Crunchy hazelnut & cacao base combined with decadent, creamy & smooth chocolate & blood orange filling, this tart is a divine marriage of fresh & zingy citrus and velvety rich dark chocolate. A perfect fuss free chocolate dessert for Valentine’s day. Vegan, free from gluten & refined sugar.
Well, I’ve taken an unplanned break from posting on the blog for a few weeks but what a recipe to come back with! If there is just one sweet recipe on my blog that you should try, it has to be this decadent chocolate & blood orange tart. And with Valentine’s Day just round the corner, this is definitely THE way to your lover’s heart! Oh, and by the way, dark chocolate is a natural aphrodisiac if you didn’t know, so you’ve got that Valentine in your bag, so to speak! Crunchy hazelnut-y base combined with decadent chocolate & blood orange filling, this tart is a perfect marriage of slightly sharp and zingy citrus and rich dark chocolate flavours. And even better, it’s free from refined sugar, gluten free and vegan friendly too.
It’s been a bit of a rollercoaster these last few weeks if I’m honest. I’ve been beating myself up for not keeping up with my regular posting schedule but what I really learnt in 2018, which was probably the most challenging year in my personal life yet, is to be ok with things not going to plan… Let go, take a deep breath, move out of the way and let the universe help you shift things around… You know how sometimes you are so adamant about nailing that particular project you’ve been wanting to get involved with for so long or going out of your way to keep certain people and relationships in your life or being extra persistent with following the path you thought was yours… I’ve learnt how liberating it is sometimes to just let go of all plans, expectations, predictions, overzealous efforts and just BE, knowing that the dots will eventually join up exactly as they’re meant to be…
Now that I’ve got it out of my chest, let’s get down straight to this bloody amazing chocolate & blood orange tart, shall we? I took inspiration for the filling of this tart from Mei’s original recipe here.
HOW TO MAKE CHOCOLATE & BLOOD ORANGE TART
Just a few notes on recipe adjustments. As they are currently in season, I used blood oranges in the filling, but feel free to use ordinary oranges. They’ll do just well. You might have some chocolate & orange filling left over but don’t throw it away – it works as perfect frosting for cakes or, if you feel like indulging a little, spread it over your toast instead of Nutella, it’s just as delicious!
This chocolate & orange tart is a perfect party dessert (especially a good one for Valentine’s day for sure), as you can prepare it the night before, so it’s less cooking on the day.
When it comes to decorating your tart, you can use any fresh fruit and berries in season, anything will go.
Whilst you’re here, you might also like to try:
Without further ado, let me take you straight to the recipe. Indulge, enjoy and savour every mouthful. I’d be beyond grateful if you shared your comments with me in the comment section below. And don’t forget to tag me on social media @fit.foodie.nutter so I can see all of your beautiful creations.
See you next week.
Healthfully yours,
Tania, Fit Foodie Nutter
CHOCOLATE & BLOOD ORANGE TART (GF & VEGAN)
Ingredients
For the crust:
- ½ cup roasted hazelnuts (skins peeled) – plus more for decorating
- ¼ cup raw cacao powder
- ½ cup + ¼ cup (gluten free) porridge oats
- ½ cup dates ,soaked in boiling water for 5mins, rinsed & drained
- ¼ cup maple syrup (or agave nectar)
- 3 tbsp coconut oil ,melted plus more for greasing
For the chocolate & blood orange filling:
- 1 tin x 400ml full fat coconut milk
- ¼ cup + 1 tbsp maple syrup (or agave nectar)
- ½ cup freshly squeezed blood orange juice
- 50 g dark chocolate melted
- ¼ cup raw cacao powder
- 2 tbsp cornstarch
- 1 tsp agar agar powder
For decorating:
- 2 blood oranges cut in thin rounds
- A handful of roasted hazelnuts ,chopped
- A handful of pomegranate seeds (optional)
Instructions
- 1. Preheat the oven to 170C fan. Grease the 23cm (9”) tart tin with coconut oil using the pastry brush and set aside.
- 2. Combine roasted hazelnuts, cacao powder and porridge oats in a food processor and blitz until fine crumbs. Add dates, maple syrup and coconut oil and process until the mixture turns into sticky dough. Transfer the dough into the tart case and spread evenly round the base and sides of the tin by gently pressing and flattening the dough with your fingers. Gently prick the base of the tin with a fork and bake in the oven for 10-12mins until the crust is slightly brown on the sides. Remove from the oven and let it cool down completely whilst still in the tart tin. Release from the tin when completely cool.
- 3. In the meantime, prepare the filling by combining coconut milk, maple syrup, blood orange juice, melted dark chocolate & cacao powder in a saucepan and whisking over medium heat. As soon as the mixture starts to bubble, whisk in cornstarch and agar agar powder and let it simmer for 2-3 minutes. Take off the heat and cool completely.
- 4. Once cool, fill the tart with blood orange & chocolate filling taking care not to fill too high up the sides. Decorate with fresh orange segments, roasted hazelnuts and pomegranate seeds.
Love the oranges on these!! Looks as great as it tastes 🙂
Thank you Noelle:)
Chocolate and orange go perfectly together. Your tart looks and sounds decadent and delicious, perfect for a special occasion dessert.
Thank you very much Helen:)
OMG!!! I’m lactose intolerant and you have just officially made my year – THANK YOU!!!
This is so chocolatey and delicious. Such a perfect mix with the blood orange. Loving the flavor. This won’t last long.
Thank you so much Mike. Didn’t last long in our house at all:)
Wow, this looks so delicious – my family would love this. Chocolate and blood orange is such a fab pairing
The presentation of blood oranges on the chocolate tart looks outstanding. And the fact that there’s no dairy in the recipe makes it even better.
Thank you so much indeed Lisa x
There’s something so wonderful and perfect about the combination of orange and chocolate. This tart is to die for. Everyone should make it today!
Thank you so much Stephanie! Totally agree with the perfect combination of orange and chocolate – a marriage made in heaven! Thank you for your comment and have a great day x
A skin is forming as it cools, what do I do with it?
Hi Carole. You should be able to get rid of ‘the skin’ just by whisking or stirring the mixture gently. The skin is forming when the mixture is setting, so it’s completely normal. Let me know how you got on with it.
All the best, Tania x
I love combining orange and chocolate and this vegan tart recipe looks delicious! Gonna be trying this soon!
Thank you so much Marly! And I totally agree – chocolate and orange is one of the best combinations for sure!
This looks like the perfect dessert for our next family gathering. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you so much Brigitte! Enjoy your gathering:) x