Forgot Valentine's? Win her back with a no-bake tart!
If somehow all the store displays, helpful hints and television campaigns failed to penetrate your concentration and you suddenly find yourself without the means of expressing your tender feelings for that special someone, we've got the perfect no-bake solution that even the most kitchen-shy among us can master. There's no need to worry even if you're missing the heart-shaped mini-pans. Just do what Casanova himself would do: improvise!
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You will need:
For the cookie crumb tart shell:
- 7 oz chocolate cookies, grated into fine crumbs
- 1/4 cup melted butter
For the chocolate filling:
- 7 oz dark chocolate
- 3/4 cup cream
For garnish:
- red fruits or berries
- powdered sugar
Here's how:
First prepare the tart shell. Grate the chocolate cookies to fine crumbs.
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Melt the butter over warm water until completely fluid.
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Pour the butter into the cookie crumbs and mix with a spatula until consistent.
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Now press the cookie crumb mixture into small tart molds or into a brownie pan, baking sheet or casserole dish. These heart-shaped forms are sweet, but don't worry if you had no time to shop. You can always cut out heart shapes when done, if desired. Make sure the bottom and (if applicable) sides of your pan are well covered, but leave enough space for the filling.
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Set your tart beds aside. Now for the filling! Melt the dark chocolate over a water bath.
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While the chocolate is melting, add the cream to a saucepan and heat until slightly simmering.
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When the chocolate is completely melted, add to the simmering cream and stir until smooth.
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While this mixture is still hot, pour into your molds (or tray, as applicable) and spread evenly over the cookie crust with a spoon.
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Allow to cool for 15 minutes in the refrigerator. Now you're almost finished and Valentine's Day is as good as rescued!
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If you've used a pan and your complete mixture is firm, you can cut out heart shapes or just squares will do if you're not the artistic type. Now simply add your red berries to the tarts as a garnish.
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For even more presentation and sweetness points, dust with a light layer of powdered sugar.
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Here's a video of the complete steps as a review (watch without sound unless you're a true Casanova and understand Italian):
Now all you need is some soft music, a few candles... and perhaps to quickly hide any evidence of disasters in the kitchen! We promise your love will be so impressed by your efforts, he or she will think you've been planning for weeks!
We won't tell if you don't! ;-)