Chocolate Tart

Sweet Pastry

1. Pre-heat the oven.
2. Rub some butter around the inside of a 20cm/8” baking dish or insert a baking liner.
3. Put the flour and butter into a large bowl and using a fork or pastry blender, work them together until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.
4. Stir in the sugar.
5. Add the egg yolks and mix well.
6. Using your hands gather everything together to form into a smooth ball of pastry dough.
7. Dust the work surface with flour, put the dough in the middle and sprinkle it with flour.
8. Roll out the pastry out into a circle 5cm/2” larger than your dish and lift it into the dish OR simply press the pastry into the dish using your fingers.
9. Cut away any pastry that hangs over the edge of the dish.
10. Prick the pastry all over with a fork.

Blind Baking

1. Lay a large piece of parchment over the raw pastry, making sure all the edges are covered.
2. Scatter ceramic baking beans (or rice or flour) over the parchment, spreading them evenly over the surface.
3. Bake for 15-18 minutes then remove from the oven and carefully lift the parchment and contents off the pastry.
4. Return the pastry to the oven and cook for a further 12-15 minutes.
5. Take the dish out of the oven, remove the parchment and its contents and leave it to cool.

Chocolate Filling

1. Break the chocolate into squares and put them into a mixing bowl.
2. Put the cream into a saucepan and heat it gently. As soon as bubbles start to appear remove the pan from the heat and pour the cream onto the chocolate.
3. Stir until the chocolate has all melted into the cream.
4. Add the syrup and stir to combine.
5. Tip the mixture into the pastry case and leave to set.
6. When cold refrigerate or freeze until required.