Incredibly delicious tart from my favorite chef Philippe (Meilleur du chef). This chocolate pear tart is a little long to prepare, but without a doubt, worth it!
At the request of friends, my translation from French with slight deviations from the original recipe.
if you like it, please try my other desserts.
Chocolate pear tart
The dough can be prepared by hand, in a food processor or using a mixer.
Ingredients
Almond Shortcrust Pastry
- 200 g flour
- 120 g softened butter
- 75 g powdered sugar
- 30 g almond flour
- 1 egg
- 1/2 tsp liquid vanilla (or 1 packet of vanilla sugar or 1 vanilla pod)
Almond Cream
- 50 g almond flour
- A dash lemon juice
- 45 g sugar
- 1 egg yolk
- 2 egg whiltes
- 3-4 ripe pears
Chocolate Ganache
- 150 ml heavy cream (35%)
- 210 g chocolate chips 60 % cocoa
- 50 g grated dark chocolate
Instructions
Almond Shortcrust Pastry
- Sift the flour and powdered sugar into a bowl or onto a work surface. Add almond flour and butter cubes. Rub with your hands until it becomes crumbly.
- Add the egg and liquid vanilla. Mix everything quickly. Once it forms into a ball, the dough is ready.
- Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for about 1 hour.
- Preheat the oven to 170°C (340°F). Roll out the dough thinly between parchment paper or plastic wrap.
- Transfer the dough to a tart pan, pressing it against the bottom and sides. Trim off any excess dough. (In the example, a baking ring is used.)
- Poke the entire surface with a fork.
- Bake in the oven for 15–20 minutes until golden. Remove and cool.
Almond Cream
- Mix sugar with egg yolks. Add lemon juice and almond flour.
- Beat the egg whites into stiff peaks.
- Gently fold the beaten egg whites into the almond mixture.
- Peel the pears, cut them in half, and remove the cores. Slice them very thinly.
- Spread the almond-egg mixture evenly over the cooled tart crust. Arrange the pear slices decoratively on top.
- Bake in the oven for about 20 minutes. Remove the tart from the oven and let it cool.
Chocolate Ganache
- Carefully remove the tart from the pan. Cut a long strip of parchment paper about 5 cm wide. Wrap it around the tart and secure it with tape.
- Heat the cream to a boil and pour it over the chocolate. Let it sit for 1–2 minutes.
- Stir until smooth to create a thick ganache.
- Pour the ganache over the tart and smooth the surface.
- Sprinkle with grated chocolate.
- Let it set at room temperature or in the refrigerator. Once the ganache is firm, remove the parchment strip.
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This post was posted in Desserts
Poached pears in red wine
A perfect seasonal recipe! These beautifully red-colored pears are delicious after being poached in red wine with spices.
An easy dessert to prepare, perfect to finish a year-end meal.
Poached pears in red wine
Ingredients
- 4-8 pears (firm)
- 750 ml red wine
- 150 g powdered sugar (or brown sugar)
- 1 bean vanilla split lengthwise
- 1 zeste orange
- 5 black peppercorns
- 1-2 clove(s)
- 1 stick cinnamon
- 1 star anise
Instructions
- In a saucepan, combine the sugar, peppercorns, orange zest, and the vanilla bean split lengthwise. Add the cinnamon stick, cloves, and star anise.
- Pour in the red wine and bring to a boil.
- Meanwhile, peel the pears, leaving the stems if possible.
- When the wine reaches a boil, reduce the heat and submerge the pears in the liquid. Let them cook for 20 to 50 minutes, until the pears are tender. Cooking time varies based on the firmness of the pears.Turn off the heat and let the pears cool in the wine.
- To serve, place the pears in small dishes or bowls and drizzle with the spiced wine.
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Easy poached pears with chocolate
The pears are poached with a vanilla bean and a bit of sugar. Then, they are cooled down and sprinkled with shredded chocolate. This is a very easy recipe to make and will be perfect for a special event or holidays.
Easy poached pears with chocolate
Ingredients
- 4 pears
- 750 ml water
- 3 Tbsp sugar
- 1 vanilla bean cut in half longwise
- 50 g dark chocolate
- Some Fresh mint
Instructions
- Peel the pears.
- Cut them in half, then core.
- In the pot, bring water to a boil with sugar and vanilla bean.
- Add the pears and boil for 10 to 15 minutes, until they became soft but keep their shape. Remove the pot from the heat and let the pears cool in the syrup.
- To serve, drain the pears well. Then place each half on an individual plate.
- Sprinkle with shredded chocolate and decorate with mint.
- You can also serve this dessert in a glass.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
This post was posted in Desserts
Profiteroles With Vanilla Ice Cream And Chocolate Sauce
Profiteroles – French cream puffs filled with vanilla ice cream and topped with chocolate sauce. Chocolate sauce on this profiteroles is the “live jazz”. Don’t let the long recipe scare you, it is very easy and worth all the time involved. It is a great dessert you can impress your family and friends with.
Profiteroles With Vanilla Ice Cream And Chocolate Sauce
For chocolate lovers, use chocolate ice cream instead of vanilla.
Ingredients
Dough
- 200 ml water
- 1 pinch salt
- 100 g butter
- 120 g sifted flour
- 3-4 eggs
Filling
- 800 g chocolate or vanilla ice cream
Chocolate sauce
- 250 ml milk or heavy cream
- 300 g dark chocolate (60% cacao)
Instructions
The dough
- Preheat oven to 390 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a medium pot, add water, butter and salt. Bring to a boil and remove from the heat.
- Add sifted flour and mix well.
- Mix until the dough comes away from the walls and forms into a ball.
- Add the eggs, one by one and mix well. (If the eggs are large, use only 3 eggs.)
- The dough should become smooth and shiny. Return saucepan back on the heat and keep mixing for about 30-50 seconds, to dry out the moisture. Remove from the heat.
- Transfer the dough to a piping bag to pipe specific shapes (size of the walnut is the best). Space the puffs slightly apart on the baking sheet, because the dough will rise.
- Bake for about 20 minutes or until the puffs are puffed and golden brown in color. Do not open the oven while baking. Remove from the oven, let it cool completely and carefully transfer to a flat surface.
Filling
- Cut puffs in half. Place one small scoop of ice cream ball on the bottom of each puff.
- Replace the top. As soon as you done, place them in the freezer, until they are ready to be served.
Chocolate souce
- In a small, saucepan bring milk to boil, remove from the heat and pour the liquid over the chocolate. Allow it to sit for 1 minute.
- Mix it until the mixture is smooth.
- Remove the profiteroles from the freezer. Arrange 3 puffs per plate. Drizzle each serving with chocolate sauce and Voilà! 😉 Bon appetite.
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This post was posted in Cafe gourmand, Desserts
Chocolate Yule Log (Bûche de Noël)
Chocolate Yule Log (Bûche de Noël) is the French roll cake very popular during the Holiday season. This is a delicious version of Yule Log you can make at home using very simple ingredients you can find in every store.
Chocolate Yule Log (Bûche de Noël)
Ingredients
Sugar syrup
- 150 g sugar
- 300 ml water
Chocolate ganache
- 200 ml heavy whipping cream ( 35%)
- 200 g dark chocolate (60-70% cacao)
- 15 g unsalted butter
Biscuit
- 4 eggs (at room temperature)
- 120 g sugar
- 120 g all purpose flour
- 1 Tbsp cocoa powder
Chantilly cream
- 250 ml heavy whipping cream ( 35%) very cold
- 50 g mascarpone cheese
- 1.25 Tbsp sugar
Decoration
- Few meringues, pieces of chocolat
Instructions
Sugar syrup
- In a small pot, bring cold water and sugar to the boil. Keep boiling for a few minutes, stir constantly until the sugar dissolves completely. Remove the pan from the heat and let cool down. When the syrup is cold, you may add vanilla or the Triple Sec liqueur (optional).
Biscuit
- Preheat oven to 380 degrees F (180°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Using an electric mixer, beat eggs and sugar until the mixture becomes thick, fluffy, and triples in volume.
- Using a spatula, gently fold in flour and cocoa powder.
- Spread the batter evenly in thin layer into the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 7 to 8 minutes in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted in center of biscuit comes out clean.
- Turn upside down onto clean kitchen towel and carefully remove parchment paper. Let cool down.
Chocolate ganache
- Boil the heavy whipping cream. Pour the boiling cream over the dark chocolate. Wait for one minute.
- Then mix it until the mixture is smooth.
- Add butter and mix until this is fully dissolved.
- Let cool the ganache for about 30 minutes in the fridge. Mix and check frequently: the ganache is ready when it’s not anymore liquid and has a spreadable texture.
Chantilly cream
- Beat together very cold heavy cream and cold mascarpone cheese until this is whipped. Keep gradually adding sugar.
Assemblage
- Paint the biscuit with sugar syrup.
- Spread the chantilly cream evenly over the biscuit.
- Roll up firmly.
- Tightly cover with plastic wrap, and keep in the fridge until chocolate ganache is ready.
- Remove the plastic wrap. Spread the ganache over the cake. Using a fork make lines to look like a log. Transfer the cake to a serving platter and let stand in the fridge for a night or at least 3 hours.
- Before serving, dust with cacao cocoa powder and decorate with meringues or pieces of chocolate.
Notes
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This post was posted in Desserts
Three Layer Chocolate Mousse
Dark chocolate, milk chocolate, white chocolate… Each layer has different taste and texture. You can use any size glasses you desire. And of course, as always, I choose mini portions. Ideal for a Cafe Gourmand.
Three layer chocolate mousse
Ingredients
Dark chocolate ganache
- 120 ml heavy whipping cream
- 100 g dark chocolate
Milk chocolate mousse
- 100 g milk chocolate
- 2 eggs
- 1 pinch salt
White chocolate mousse
- 150 ml heavy whipping cream
- 100 g white chocolate
For garnishing
- 6-8 fresh raspberries
Instructions
Dark chocolate ganache
- In a small pan, boil the heavy whipping cream. Pour the boiling cream over the dark chocolate. Wait for one minute and mix it until the mixture is smooth.
- Divide dark chocolate ganache among six glasses. Refrigerate for one hour.
Milk chocolate mousse
- Separate egg yolks from the egg whites.
- Melt milk chocolate in microwave until the chocolate is completely melted. Add egg yolks in melted chocolate and mix well.
- Whisk egg whites with salt until stiff.
- Carefully fold in the egg whites into chocolate.
- Remove glasses from the fridge, spoon the mousse over the chocolate gonache and chill for another hour.
White chocolate mousse
- Bring the heavy whipping cream to a boil. Pour the hot cream over the white chocolate. Wait 1-2 minutes until white chocolate melts.
- Whisk until smooth. Place white chocolate in the fridge for about 45 minutes. Chocolate should chill completely but at the same time still liquid.
- Beat the chilled chocolate until soft foam.
- Using piping bag or small spoon, spread the mousse into the glasses.
- Refrigerate your dessert for 4-6 hours.
- Before serving, garnish each glass with fresh berries. If the portion is mini, you can cut raspberries into 2 pieces.
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Petits Choux
This is one of my favorite puff pastry for a “cafe gourmand“.
Petits choux
Cream Petits choux will go perfectly with your coffee or tea.
Ingredients
Ingredients for the choux pastry
- 200 ml water
- 100 g butter
- 2 pinches of salt
- 120 g flour
- 3-4 eggs
Ingredients for the cream
- 1 egg yolk
- 120 g sugar
- 125 ml milk
- 1/2 vanilla bean cut into two in its length
- 200 g softened butter
- 1 tbsp icing sugar
Instructions
For the choux pastry
- Preheat the oven to 200°C (thermostat 6/7). Cover a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a saucepan, put the butter and salt. Bring to a boil. When the butter is completely melted, remove the pan from the heat.
- Add flour and mix well.
- The dough should form a ball.
- Add the eggs one by one. Mix well.
- The dough should be smooth and not stick to the edges of the pan.
- Using a spoon or a pastry bag, form small heaps of dough on the baking sheet, separating them from each other as the puffs will double in size during cooking.
- Bake at 200°C for 10-15 minutes. Then lower the temperature to 180°C (thermostat 6) and cook for another 10 minutes or so until you get a nice golden color. Remove the puffs from the oven and let cool.
For the cream
- In a small saucepan, blanch the egg with the sugar.
- Add milk and vanilla. Place over very low heat. Stirring constantly, bring to a boil. Remove from heat and let cool. Remove the vanilla pod.
- In the bowl of a mixer, cream the butter. While continuing to mix, gradually incorporate the milk and sugar preparation.
- Make an incision in the choux. Using a teaspoon or a pastry bag, fill them with the cream. Sprinkle with icing sugar.
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This post was posted in Desserts