Chocolate Crostata Recipes

CHOCOLATE CROSTATA

Steps:

• I love this because the crust is crunchy and buttery and it goes so well with the tartness of the chocolate.
• Ganache: In a small pot, over low heat, heat the cream with the cinnamon and orange zest. Use the pot of cream as the bottom of a double boiler and melt the chocolate, in a bowl, over the cream. When the chocolate has melted and the cream is heated, transfer the cream to a bowl and allow the chocolate and cream to cool slightly and separately. When somewhat warm, whisk the cream and the chocolate together to combine. Put the ganache in the refrigerator to cool.
• Crostata: In the bowl of a food processor, combine the flour, sugar, salt and lemon zest. Pulse the mixture to blend. Add the butter and continue pulsing to integrate and give the dough the consistency of a "gravel driveway."
• With the processor running, pour 2 tablespoons of ice water through the hole in the top of the machine and process until the dough looks like wet sand, adding more water if necessary, until it finally gathers into a ball.
• Remove the dough from the food processor and flatten it between 2 pieces of floured parchment paper on a baking sheet. Chill and allow it to rest for about 30 minutes. Roll the dough out to 1/4-inch thickness and cut out 8 (5 1/2-inch) circles. Make sure you lightly flour under and over the dough as you roll it.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Brush any excess flour off the dough before putting a spoonful of the cooled ganache in the center of each circle. Fold the sides up around it, making the chocolate the center of a small "money purse." Arrange them in a single layer on a baking sheet and bake until golden brown, about 12 to 15 minutes. Remove from the oven to a serving platter. Put any remaining ganache in the cavities of the crostada. Serve immediately with sour cream, whipped cream, or ice cream, if desired. Sift some powdered sugar over the crostata and garnish with a pinch of ground cloves, if desired.

CHOCOLATE CROSTATAS WITH MARMALADE

Steps:

• Line a heavy large baking sheet with parchment paper. Mix the flour, cocoa powder, sugar, orange peel, and salt in a food processor. Add the butter. Blend until clumps form. Add 2 tablespoons of ice water and blend. Add more ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the dough forms. Turn the dough out onto a work surface and knead briefly to form a smooth dough. Gather the dough into a ball then divide the dough into 8 equal pieces. Flatten each piece into a disk.
• Press 1 dough piece on the prepared baking sheet into a 4 1/2-inch round. Spoon 1 generous tablespoon of the marmalade into the center of the round. Fold the dough border in to form a 3-inch round and allow the center of the crostata to remain uncovered. Pleat loosely and pinch the dough to seal any cracks. Repeat with the remaining dough pieces and marmalade, spacing the crostatas evenly apart. Cover and refrigerate the crostatas until they are cold, at least 45 minutes and up to 4 hours.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Bake the crostatas until the crusts are set, about 18 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes. Slide a metal spatula under the crusts to free the crostatas from the baking sheet. Garnish with the candied orange peel and serve warm.
• Using a vegetable peeler, cut the orange part of the peel from the stem end of the orange down to the navel end, forming long 3/4 to 1-inch-wide strips. Bring a heavy small saucepan of water to a boil. Add the peels and cook for 1 minute. Drain and then rinse the peels under cold water. Repeat cooking the peels in the saucepan with fresh boiling water and rinsing under cold water.
• Stir the sugar and 1/2 cup of fresh water in a heavy small saucepan over medium-high heat until the sugar dissolves. Bring to a boil. Add the orange peels and simmer over medium-low heat until tender, about 15 minutes. Using tongs, transfer the peels to a sheet of parchment paper to dry slightly, about 1 hour.
• Line a small baking sheet with parchment paper. Stir the chocolate in a small bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water until melted and smooth. Dip 1 1/2-inches of each candied orange peel into the chocolate then place them on the prepared baking sheet and refrigerate until the chocolate is set, about 15 minutes.
• Yield: about 12 candied peels
• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 35 minutes
• Inactive Prep Time: 1 hour, 15 minutes