Chocolate tart with a rich, silky, hazelnut and chocolate no bake filling in a crisp chocolate pastry shell. An easy but decadent dessert!

I do love a good chocolate tart.  Baked or unbaked, I’m not fussy when it comes to chocolate tart.  One of the most popular recipes at one of the hotels I worked at was warm chocolate tart with pistachio ice cream – people would ask for it even when it wasn’t on the menu!  I think the words ‘warm chocolate’ anything is going to pull most people in though!

For these though, I wanted to make something – from the pastry to the filling – very easy and something that can be made in advance.  Because as I write this we’re hurtling towards Christmas and anything I can do to help you (and me!) have as stress free Christmas as possible is winning at the moment.

I’ve had years where I’ve been a LOT less prepared than this one.  I’m almost afraid to say how organised I’m currently feeling.  This is not normal and I’m not sure what to do with that emotion.

Do you get towards the end of the year and take stock?  Reflect?  What went well, what could have been better?  I’m not a fan of the New Year, it’s always felt a major disappointment.  From working till the small  hours to feed the hungry (and mostly very tipsy) people to having to console a terrified little dog with the onslaught of the end of the world.  Also known as fireworks to the less terrified among us.

But this past year we’ve been incredibly lucky to work with some amazing products and the brands that produce them.  It’s been a real pleasure as they’re ingredients we genuinely love

There are some amazing nut butter companies out there – ones that use no palm oil, no obscure ingredients and don’t load them with sugar or salt.  Meridian Foods have lots of amazing products, from seed butters and fruit spreads to cocoa and hazelnut butter.  All absolutely divine.

And don’t be put off by making your own pastry – it’s really ever so simple!  The only thing you need is a light touch and to not overwork the dough for crisp, crumbly rich pastry shells.  The filling for these chocolate tarts is just 3 ingredients and is so richly decadent yet smooth, light and creamy.  The perfect make ahead dessert to finish off your delicious Christmas dinner.

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