Chocolate Pudding Cream Tart

Well, hull-o.

This chocolate pudding cream tart Roxann made at bible study absolutely knocked me off my feet. Of course, it’s from Ina Garten. And of course, it’s delicious. Meet the recipe …

(I like to call it Ina Garten’s Chocolate Pudding Dream Tart.)

Chocolate Pudding Cream Tart

For the crust: 2 c graham cracker crumbs * 1/3 c sugar * 1 stick butter, melted > Combine the graham crackers, sugar, and butter in a bowl ~ mix well with a wooden spoon then press lightly into an 11-inch metal tart pan with removable sides.  Bake for 10 minutes (350 degrees) and set aside to cool.

For the filling: 4 c whole milk * 3/4 c sugar *  5 extra large egg yolks * 1/3 c cornstarch * 1 t kosher salt * 7 oz bittersweet chocolate * 2 T butter, diced * 1 T Kahlua * 1 t instant espresso coffee granules > Heat milk in small saucepan until almost simmering. In bowl with an electric mixer fitted with paddle attachment, combine sugar, egg yolks, cornstarch & salt. Then with mixer on slow speed, slowly pour milk into bowl. Pour mixture into large saucepan and cook over medium-low heat for 5-10 minutes, stirring constantly with wooden spoon until mixture is very thick. Off the heat, add chocolate, butter, Kahlua and coffee. Beat with a whisk until smooth and pour into cooled crust. Place plastic wrap directly on the chocolate filling & chill tart for 6 hours, until cold. Top with whipped cream and shaved chocolate.

{For sweetened whipped cream: 1 c heavy cream, 2 T sugar, 1 t vanilla > Beat w. an electric mixer with whisk attachment until it forms peaks. Do not cheat this step w. Cool Whip. please.}

Now, I realize that this recipe is super labor intensive. And so there is always this tension: Should I take the time to do all this … or not? To convince us both, thought I’d make a pro/con list.

Con: It takes a lot of time to make.

Pro: It’s beautiful! I think that thing is singing.

Con: It takes a lot of time to make.

Pro: Your friends gasp with delight when you reach to slice it.

Con: It takes a lot of time to make.

Pro: You will look completely glamorous slicing it ~ total cooking show material. (Roxann is mad at me right now. She never wants me to include her in the photos. But look how darling she is!!! And gracious, she’s shared so many great recipes, she practically has her own category on this blog!)

Con: It takes a lot of time to make.

Pro: If you mis-slice, no one cares. At all. She could have scooped this out with a spoon then mashed it to pieces and I still would have loved it. It is one of my top ten favorite desserts of all time.

But then again … it does take a lot of time to make.

And who wants to spend all that valuable time in the kitchen whisking up something as gorgeous and satisfying as this dreamy, creamy chocolate tart?

(Love ya, Roxann!!)