Chocolate Lemon Tart

Balancing acidic tang with sweet cocoa notes, this sunny spring tart has a hidden layer of milk chocolate ganache running under a silky lemon curd filling. Find more ways to bake with milk chocolate in our 2018 March/April issue, here

4.3 from 3 reviews
Chocolate Lemon Tart
 
Makes 1 (9-inch) tart
Ingredients
  • Tart Dough (recipe below)
  • Chocolate Ganache (recipe below)
  • 1 cup (200 grams) granulated sugar
  • 4 large eggs (200 grams), room temperature
  • ⅔ cup (150 grams) unsalted butter, softened and cubed
  • ¼ cup (12 grams) lemon zest
  • ½ cup (120 grams) fresh lemon juice
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C).
  2. On a lightly floured surface, roll Tart Dough into a 12-inch circle. Transfer to a 9-inch round tart pan, pressing into bottom and up sides. Trim excess dough. Using a fork, prick bottom of tart shell. Freeze for 15 minutes. Top dough with a piece of parchment paper, letting ends extend over edges of pan. Add pie weights.
  3. Bake until edges are set, about 20 minutes. Carefully remove paper and weights. Bake until crust is golden brown, about 10 minutes more. Let cool completely on a wire rack.
  4. Pour two-thirds of Chocolate Ganache into prepared crust, and spread to edges. Freeze for 45 minutes.
  5. In the top of a double boiler, whisk together sugar, eggs, butter, and lemon zest and juice. Cook over simmering water, stirring constantly, until thickened, about 10 minutes. Strain mixture, discarding solids. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
  6. Pour lemon curd over Chocolate Ganache in pan. Refrigerate until set, about 2 hours. Just before serving, drizzle with remaining Chocolate Ganache.

4.3 from 3 reviews
Tart Dough
 
Makes 1 (9-inch) crus
Ingredients
  • 1⅓ cups (167 grams) all-purpose flour
  • ⅓ cup (40 grams) confectioners’ sugar
  • ¾ teaspoon (2.25 grams) kosher salt
  • ½ cup (113 grams) cold unsalted butter, cubed
  • 1 large egg yolk (19 grams)
  • 2 tablespoons (30 grams) ice water
Instructions
  1. In the work bowl of a food processor, place flour, confectioners’ sugar, and salt; pulse until combined. Add cold butter, and pulse until mixture is crumbly. With processor running, add egg yolk and 2 tablespoons (30 grams) ice water, pulsing until dough comes together. Shape dough into a disk, and wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or up to 24 hours.

4.3 from 3 reviews
Chocolate Ganache
 
Makes about 1 cup
Ingredients
  • 6 ounces (175 grams) 45% cacao milk chocolate, chopped
  • 3 tablespoons (45 grams) heavy whipping cream
  • 3 tablespoons (42 grams) unsalted butter
Instructions
  1. Place chocolate in a medium heatproof bowl.
  2. In a medium saucepan, heat cream and butter over medium heat, stirring frequently, just until bubbles form around edges of pan (do not boil). Remove from heat, and pour over chocolate. Let stand for 5 minutes; stir until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth. Use immediately.
Notes
We used Guittard 45% Cacao Soleil D’Automne Milk Chocolate in all of these recipes.

 

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12 COMMENTS

  1. Hello, this Chocolate Lemon Tart looks absolutely divine. I want to make it. I’m wondering, though, if the 1/4 cup of lemon zest is correct.

    • Hi Leena,

      Thanks for reaching out! The recipe calls to freeze the ganache for 45 minutes before topping with lemon curd. This step allows the curd and the ganache to become two separate layers, rather than inadvertently mixing together. Happy baking 🙂

  2. I made this yesterday. The crust was easy to make and bake. So far, so good. Unfortunately, the recipe does not say to not use a metal bowl or metal whisk when making the lemon curd. Mine tasted really weird because, apparently, metal reacts with the acid in the lemon juice. And not in a good way. As a beginning baker, I did not know this and I had to do some research to find out. It also would have been beneficial to state how thick the curd should be. I had no idea and just guessed. Also, putting 2/3 of the ganache into the tart shell is way too much – it almost filled my shell and was so thick that, once chilled, it was almost impossible to cut and then the whole tart split in half. The finished tart looked really good though, almost like I knew what I was doing. I will try again with a different lemon curd recipe and much less ganache in the tart shell.

  3. Made this last night for springtime dinner. It was delicious and received rave reviews. Made exactly as directed. Used Ghirardelli’s milk chocolate chips to make the ganache. Used three lemons for juice and zest- might add zest from 4th lemon the next time I make this tart.

  4. What issue is this in. I’m searching through all my issues so I won’t have to print it. I made it last year and it was a hit.
    I also think you should add the issue the recipe was In with the online version.

    • Hi Ruth,

      Thank you for your question!

      This recipe can be found in our March/April 2018 issue.

      Happy baking!

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