This delightful cookbook from the author of Luscious Lemon Desserts and Luscious Chocolate Desserts is for anyone who has ever snuck just the plumpest, ripest strawberry straight from the basket; believed raspberries should have their own special food group; and never met a blueberry they didn't like. Each recipe is bursting with ideas for buying and trying every wonderful variety, be it sticky-sweet heart-shaped strawberries, deep purple boysenberries, or juicy ripe blackberries.
This dark and lovely tart is adapted from a recipe in Bake It to the Limit, by, Dede Wilson. It’s like a big truffle with a luscious raspberry ganache filling and whole ripe raspberries in and above the truffle mixture. Scatter just a few raspberries for an elegant garnish, or use a few more to make a pretty pattern.
Serves 10 to 12
9 ounces chocolate wafers, broken into large pieces
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
Four 1/2—pints ripe raspberries
15 ounces bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, chopped
1 1/2 cups heavy (whipping) cream
pinch of salt
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter an 11-inch fluted tart pan with a removable bottom.
Pulse the wafers in a food processor until finely ground. Add the butter and pulse until well combined. Transfer the crumb mixture to the tart pan and press evenly into the bottom and up the sides.
Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, until the crust is dry and set. Let cool on a wire rack.
Pulse 1 half-pint of raspberries in a food processor just until broken up. Pour through a coarse strainer set over a bowl, pressing hard on the solids to extract as much liquid as possible.
Melt the chocolate with the cream in a medium saucepan over low heat, whisking occasionally. Remove the pan from the heat and whisk in the raspberry puree and the salt.
Scatter the second half-pint of berries over the bottom of the cooled crust. Pour the chocolate mixture into the crust and smooth the top with a rubber spatula, covering the berries. Refrigerate, tightly wrapped, for at least 6 hours, or overnight. Refrigerate the reserved raspberries for the garnish.
To serve, remove the side of the pan, scatter the remaining half-pints of berries over the tart, and cut into thin wedges.
