more than you need*.

Now here’s where my intentions were good but my technique was bad.  I decided to drizzle with a little dark chocolate to make the whole experience a little more decadent…

Chocolate worms?

It tasted great though!  Just need to practice my melted drizzling! It is the perfect finishing flavor touch, the melted chocolate ties it all together in a super chocolaty, creamy, fruity bite.  Hungry Husband is pretty excited.

Chocolate Strawberry Tart

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Prep Time 30 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Equipment

• tart pan

Ingredients

  

• 1 refrigerated pie crust dough round
• 2 pints fresh ripe strawberries
• 8 oz. chocolate cream cheese
• 12 oz. Cool Whip, thawed
• 3 cups powdered sugar
• 3 oz. box strawberry Jello
• chocolate syrup for drizzling
• 3 Tbsp cornstarch
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup water

Instructions

 

• Place raw pie dough into tart pan or shallow pie dish
• cover with foil and add beans or pie weights
• Bake as directed on package
• Bring water to a boil
• Add cornstarch and granulated sugar, and cook and stir until mixture is clear and thick
• Stir in Jello and set aside to cool
• Combine Cool Whip with powdered sugar and cream cheese
• Hull strawberries and slice or leave whole, your preference
• Spread cream cheese mixture over cooled crust, top with berries arranged prettily and pour glaze slowly over all
• Place in refrigerator to set glaze
• Drizzle with chocolate sauce before serving

Notes

If you can’t find chocolate cream cheese substitute regular cream cheese