Sour Cherry Chocolate Tart Recipe

Indulge in Our Dreamy Sour Cherry Chocolate Tart Recipe

Decadent chocolate meets tangy cherries in this irresistible sour cherry chocolate tart that promises to tantalize your taste buds.

Rich dark chocolate provides a luxurious base for the bright, sharp cherries dancing across each slice.

Sweet and tart flavors intertwine perfectly in this elegant dessert.

The silky smooth chocolate ganache creates a stunning backdrop for the vibrant cherries nestled within.

Every forkful offers a sophisticated blend of intense chocolate and zesty fruit notes.

Delicate yet bold, this tart transforms an ordinary evening into a gourmet experience.

Prepare to indulge in a dessert that celebrates the perfect harmony of contrasting flavors.

Sour Cherry Chocolate Tart – Fan Favorite Qualities

  • Tackle an impressive multi-layered tart that looks professionally crafted, perfect for bakers wanting to elevate their skills.
  • Experience a delightful combination of creamy pastry cream, rich chocolate ganache, and tangy sour cherries that dance together in every luxurious bite.
  • Create a dessert that works brilliantly for special occasions like dinner parties, celebrations, or when you want to wow family and friends with your culinary prowess.
  • Swap cherries for seasonal fruits or adjust chocolate intensity, making this versatile recipe adaptable to personal taste preferences and ingredient availability.

What’s Needed for Cherry Chocolate Tart

Tart Shell Ingredients:
  • All-Purpose Flour: The base for creating a crisp and sturdy tart crust.
  • Sugar: Adds a subtle sweetness to the tart shell.
  • Salt: Enhances the overall flavor of the tart dough.
  • Butter: Provides richness and helps create a flaky texture.
  • Egg Yolk: Binds the dough and adds richness.
  • Vanilla Extract: Contributes a warm, aromatic flavor to the crust.
  • Heavy Cream: Helps bring the dough together with the right consistency.
Filling Ingredients:
  • Dark Chocolate: Creates a smooth and decadent ganache layer.
  • Heavy Cream: Used to make the silky chocolate ganache.
  • Sugar: Sweetens the pastry cream and cherry mixture.
  • Cornstarch: Helps thicken the pastry cream.
  • Egg Yolks: Provides richness and helps set the pastry cream.
  • Milk: Forms the base of the pastry cream.
  • Butter: Adds smoothness to the pastry cream.
  • Almond Extract: Introduces a delicate nutty flavor.
  • Sour Cherries: Offers a tart and vibrant fruit layer.
  • Tapioca Flour: Helps thicken the cherry mixture.
Garnish Ingredients:
  • Heavy Cream: Used for whipping to create a light topping.
  • Sugar: Sweetens the whipped cream.
  • Chocolate Shavings: Adds a decorative and flavorful touch.
  • Fresh Cherries: Provides a beautiful and fresh garnish.

Tools for Cherry Chocolate Tart Success

  • Food processor or mixing bowl: Perfect for combining dry ingredients and mixing dough.
  • Rolling pin: Essential for rolling out tart dough evenly between parchment paper.
  • Tart pan with removable bottom: Creates beautiful, professional-looking tart shape.
  • Parchment paper: Helps roll and line tart shell, prevents sticking.
  • Baking weights or dried beans: Keeps tart shell flat during blind baking.
  • Saucepans: Needed for making ganache and pastry cream.
  • Whisk: Helps mix ganache and pastry cream smoothly.
  • Fine-mesh strainer: Ensures pastry cream is silky and lump-free.
  • Ice bath: Quickly cools pastry cream.
  • Piping bag: Creates elegant cream border around tart.
  • Microplane or grater: Makes delicate chocolate shavings.
  • Baking sheet: Used for baking cherries and catching any potential drips.

Preparing Cherry Chocolate Tart

Step 1: Create Buttery Tart Crust

Grab flour, salt, and sugar in a mixing bowl.

Gently incorporate cold butter until mixture looks like coarse crumbs.

Whisk egg yolk with vanilla extract and splash of cream.

Pour liquid into flour mixture and knead until smooth dough forms.

Roll dough between parchment sheets, carefully transfer to tart pan.

Refrigerate for half an hour to firm up.

Step 2: Perfectly Prebake Tart Shell

Poke holes across dough surface.

Cover with parchment paper, fill with ceramic weights or dried beans.

Bake in preheated oven at 350°F for 25-30 minutes.

Remove weights, continue baking additional 10-15 minutes until golden and crisp.

Step 3: Develop Silky Chocolate Ganache

Chop dark chocolate into small pieces.

Heat heavy cream until steaming.

Pour hot cream over chocolate.

Allow mixture to rest briefly, then stir until completely smooth and glossy.

Spread evenly across cooled tart shell.

Chill in refrigerator.

Step 4: Whip Up Luxurious Pastry Cream

Combine sugar, cornstarch, salt, egg yolks, and milk in saucepan.

Cook while stirring constantly until thickened.

Remove from heat, fold in butter and almond extract.

Strain mixture through fine sieve.

Cool quickly over ice bath.

Spread carefully over chocolate ganache layer.

Step 5: Roast Vibrant Cherry Topping

Toss fresh sour cherries with:
  • Sugar
  • Tapioca flour

Spread cherries in baking dish.

Roast at 350°F for 35-40 minutes until sauce thickens and bubbles.

Cool slightly, then layer over pastry cream.

Step 6: Decorate with Elegant Flourish

Whip heavy cream with powdered sugar until soft peaks form.

Pipe decorative cream around tart edges.

Sprinkle with chocolate shavings.

Garnish with halved fresh cherries.

Tips for Cherry Chocolate Tart Perfection

  • Roll tart dough between parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure even thickness. Refrigerate for exactly 30 minutes to firm up butter and prevent shrinking during baking.
  • Use ceramic pie weights or dried beans to prevent dough from puffing up. Remove weights halfway through baking to crisp up the bottom crust for a perfectly golden shell.
  • Chop chocolate finely and let hot cream sit for a few minutes before stirring. This technique ensures a glossy, lump-free chocolate layer with rich, intense flavor.
  • Continuously whisk custard while cooking to prevent lumps. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve for ultra-smooth consistency and cool quickly over an ice bath to stop cooking.

Cherry Chocolate Tart – Try New Spins

  • Vegan Cherry Chocolate Delight: Replace butter with coconut oil, use plant-based milk, swap egg yolk for flax egg, and choose dairy-free chocolate for ganache.
  • Gluten-Free Cherry Chocolate Treat: Substitute wheat flour with almond or gluten-free flour blend, use gluten-free cornstarch, and ensure all ingredients are certified gluten-free.
  • Low-Sugar Cherry Chocolate Option: Use stevia or monk fruit sweetener instead of sugar, select dark chocolate with lower sugar content, and replace some sugar with sugar-free alternatives in pastry cream.
  • Nutty Cherry Chocolate Variation: Add ground almonds to tart crust, incorporate hazelnut extract in pastry cream, and sprinkle chopped nuts over final garnish for extra crunch.

Serving Cherry Chocolate Tart in Style

  • Dessert Plate Drama: Elegantly slice the tart into wedges, creating a stunning visual centerpiece for your dinner party or special occasion.
  • Cherry Chocolate Companion: Pair with a small scoop of vanilla bean ice cream or a dollop of fresh whipped cream to enhance the rich chocolate and tart cherry flavors.
  • Wine and Dessert Harmony: Serve alongside a glass of ruby port or sweet dessert wine that complements the deep chocolate and bright cherry notes, elevating the entire tasting experience.
  • Afternoon Tea Delight: Present as a luxurious addition to a sophisticated afternoon tea spread, cutting smaller bite-sized portions to share with friends and family.

How to Store Cherry Chocolate Tart

  • Store tart covered with plastic wrap in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Keep away from strong-smelling foods to prevent flavor absorption.
  • Wrap entire tart tightly in plastic wrap and aluminum foil. Freeze for maximum 1 month. Thaw overnight in refrigerator before serving.
  • Separate individual slices with parchment paper. Place in airtight container to maintain texture and prevent sticking.
  • Warm individual slices at room temperature for 15-20 minutes before serving. Avoid microwave to prevent soggy crust and separated cream layers.

FAQs

  • What are the key ingredients for the sour cherry chocolate tart?

The key ingredients include chocolate, sour cherries, heavy cream, butter, eggs, sugar, cornstarch, almond extract, and vanilla. The tart combines rich chocolate ganache with tangy cherries and creamy pastry cream.

  • Is this tart difficult to make for home bakers?

While the recipe has multiple steps, it’s achievable for intermediate bakers with patience. Breaking down the process into stages like making the tart shell, ganache, pastry cream, and cherry topping makes it manageable.

  • Can I substitute fresh cherries with another fruit?

You can use other tart fruits like raspberries or blackberries. However, sour cherries provide a unique flavor that complements the chocolate perfectly. If using different fruits, adjust sugar levels to maintain the right sweetness balance.

Print
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Sour Cherry Chocolate Tart Recipe

Sour Cherry Chocolate Tart Recipe


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4.6 from 22 reviews

  • Total Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
  • Yield: 8 1x

Description

Rich chocolate ganache meets zesty sour cherry chocolate tart in this elegant dessert from Poland. Silky chocolate and tangy cherries create a luxurious balance you’ll savor with each delightful bite.


Ingredients

Scale

Crust Ingredients:

  • 1.5 cups (180g) all purpose flour
  • 0.5 cup (40g) cocoa powder
  • 0.5 cup (100g) granulated sugar
  • 0.25 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 11 tablespoons (156g) unsalted butter, room temperature, cubed
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 12 tablespoons heavy whipping cream

Pastry Cream Ingredients:

  • 2 cups (500 mL) whole milk
  • 0.5 cup (100g) granulated sugar
  • 4 large egg yolks
  • 0.25 cup + 2 tablespoons (45g) cornstarch, sifted
  • 1.5 teaspoons almond extract
  • 2 tablespoons (28g) unsalted butter
  • 0.25 cup (60 mL) heavy whipping cream (for ganache)
  • 0.33 cup (2 oz) dark chocolate, finely chopped

Topping and Filling Ingredients:

  • 5.75 cups (800g) sour cherries, pitted
  • 1 cup (200g) granulated sugar
  • 0.25 cup + 2 tablespoons (45g) tapioca flour
  • 0.75 cup (175 mL) heavy whipping cream, chilled
  • 2 teaspoons (8g) granulated sugar
  • 1 thick chocolate bar, for shavings
  • Fresh cherries, halved and pitted, for garnish

Instructions

  1. Craft a delicate tart foundation by whisking together dry ingredients, then incorporating cold butter until crumbly. Blend in egg yolk and vanilla, gradually adding cream to form a cohesive dough.
  2. Roll the dough between parchment sheets, carefully transfer to a tart pan, and refrigerate for half an hour to set structure.
  3. Preheat oven to 350°F. Pierce dough base, line with parchment, and fill with ceramic weights. Bake for 25-30 minutes until edges turn golden, then remove weights and continue baking 10-15 minutes until completely dry.
  4. Create luxurious chocolate ganache by heating cream until steaming, then pouring over finely chopped chocolate. Allow to rest briefly, then stir until achieving a silky, uniform consistency.
  5. Prepare velvety pastry cream by combining sugar, cornstarch, salt, egg yolks, and milk. Cook until thickened, then fold in butter and almond extract. Strain mixture and cool rapidly over an ice bath.
  6. Spread ganache evenly across cooled tart shell, then layer pastry cream on top.
  7. Toss sour cherries with sugar and tapioca flour. Roast at 350°F for 35-40 minutes until sauce thickens and becomes glossy. Carefully distribute cherry mixture over pastry cream.
  8. Whip cream with sugar until soft peaks form. Pipe decorative borders around the tart’s perimeter. Garnish with delicate chocolate shavings and fresh cherry halves.

Notes

  • Customize Crust: Swap traditional flour for gluten-free alternatives like almond or coconut flour to accommodate dietary restrictions.
  • Temperature Matters: Ensure ingredients are at room temperature for smoother mixing and better incorporation, especially when working with butter and eggs.
  • Prevent Soggy Bottom: Dock tart shell thoroughly and blind bake completely to create a crisp, sturdy base that won’t become mushy under moist fillings.
  • Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare individual components like tart shell and pastry cream a day in advance to streamline assembly and reduce day-of stress.
  • Prep Time: 1 hour
  • Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
  • Category: Desserts
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: French

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 8
  • Calories: 350
  • Sugar: 30g
  • Sodium: 200mg
  • Fat: 22g
  • Saturated Fat: 13g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 9g
  • Trans Fat: 0g
  • Carbohydrates: 40g
  • Fiber: 2g
  • Protein: 4g
  • Cholesterol: 70mg
Clara Thompson

Clara Thompson

Recipe Developer & Food Educator

Expertise

Plant-based and vegetarian recipe development, Nutritional analysis and meal planning, Culinary education and workshop facilitation, Content writing with a focus on healthy living​

Education

Diploma in Culinary Arts, Mt. San Jacinto College, CA
Focus: Comprehensive culinary training with an emphasis on sustainable cooking practices.

Certificate in Nutrition and Healthy Living, Cornell University (Online Program)
Focus: Understanding the principles of nutrition to create balanced and health-conscious recipes.


Clara lives where fresh ideas and fresh ingredients meet. She pairs her culinary know-how with her passion for healthy, planet-friendly cooking.
For Clara, good food should taste great, nourish your body, and feel easy to make. Her recipes highlight whole foods, colorful produce, and a deep respect for seasonal eating.

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