Cake, Batter, and Bowl

Peanut Butter Chocolate Tart

Desserts

We’ve started a fun tradition in lab this year where I try to bake something for each person’s birthday. You know I love having the excuse to try new dessert recipes! My only request when I started was that each person make a list of their favorite treats so that I have a bit of guidance and they get something they really enjoy. Allison’s birthday was this week and she asked for a chocolate peanut butter combo, which is one of my absolute favorites too. So, I spent a bit of time trying to dream up the ultimate peanut butter and chocolate dessert this week.

I settled on making a peanut butter cookie crust (which I over baked a bit, so be careful with it!) and then filled the tart with chopped mini Reese’s peanut butter cups and a creamy peanut butter faux mousse. Then I topped the tart with a chocolate ganache and more Reese’s cups. Mmm, totally indulgent and perfect for a bday celebration! I’m already looking forward to seeing what the next person requests!

Peanut Butter Chocolate Tart
Printable Recipe

Ingredients:

Peanut Butter Cookie Crust:
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1 large egg
1 cup creamy peanut butter
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt

Peanut Butter Filling:
1 (3.4-oz.) package instant vanilla pudding
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk
1 cup creamy peanut butter
2 cups whipped topping, thawed

Ganache Layer:
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons cups semisweet chocolate chips
6 tablespoons heavy whipping cream

For Assembly:
2 cups mini Reese’s Peanut Butter cups, cut into fourths (10 ounces)

Directions:
To make the peanut butter cookie crust, heat oven to 350˚F. Mix butter and sugar until creamed in a large bowl. Mix in egg and peanut butter until smooth; stir in flour and salt. Grease a 10-inch tart pan with a removable bottom; press cookie dough evenly over bottom and up the sides of the tart pan. Bake at 350˚F for 12 to 15 minutes, or until golden brown. With back of spoon, press down crust so bottom and sides are evenly covered; bake 2 to 3 minutes longer, or until deep golden brown and a toothpick in the center comes out clean. Press down crust again with spoon, if needed. Completely cool the crust, about 1 hour.

Meanwhile, make the peanut butter filling. In a medium bowl, mix instant pudding with milk and condensed milk until smooth. Stir in peanut butter and then fold in whipped topping.

Prepare the ganache. In a small microwavable bowl, microwave the chocolate chips and heavy whipping cream, uncovered, on high for 1 minute. Stir well and microwave another 30 seconds. Continue stirring until the chips are melted and the mixture is smooth, microwaving another 15-30 seconds if needed.

To assemble the tart, evenly sprinkle half the chopped mini Reese’s peanut butter cups in the bottom of the cooled peanut butter cookie crust. Fill tart with peanut butter filling and spread ganache evenly on top. Sprinkle evenly with remaining chopped mini Reese’s peanut butter cups and refrigerate until the ganache is set, about 1 hour. Cut into 16 wedges.

Nutrition: 539 calories, 35.4g fat, 3.4g fiber, 13.7g protein per serving
Cost: $0.90 per serving

My First Video: Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Brownie Tart

I have a special post today – my very first video! I’ve been thinking about making recipe videos for some time now, so when Pixability, the company Apolinaras works for, offered to make a wrapper that would open and close the videos for my blog (How cool is that?...

Pomegranate Blueberry Crumble

My favorite part of Trader Joe’s is the cereal aisle. They have so many unique choices! I normally have one of the high fiber/protein super nutritious ones for breakfast, but always enjoy a cup of the less healthy ones for dessert after dinner. They have one with...

Balsamic Strawberry and Goat Cheese Tarts

I’m sitting in Heathrow right now taking advantage of the free internet from Starbucks before we head to Vilnius via Helsinki in a couple of hours! I’m a planner by nature and usually take charge of organizing all the details of our vacations, but this time Apolinaras...

Peanut Butter and Banana Parfaits

I may have a hard time remembering most facts, but my memory is almost perfect when it comes to recalling the details of remarkable meals. Two of my very favorite desserts we enjoyed while living in Chicago featured bananas. We devoured crispy cannoli shells filled...

Berry Tart

My favorite part of the 4th of July growing up was always trying to spell out my name with a sparkler before it burnt out. I've always loved a good challenge, so it never got old! Now it’s all about the food, and this year I dreamed up a festive berry tart that would...

Pumpkin Hazelnut Oatmeal Cookie Bars

Is everyone ready for the holidays? We finished our Christmas shopping today and our cards are all ready to be sent out tomorrow. Christmas has definitely snuck up on us this year though and I haven’t had the chance to do any holiday baking yet. I hope I can squeeze...

Chicago Cubs Dessert Sushi

I know, I know, you’re thinking – another dessert sushi post? But, this is a special version because it was inspired by the lovely Molly Jean, who writes one of my favorite blogs, The Rookie Chef. I got to meet Molly when I visited my parents in Des Moines over the...

Chocolate Dulce De Leche Bars

Every month when the dining hall menu was released during college, my roommates and I circled one day on the calendar. This was a day that was not to be forgotten. This was a day that we quickly scurried to lunch giddy with anticipation. This was a day that was simply...