Desserts Archives - A Beautiful Mess https://abeautifulmess.com/category/desserts/ Crafts, Home Décor, Recipes Sun, 21 Jan 2024 19:20:08 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 https://abeautifulmess.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/cropped-ABM-Favicon-60x60.jpg Desserts Archives - A Beautiful Mess https://abeautifulmess.com/category/desserts/ 32 32 Tiramisu https://abeautifulmess.com/tiramisu/ https://abeautifulmess.com/tiramisu/#comments Fri, 19 Jan 2024 14:09:00 +0000 https://abeautifulmess.com/?p=121545 My birthday is in a few days and I always celebrate by posting a recipe of a dessert I’m currently obsessed with. This year, I’m sharing this easy tiramisu recipe, which conjures up many fancy restaurant meals for me. This is the perfect homemade tiramisu as it’s incredibly easy to make and does not contain raw egg yolks. While a traditional tiramisu recipe would likely contain yolks in the custard layers, I don’t find it necessary and this version is still ultra creamy and flavorful.

Tiramisu is sometimes called “Tuscan trifle,” as it was invented in Italy in the 1960s or 1970s. In Italian, tiramisu means “cheer me up,” which this dessert most certainly will do! It’s got layers of cake soaked in coffee and rum with creamy, custard-like layers in between. This no-bake dessert is well known and much beloved.

Related – Here are a few other past birthday treats I’ve posted: my favorite brownies, birthday cake cookies, and angel food cake.

Ingredients

  • Heavy whipping cream
  • Meringue powder
  • Granulated white sugar
  • Vanilla extract
  • Mascarpone
  • Espresso
  • Water
  • Coffee liqueur – I use Kahlua
  • Lady fingers
  • Cocoa powder

Check out the tips and substitutions section for ideas of ingredients you can swap or change out if you want to avoid alcohol, caffeine, or can’t find certain ingredients in your local grocery store.

Directions

Allow your mascarpone to reach room temperature. In the winter months (when I photographed this recipe), I set it out on my counter overnight.

In a stand mixer or with an electric mixer, beat the heavy whipping cream and meringue powder and until soft peaks form. Then, while mixing, add in granulated white sugar and vanilla extract until stiff peaks form. This is pretty much the process to make homemade whipped cream.

Use a rubber spatula to fold in the softened mascarpone until combined with the whipped cream.

In a pie pan or plate with a large lip, combine the espresso, water and coffee liqueur. Quickly dip the lady fingers in the mixture and then place in an even layer in a 8×8 square pan. Once you have the bottom layer, add a layer of the cream filling and smooth into an even layer. Repeat another layer of lady fingers on top. Then the remaining layer of cream filling.

Dust the top of the tiramisu with cocoa powder. Cover and refrigerate for at least two hours, but up to two days before serving.

Tips & Substitutions

  • If you want to make this in a 9×13 pan, you can easily double this recipe.
  • The “hardest” part of tiramisu in my opinion is removing it from the pan to serve. If this bothers you, consider building the dessert in individual ramekins or even wine glasses to serve.
  • Meringue powder – There isn’t a great substitute for this ingredient, BUT if you can’t find it you can skip it and this recipe will still be very good. It just adds some lift and a little dimension to the whipped cream.
  • Mascarpone – If you can’t find this soft cheese, you can substitute cream cheese.
  • Espresso – Instead of espresso and water you can use 1 1/4 cups coffee or decaf coffee.
  • Coffee liqueur – Other great options are rum or marsala wine. If you want an alcohol-free option, I would just skip it and add an additional 1/4 cup coffee or decaf coffee.
  • Lady fingers – These can be a little hard to find at some grocery stores; at mine, they are usually in the freezer of the bakery section. If you can’t find them, I would use vanilla wafers instead, which are more hardy and crispy, so feel free to soak just a little longer to soften them.

While these substitution ideas will make the recipe less authentic, they are meant to help you succeed in still making a delicious and flavorful no bake dessert.

More No-Bake Recipes

Print

Tiramisu

Course Dessert
Cuisine American, Italian
Keyword no-bake desserts
Prep Time 20 minutes
Refrigeration Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 20 minutes
Servings 9
Calories 363kcal

Equipment

  • stand mixer or electric mixer

Ingredients

  • 1 ¼ cups heavy whipping cream
  • 1 teaspoon meringue powder
  • cup granulated white sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 8 ounces mascarpone
  • 1 shot espresso
  • 1 cup water
  • ¼ cup coffee liqueur
  • 1 package lady fingers
  • 2 tablespoons cocoa powder

Instructions

  • Allow your mascarpone to reach room temperature.
  • In a stand mixer or with an electric mixer, beat the heavy whipping cream and meringue powder and until soft peaks form.
  • Then, while mixing, add in granulated white sugar and vanilla extract until stiff peaks form.
  • Use a rubber spatula to fold in the softened mascarpone until combined with the whipped cream.
  • In a pie pan or plate with a large lip, combine the espresso, water and coffee liqueur.
  • Quickly dip the lady fingers in the mixture and then place in an even layer in a 8×8 square pan.
  • Once you have the bottom layer, add a layer of the cream filling and smooth into an even layer.
  • Repeat another layer of lady fingers on top. Then the remaining layer of cream filling.
  • Dust the top of the tiramisu with cocoa powder.
  • Cover and refrigerate for at least two hours, but up to two days before serving.

Notes

If you want to make this in a 9×13 pan, you can easily double this recipe.
The “hardest” part of tiramisu in my opinion is removing it from the pan to serve. If this bothers you, consider building the dessert in individual ramekins or even wine glasses to serve.
Meringue powder – There isn’t a great substitute for this ingredient, BUT if you can’t find it you can skip it and this recipe will still be very good. It just adds some lift and a little dimension to the whipped cream.
Mascarpone – If you can’t find this soft cheese, you can substitute cream cheese.
Espresso – Instead of espresso and water you can use 1 1/4 cups coffee or decaf coffee.
Coffee liqueur – Other great options are rum or marsala wine. If you want an alcohol-free option, I would just skip it and add an additional 1/4 cup coffee or decaf coffee.
Lady fingers – These can be a little hard to find at some grocery stores; at mine, they are usually in the freezer of the bakery section. If you can’t find them, I would use vanilla wafers instead, which are more hardy and crispy, so feel free to soak just a little longer to soften them.

Nutrition

Calories: 363kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 111mg | Sodium: 65mg | Potassium: 84mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 961IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 70mg | Iron: 1mg
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Chocolate Cake Pops https://abeautifulmess.com/chocolate-cake-pops/ https://abeautifulmess.com/chocolate-cake-pops/#comments Sat, 13 Jan 2024 14:03:00 +0000 https://abeautifulmess.com/?p=119226 Cake pops are a delicious bite-sized treat that add fun to any party or event. These chocolate-covered cake balls on a stick are made with a homemade chocolate cake recipe, so they are extra rich and delicious.

Cake pops are perfect for parties since they are individual servings, can be made ahead of time, and you can decorate them however you like, so they are easy to customize for party themes and holiday events.

Looking for more cake pop fun? Check out:

chocolate cake pops

What you need to make chocolate cake pops

  • Chocolate cake: You can use our yummy homemade recipe below, or you can also use a chocolate box mix cake if you prefer.
  • Can of frosting: You will also need one container of store-bought chocolate frosting.
  • Cake pop sticks: While it’s most common to use sticks like this, you can also use forks or edible items like pretzel rods!
  • Candy melts: These discs of chocolate are the easiest way to get that chocolate coating as they melt easily and come in lots of color options.
  • Edible decorations: Use whatever sprinkles or non-pareils you like to decorate.
  • Microwave or Double Boiler: You can melt candy melts in the microwave, but you can also use a double boiler to do it on the stove top or a chocolate melter like this one.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you use chocolate chips instead of candy melts for cake pops?

While candy melts work best for cake pops, you can also use chocolate chips instead. The mixture will be a little thicker and slightly harder to work with (but still OK). And the shell around the cake pops will be thicker once the chocolate sets.

chocolate cake pops

How to make chocolate cake pops

1. Bake the cake: Bake your cake according to the recipe and allow to fully cool.

2. Add the frosting and mix: Spoon the baked cake into a large mixing bowl. Add 1/2 of the container of frosting. Using the full container makes the cake pops a bit too soft and harder to work with once we dip them in chocolate. But, this is how you get cake pops to stick together—with frosting. Use clean hands to mix together the frosting and cake. The cake pop batter is going to be pretty soft, but moldable.

Starting with less frosting is better as you can always add more if you need it, but you can’t take it away if you use too much.

3. Roll cake balls: Form your cake pop batter into small balls (about 3 tablespoons each). You don’t want them to be too big, just so they easily fit in the palm of your hand.

Once you have formed all your pops (a standard size cake will make around 35-40 cake pops), put them in the refrigerator for 1-2 hours or the freezer for 30 minutes.

4. Melt your candy melts: Melt candy melts in the microwave in 30-second increments on half power. You could also use a double boiler to do it on the stove top or a chocolate melter like this one. If you need to thin your candy melts, you can stir in a teaspoon of canola or vegetable oil once melted and can reheat the chocolate for 15 seconds at a time to remelt if it starts to set up at any point.

5. Attach the cake pop stick: First, put your stick into the melted chocolate and push the stick 2/3 through a cold cake pop.

6. Dip the cake pop: Dip the attached cake pop into the melted chocolate and allow any excess chocolate to drip off the pop. Gently tap the cake pop stick on the side of your bowl to also shake off extra chocolate. Then, add any extra decorations and store the cake pop upright while it sets (unless you don’t mind a flat bottomed cake pop).

You can keep them upright in a number of ways like sticking them into a container that is filled with granulated white sugar or rice or you can stick them into a block of styrofoam.

Tips for Making

  • Add your icing to your cake crumble in small quantities so you just get the point of having enough for it to stick together.
  • Use a small cookie scoop to scoop cake mixture so you get even portions for each cake pop.
  • Make sure your cake balls are well-chilled before coating.
  • Have your decorations nearby and prepped to go so you can attach them while the chocolate is still melted.
  • You can use a tall glass to pour your melted chocolate in so you have a little dunk tank to fully submerge your cake pop into.
chocolate cake pops

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I store my cake pops?

If making these ahead of time, you can store your completed cake pops at room temperature for 1-2 weeks. You can store them for up to four weeks in the refrigerator, but the cold can create some condensation on your decorations and cause them to bleed or warp a bit.

Looking for party appetizers? Try:

Print

Chocolate Cake Pops

Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Keyword cake, cake pops
Prep Time 40 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Chill time 2 hours
Total Time 3 hours 10 minutes
Servings 35 cake balls
Calories 25kcal
Cost $10

Equipment

  • microwave or double boiler
  • 1 9" round cake pan
  • cake pop sticks

Ingredients

For the chocolate cake

  • 1 cup and 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup sugar
  • ½ cup cocoa powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1 ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • cup oil (canola or vegetable)
  • 1 teaspoon white vinegar
  • 1 cup water

For the cake pops

  • 20 ounces chocolate melts

Instructions

Make the cake:

  • In a large bowl, stir together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt. In another bowl, stir together the water, oil, vanilla extract and vinegar. Stir the wet ingredients into the dry.
  • Bake at 350°F for 30-35 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove from pan and allow to cool fully.

Make the cake pops:

  • Add the frosting and mix: Spoon the baked cake into a large mixing bowl. Add 1/2 of the container of frosting. Using the full container makes the cake pops a bit too soft and harder to work with once we dip them in chocolate. But, this is how you get cake pops to stick together—with frosting. Use clean hands to mix together the frosting and cake. The cake pop batter is going to be pretty soft, but moldable.
    Starting with less frosting is better as you can always add more if you need it, but you can’t take it away if you use too much.
  • Roll cake balls: Form your cake pop batter into small balls (about 3 tablespoons each). You don’t want them to be too big, just so they easily fit in the palm of your hand.
    Once you have formed all your pops (a standard size cake will make around 35-40 cake pops), put them in the refrigerator for 1-2 hours or the freezer for 30 minutes.
  • Melt your candy melts: Melt candy melts in the microwave in 30-second increments on half power. You could also use a double boiler to do it on the stove top or a chocolate melter like this one. If you need to thin your candy melts, you can stir in a teaspoon of canola or vegetable oil once melted and can reheat the chocolate for 15 seconds at a time to remelt if it starts to set up at any point.
  • Attach the cake pop stick: First, put your stick into the melted chocolate and push the stick 2/3 through a cold cake pop.
  • Dip the cake pop: Dip the attached cake pop into the melted chocolate and allow any excess chocolate to drip off the pop. Gently tap the cake pop stick on the side of your bowl to also shake off extra chocolate. Then, add any extra decorations and store the cake pop upright while it sets (unless you don’t mind a flat bottomed cake pop).
    You can keep them upright in a number of ways like sticking them into a container that is filled with granulated white sugar or rice or you can stick them into a block of styrofoam.

Notes

Tips for Making

  • Add your icing to your cake crumble in small quantities so you just get the point of having enough for it to stick together.
  • Use a small cookie scoop to scoop cake mixture so you get even portions for each cake pop.
  • Make sure your cake balls are well-chilled before coating.
  • Have your decorations nearby and prepped to go so you can attach them while the chocolate is still melted.
  • You can use a tall glass to pour your melted chocolate in so you have a little dunk tank to fully submerge your cake pop into.

Nutrition

Calories: 25kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 0.1g | Saturated Fat: 0.01g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.03g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.01g | Sodium: 0.1mg | Potassium: 7mg | Fiber: 0.2g | Sugar: 0.02g | Calcium: 1mg | Iron: 0.3mg
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Christmas Cake Pops https://abeautifulmess.com/christmas-cake-pops/ https://abeautifulmess.com/christmas-cake-pops/#comments Tue, 28 Nov 2023 14:02:00 +0000 https://abeautifulmess.com/?p=117925 Christmas is the best time of the year for treats and we have easy Christmas cake pop ideas that are sure to be a hit with all ages at your next holiday party. With just a few edible decorations, you can make reindeer, snowmen, or Christmas tree cake pops to celebrate the season.

We’ll also show you the secret to making cake pops in just minutes if you want a handy shortcut to get the decorating part faster, so look for that below …

Looking for more holiday treats? Check out:

Christmas cake pops with reindeer, snowman, and Christmas tree

What You Need to Make Christmas Cake Pops:

  • Cake mix: You can use any flavor cake mix: chocolatevanillared velvetyellow, etc. Be sure to check your cake mix to ensure you have whatever other cake ingredients the mix recommends for baking (eggs, oil, etc.).
  • Can of frosting: You will also need one container of store-bought frosting. I like to use anything with a simple texture like vanillachocolate, or strawberry.
  • Cake pop sticks: While it’s most common to use sticks like this, you can also use forks or edible items like pretzel rods!
  • Candy melts: These discs of chocolate are the easiest way to get that chocolate coating as they melt easily and come in lots of color options.
  • Microwave or Double Boiler: You can melt candy melts in the microwave, but you can also use a double boiler to do it on the stove top or a chocolate melter like this one.
  • Edible decorations: For these Christmas cake pops, you’ll want mini pretzels, candy eyes, and red M&Ms for the reindeer, chocolate coins, Rolo or mini Reese’s cups, and orange sprinkles for the snowmen, and sprinkles or mini M&Ms to decorate your Christmas tree.

Looking for more cake pops? Check out our Chocolate Cake Pops, Birthday Cake Pops, Halloween Cake Pops, and Oreo Cake Pops!

How to Make Christmas Cake Pops

1. Bake the cake: Bake your cake according to the package instructions and allow to fully cool.

2. Add the frosting and mix: Spoon the baked cake into a large mixing bowl. Add 2/3 of the container of frosting. Using the full container makes the cake pops a bit too soft and harder to work with once we dip them in chocolate. But, this is how you get cake pops to stick together—with frosting. Use clean hands to mix together the frosting and cake. The cake pop batter is going to be pretty soft, but moldable.

3. Roll cake balls: Form your cake pop batter into small balls (about 3-4 tablespoons each). You don’t want them to be too big, just so they easily fit in the palm of your hand.

Once you have formed all your pops (a standard size cake will make around 35-40 cake pops), put them in the refrigerator for 1-2 hours or the freezer for 30 minutes.

4. Melt your candy melts: Melt candy melts in the microwave in 30-second increments on half power. You could also use a double boiler to do it on the stove top or a chocolate melter like this one. If you need to thin your candy melts, you can stir in a teaspoon of canola or vegetable oil once melted and can reheat the chocolate for 15 seconds at a time to remelt if it starts to set up at any point.

5. Attach the cake pop stick: First, put your stick into the melted chocolate and push the stick 2/3 through a cold cake pop.

6. Dip the cake pop: Dip the attached cake pop into the melted chocolate and allow any excess chocolate to drip off the pop. Gently tap the cake pop stick on the side of your bowl to also shake off extra chocolate. Then, add any extra decorations and store the cake pop upright while it sets (unless you don’t mind a flat bottomed cake pop).

You can keep them upright in a number of ways, like sticking them into a container that is filled with granulated white sugar or rice or you can stick them into a block of styrofoam.

Making cake pops from snack cakes

How To Make SUPER EASY Cake Pops:

  • To make your cake pops even faster and easier, try using Little Debbie Snack Cakes or Zebra Cakes! Just crumble them into a bowl and mash them together with a mixing spoon until you get a thick dough. Use your small cookie scoop to scoop out balls of cake and continue to chill, dip, and decorate just like you would with the regular recipe! Such a time saver and you get about one cake pop per snack cake.
Reindeer cake pops

How To Make a Reindeer Cake Pop:

  • Follow directions above to make a general cake pop and dip the cake pop into brown chocolate.
  • Add two mini pretzels to the head for the antlers (or break off a section of a regular size pretzel), two candy eyes, and a red M&M for the nose.
  • Allow the chocolate to set and your cake pop is ready!
Christmas tree cake pops

How To Make a Christmas Tree Cake Pop:

  • Follow directions above to make a general cake pop and dip the cake pop into green chocolate. Allow the chocolate to set.
  • Add some melted green chocolate to a piping bag (or ziplock bag with the tip cut off) and lay the cake pop on some wax paper. Drizzle the melted chocolate over the tree back and forth and add sprinkles or small candies to decorate.
  • Allow the chocolate to set and your cake pop is ready!
snowman christmas cake pops

How to Make a Snowman Cake Pop:

  • Follow directions above to make a general cake pop and dip the cake pop into white chocolate.
  • Glue your Rolo or mini Reese’s cup to your chocolate coin with a little melted chocolate to make a hat and add to your snowman’s head. Add your sprinkle nose and allow chocolate to set.
  • Once chocolate is set, melt a small amount of black or brown chocolate to pipe the eyes and mouth (or you can use black sprinkles or mini chocolate chips placed before the chocolate sets!).
  • Allow the chocolate to set and your cake pop is ready!
Christmas cake pops with reindeer, snowman, and Christmas tree
Christmas cake pops reindeer, snowman, and tree

Looking for a seasonal cocktail? Check out:

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I store Christmas cake pops?

If making these ahead of time, you can store your completed cake pops at room temperature for 1-2 weeks. You can store them for up to four weeks in the refrigerator, but the cold can create some condensation on your decorations and cause them to bleed or warp a bit.

Can you use chocolate chips instead of candy melts?

While candy melts work best for cake pops, you can also use chocolate chips instead. The mixture will be a little thicker and slightly harder to work with (but still OK). And the shell around the cake pops will be thicker once the chocolate sets.

Print

Birthday Cake Pops

Create fun birthday cake pops for your next party!
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Keyword birthday cake, cake pops
Prep Time 30 minutes
2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 30 minutes
Servings 35 cake balls
Calories 55kcal
Cost $15

Equipment

  • 1 small cookie scoop optional
  • 35-40 cake pop sticks
  • 1 microwave or double boiler

Ingredients

  • 1 boxed Funfetti or vanilla cake mix and whatever other ingredients you need to make the cake (eggs, oil, etc.)
  • 1/2-3/4 of a 16-ounce can of vanilla frosting (add little by little until you have right consistency)
  • candy melts in white
  • sprinkles

Instructions

  • 1. Bake the cake: Bake your cake according to the package instructions and allow to fully cool.
  • 2. Add the frosting and mix: Spoon the baked cake into a large mixing bowl. Add 1/2-2/3 of the container of frosting. Using the full container makes the cake pops a bit too soft and harder to work with once we dip them in chocolate. But, this is how you get cake pops to stick together—with frosting. Use clean hands to mix together the frosting and cake. The cake pop batter is going to be pretty soft, but moldable. Should feel like play dough consistency.
  • 3. Roll cake balls: Form your cake pop batter into small balls (about 3-4 tablespoons each). You don’t want them to be too big, just so they easily fit in the palm of your hand. Once you have formed all your pops (a standard size cake will make around 35-40 cake pops), put them in the refrigerator for 1-2 hours or the freezer for 30 minutes.
  • 4. Melt your candy melts: Melt candy melts in the microwave in 30-second increments on half power. You could also use a double boiler to do it on the stove top or a chocolate melter like this one. If you need to thin your candy melts, you can stir in a teaspoon of canola or vegetable oil once melted and you can reheat the chocolate for 15 seconds at a time to remelt if it starts to set up at any point.
  • 5. Attach the cake pop stick: First, put your stick into the melted chocolate and push the stick 2/3 through a cold cake pop.
  • 6. Dip the cake pop: Dip the attached cake pop into the melted chocolate and allow any excess chocolate to drip off the pop. Gently tap the cake pop stick on the side of your bowl to also shake off extra chocolate. Then, add any extra sprinkle decorations and store the cake pop upright while it sets (unless you don’t mind a flat bottomed cake pop).

Notes

*You can keep them upright in a number of ways while they set like sticking them into a container that is filled with granulated white sugar or rice or you can stick them into a block of styrofoam.
 

Tips for Making Cake Pops:

    • Add your icing to your cake crumble in small quantities so you just get the point of having enough for it to stick together. It should feel like play dough.
    • Make sure your cake balls are well chilled before coating.
    • Have your decorations nearby and prepped to go so you can attach them while the chocolate is still melted.
    • You can use a tall glass to pour your melted chocolate in (or melt it in a microwaveable mug) so you have a little dunk tank to fully submerge your cake pop into.

Nutrition

Calories: 55kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 0.3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Sodium: 102mg | Potassium: 9mg | Fiber: 0.2g | Sugar: 6g | Calcium: 32mg | Iron: 0.3mg
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Chocolate Tart https://abeautifulmess.com/chocolate-tart/ https://abeautifulmess.com/chocolate-tart/#comments Sat, 11 Nov 2023 14:16:00 +0000 https://abeautifulmess.com/?p=118994 A buttery fluted crust and a rich luxurious chocolate filling are the stars of this chocolate tart. Your guests will think you’ve stopped by a French patisserie, but you can make chocolate magic in your own kitchen with our easy step-by-step recipe.

Tarts are a shallow, one crust cousin to the classic pie, and you can make yours an Apple Tart, Mini Citrus Tarts, or Honey & Whiskey Apple Tarts!

Looking for more delicious treats? Check out:

chocolate tart

Ingredients for chocolate tart

For the crust:

  • A simple buttery pie crust of flour, sugar, salt, butter, and cold water will hold your chocolaty filling.

For the filling:

  • Semi-sweet chocolate: Chopped semi-sweet chocolate is the perfect amount of sweetness for this rich tart.
  • Heavy cream: Adding heavy cream to your chocolate makes it a silky ganache.
  • Instant espresso: Optional, but adding a little of this gives the tart another level of depth and flavor. Highly recommend!
  • Sugar: A small amount of sugar is all you need with semi-sweet chocolate.
  • Salt: Just a dash of salt needed for this tart.
  • Eggs: Gives your filling a thick custard-type consistency.
  • Vanilla: Adds a hint of vanilla to counter the chocolate notes.
chocolate tart

How to make a chocolate tart

Make the dough: In a food processor, pulse together the flour, sugar, salt, and cold butter until crumbly. Add the first 3 tablespoons of cold water and pulse again. If needed, add an additional tablespoon of cold water. It will still look crumbly but you want the dough to just come together when you pinch it with your fingers.

Dump onto a clean counter and press the dough together into a disc (you can knead it 2-3 times to get it to come together). Cover in plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to chill. You can also make the dough ahead of time and freeze for up to 3 days.

Add dough to tart pan: On a floured surface, roll out your dough into a 12″ circle and place in your 9″ tart pan. If your dough is sticking, lightly flour the dough and your rolling pin every few rolls and flip it over once or twice.

To add your dough to your pan you can either roll the dough around your rolling pin and unroll it over your pan, or fold the dough circle in half, and in half again so you have a pizza wedge shape and then unfold the shape in the tart pan.

Press dough into the tart pan and roll your rolling pin over the top to cut off any excess. Prick the bottom with a fork and place in freezer for 30 minutes to chill.

blind baking a crust for a chocolate tart

Add a layer of foil over the crust to add pie weights or dried beans or rice to blind bake the pie.

Blind bake on a cookie sheet at 350° for 25-30 minutes covered and then remove foil and bake uncovered for another 12-15 minutes. You want the shell baked and just starting to brown.

Let shell cool completely for about one hour while you make the filling.

Prepare your filling: To make your filling, add your chopped chocolate to a bowl and heat your heavy cream until simmering or bubbles around the edges. Pour the heated cream into the bowl and let it sit for a few minutes to melt the chocolate. Whisk to combine.

Add your instant coffee, sugar, and salt and whisk again.

Add your two eggs and vanilla and whisk to combine.

filling a chocolate tart

Pour your filling into your baked shell and bake again at 350° for about 25 minutes or until the tart is mostly set but the middle is still a little wobbly. If you see any cracks starting to form, take it out.

Let your tart cool for one hour before slicing into it. Enjoy!

Tips for Making

  • When serving, wipe your knife off between slices for cleaner cuts.
  • To cut down on air bubbles in the filling, you can pop any you see with a toothpick before baking.
  • You can use milk or dark chocolate baking bars as well so mix and match to your taste level.
  • Make sure to allow the tart to fully cool before cutting into so it will solidify and keep its shape when cut.
  • Chop your chocolate in small pieces so it’s easier for it to melt when you add the heated cream. You can microwave it for small increments (and stir between each one) if you chocolate doesn’t all melt after you add the cream.
chocolate tart

Goes Great With:

Try serving chocolate tart with:

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you freeze a chocolate tart?

You should be able to freeze this tart for up to a month in the freezer. Thaw in the fridge overnight.

How do you store a chocolate tart?

In a covered container (or covered in plastic wrap), this tart should keep in the fridge for about four days.

Can you make a chocolate tart in advance?

You can make the dough in advance and keep it well wrapped in the fridge for up to a week. Give it 15-30 minutes to soften before rolling.

Print

Chocolate Tart

A decadent but simple chocolate tart recipe
Course Dessert
Cuisine French
Keyword chocolate, tarte
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Chill Time 30 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 5 minutes
Servings 12 people
Calories 354kcal
Cost $10

Equipment

  • 1 Food processor

Ingredients

For the dough

  • 1 ¼ cup flour
  • 1 ½ teaspoon sugar
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup cold butter
  • 3-4 tablespoons cold water

For the filling

  • 1 teaspoon instant coffee (optional)
  • 10 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, chopped
  • 1 ¼ cup heavy cream
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 2 eggs, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla

Instructions

Make the dough:

  • In a food processor, pulse together the flour, sugar, salt, and cold butter until crumbly. Add the first 3 tablespoons of cold water and pulse again. If needed, add an additional tablespoon of cold water. It will still look crumbly but you want the dough to just come together when you pinch it with your fingers.
  • Dump onto a clean counter and press the dough together into a disc (you can knead it 2-3 times to get it to come together). Cover in plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to chill. You can also make the dough ahead of time and freeze for up to 3 days.

Add dough to tart pan and bake:

  • On a floured surface, roll out your dough into a 12″ circle and place in your 9″ tart pan. If your dough is sticking, lightly flour the dough and your rolling pin every few rolls and flip it over once or twice. To add your dough to your pan you can either roll the dough around your rolling pin and unroll it over your pan, or fold the dough circle in half, and in half again so you have a pizza wedge shape and then unfold the shape in the tart pan.
    Press dough into the tart pan and roll your rolling pin over the top to cut off any excess. Prick the bottom with a fork and place in freezer for 30 minutes to chill.
  • Add a layer of foil over the crust to add pie weights or dried beans or rice to blind bake the pie. Blind bake on a cookie sheet at 350° for 25-30 minutes covered and then remove foil and bake uncovered for another 12-15 minutes. You want the shell baked and just starting to brown.
    Let shell cool completely for about one hour while you make the filling.

Make the filling:

  • To make your filling, add your chopped chocolate to a bowl and heat your heavy cream until simmering or bubbles around the edges. Pour the heated cream into the bowl and let it sit for a few minutes to melt the chocolate. Whisk to combine. Add your instant coffee, sugar, and salt and whisk again.
    Add your two eggs and vanilla and whisk to combine.
  • Pour your filling into your baked shell and bake again at 350° for about 25 minutes or until the tart is mostly set but the middle is still a little wobbly. If you see any cracks starting to form, take it out. Let your tart cool for one hour before slicing into it. Enjoy!

Notes

Tips for Making

  • When serving, wipe your knife off between slices for cleaner cuts.
  • To cut down on air bubbles in the filling, you can pop any you see with a toothpick before baking.
  • You can use milk or dark chocolate baking bars as well so mix and match to your taste level.
  • Make sure to allow the tart to fully cool before cutting into so it will solidify and keep its shape when cut.
  • Chop your chocolate in small pieces so it’s easier for it to melt when you add the heated cream. You can microwave it for small increments (and stir between each one) if your chocolate doesn’t all melt after you add the cream.

Nutrition

Calories: 354kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 27g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 77mg | Sodium: 178mg | Potassium: 187mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 652IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 40mg | Iron: 2mg
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Pudding Shots (with video!) https://abeautifulmess.com/pudding-shots/ https://abeautifulmess.com/pudding-shots/#comments Sat, 04 Nov 2023 13:03:00 +0000 https://abeautifulmess.com/?p=118784 You only need four ingredients to make these creamy pudding shots that are perfect for your next party or holiday event. Pudding shots are a boozy delicious twist on the classic jello shot, easy to make, and you can prepare them ahead of time to make your party day to-do list a little shorter. We’ve also got a video to show you how easy they are to make!

Besides being easy to make (and heavenly tasting), pudding shots are also easy to customize to lots of different flavor profiles to fit your taste or party theme. See some of our favorite flavor combinations below!

Looking for fun jello shots? Check out:

chocolate pudding shots with whipped cream and sprinkles

What are pudding shots?

The creamy cousin of the jello shot, the pudding shots are an alcoholic pudding that can be made in a variety of flavors. The base of pudding shots is instant pudding mix that you add to alcohol for a boozy treat. These shots are super easy to make in large batches and you can prepare them ahead of time so they are the perfect thing to serve for parties and events.

ingredients for pudding shots

Ingredients for pudding shots

  • Instant pudding mix: Make sure that you get the instant variety of pudding mix and not the kind you have to cook, as that won’t set up the same.
  • Milk: You’ll want your milk straight from the fridge as cold milk helps the pudding gel together properly.
  • Alcohol: We are using Bailey’s for this recipe, but you can substitute whatever kind of alcohol you like! You can also split the alcohol content between two liquors for a more nuanced taste.
  • Cool Whip: This creamy addition helps give the pudding shots more body and adds to the fluffy dreamy texture.
different flavors of pudding shots

Try these pudding shot flavor variations!

What are the best toppings for pudding shots?

Depending on the flavor you are pairing it with, you can add:

  • whipped cream
  • sprinkles
  • chocolate shavings
  • fresh berries
  • crushed Oreos
  • crushed graham crackers
  • mint
  • cinnamon
  • crushed nuts
  • cocoa powder

Add right before serving so your toppings don’t melt or get soggy!

How to make pudding shots

Mix your pudding base: Add cold milk and alcohol to your instant pudding dry mix and mix together with a hand mixer or whisk for two minutes until combined.

Add Cool Whip: Add thawed Cool Whip and fold or whisk until combined with no white streaks.

chocolate pudding shots

Chill and serve: Spoon into small cups or shot glasses and chill for at least 30 minutes before serving.

chocolate pudding shot with whipped cream and sprinkles

How do you serve pudding shots?

You can serve pudding shots in small plastic cups with lids or in shot glasses if you want a reusable option.

How do you eat pudding shots?

Depending on how much Cool Whip you add to the recipe, the consistency will be a thicker or thinner pudding. Thicker pudding shots can be served with small spoons to scoop it out and thinner pudding shots can be tipped and drunk straight into your mouth.

How many pudding shots does it take to equal one regular shot?

If you add one cup of alcohol and get 20 pudding shots, each shot will have .4 ounces of alcohol. One shot is usually 1.5 ounce of alcohol, so you would need about three pudding shots to get the content of one regular shot.

chocolate pudding shots with whipped cream and sprinkles

Tips for Making

  • If adding toppings like whipped cream or chocolate shavings, add right before serving so they don’t get soggy or start to melt.
  • As long as your alcohol adds up to one cup of liquid, you can divide that into several different alcohols if you want more than one alcohol flavor.
  • Want a stronger pudding shot? Use a harder alcohol (like vodka, rum, etc.) or choose something with a lower alcohol content (like Kahlua or Bailey’s) if you want less of an alcohol punch.
  • If your larger size of instant pudding package recipe calls for more than 2 cups of liquid, just split that amount evenly between milk and alcohol so it will set properly (so if it calls for 3 cups liquid, do 1.5 cups of milk and 1.5 cups of alcohol).

Looking for pudding recipes? Try these!

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you store pudding shots?

You can keep pudding shots in the fridge in airtight containers for up to 7 days.

Can you freeze pudding shots?

Yes! You can freeze pudding shots for up to 2 months, just make sure that the cups aren’t full to the top when you fill them so they have some room to expand.

Can pudding shots be kid friendly?

Yes! If you do all milk instead of milk and alcohol, you can serve these at a kid function as well—extra whipped cream and sprinkles, please!

chocolate pudding shot with whipped cream and sprinkles
Print

Pudding Shots

Creamy boozy pudding shots with just 4 ingredients
Course Drinks
Cuisine American
Keyword pudding
Prep Time 10 minutes
Chill time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings 20 shots
Calories 44kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 3-4 ounces box of instant pudding
  • 1 cup cold milk
  • 1 cup alcohol of your choice
  • 4 ounces cool whip thawed (half an 8 oounce container)

Instructions

  • Mix your pudding base: Add your cold milk and alcohol to your instant pudding dry mix and mix together with a hand mixer or whisk for two minutes until combined.
  • Add Cool Whip: Add thawed Cool Whip and fold or whisk until combined with no white streaks.
  • Chill and serve: Spoon into small cups or shot glasses and chill for at least 30 minutes before serving.

Notes

Tips for Making

  • If adding toppings like whipped cream or chocolate shavings, add right before serving so they don’t get soggy or start to melt.
  • As long as your alcohol adds up to one cup of liquid, you can divide that into several different alcohols if you want more than one alcohol flavor.
  • Want a stronger pudding shot? Use a harder alcohol (like vodka, rum, etc.) or choose something with a lower alcohol content (like Kahlua or Bailey’s) if you want less of an alcohol punch.
 

Try these pudding shot flavor variations!

Nutrition

Calories: 44kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 0.4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.03g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 2mg | Sodium: 10mg | Potassium: 25mg | Fiber: 0.02g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 30IU | Calcium: 21mg | Iron: 0.003mg
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Birthday Cake Pops https://abeautifulmess.com/birthday-cake-pops/ https://abeautifulmess.com/birthday-cake-pops/#comments Fri, 03 Nov 2023 13:04:00 +0000 https://abeautifulmess.com/?p=118510 Birthday cake pops are the perfect treat of bite-sized cake on a stick covered in chocolate and decorated with rainbow sprinkles. While these mini treats are perfect for kid’s parties, they are also fun and colorful for any event (and for all ages!).

There are so many ways to make cake pops (try these Oreo Cake Pops for a delicious no-bake option) but the Funfetti cake mix and sprinkle count make these feel extra celebratory for birthdays and parties.

Looking for more Birthday fun? Check out:

sprinkle birthday cake pop

Tips for Making Cake Pops:

  • Add your icing to your cake crumble in small quantities so you just get the point of having enough for it to stick together. It should feel like play dough.
  • Use a small cookie scoop to scoop cake mixture so you get even portions for each cake pop.
  • Make sure your cake balls are well-chilled before coating.
  • Have your decorations nearby and prepped to go so you can attach them while the chocolate is still melted.
  • You can use a tall glass to pour your melted chocolate in (or melt it in a microwaveable mug) so you have a little dunk tank to fully submerge your cake pop into.
ingredients for sprinkle birthday cake pop

Ingredients

  • Funfetti cake mix: You can use any flavor cake mix: chocolatevanillared velvetyellow, etc. but the Funfetti cake mix will have the extra fun sprinkle surprise inside. Be sure to check your cake mix to ensure you have whatever other cake ingredients the mix recommends for baking (eggs, oil, etc.).
  • Can of vanilla frosting: You will also need one container of store-bought vanilla frosting. They also have Funfetti frosting if you want to up your sprinkle count, but you can use plain vanilla too.
  • Cake pop sticks: While it’s most common to use sticks like this, you can also use forks or edible items like pretzel rods!
  • White candy melts: These discs of chocolate are the easiest way to get that chocolate coating as they melt easily and you don’t have to temper the chocolate.
  • Sprinkles: These are part of what makes birthday cake pops so fun! You can use rainbow sprinkles or rainbow nonpareils.
  • Microwave or Double Boiler: You can melt candy melts in the microwave, but you can also use a double boiler to do it on the stove top or a chocolate melter like this one.

Looking for more cake pop tips? Check out our How To Make Cake Pops for more!

How to make birthday cake pops:

1. Bake the cake: Bake your cake according to the package instructions and allow to fully cool.

2. Add the frosting and mix: Spoon the baked cake into a large mixing bowl. Add 1/2-2/3 of the container of frosting. Using the full container makes the cake pops a bit too soft and harder to work with once we dip them in chocolate. But, this is how you get cake pops to stick together—with frosting. Use clean hands to mix together the frosting and cake. The cake pop batter is going to be pretty soft, but moldable.

3. Roll cake balls: Form your cake pop batter into small balls (about 3-4 tablespoons each). You don’t want them to be too big, just so they easily fit in the palm of your hand.

Once you have formed all your pops (a standard size cake will make around 35-40 cake pops), put them in the refrigerator for 1-2 hours or the freezer for 30 minutes.

4. Melt your candy melts: Melt candy melts in the microwave in 30-second increments on half power. You could also use a double boiler to do it on the stove top or a chocolate melter like this one. If you need to thin your candy melts, you can stir in a teaspoon of canola or vegetable oil once melted and can reheat the chocolate for 15 seconds at a time to remelt if it starts to set up at any point.

5. Attach the cake pop stick: First put your stick into the melted chocolate and push the stick 2/3 through a cold cake pop.

6. Dip the cake pop: Dip the attached cake pop into the melted chocolate and allow any excess chocolate to drip off the pop. Gently tap the cake pop stick on the side of your bowl to also shake off extra chocolate. Then, add any sprinkles and store the cake pop upright while it sets (unless you don’t mind a flat bottomed cake pop).

You can add your sprinkles over a large bowl or plate so that you catch any extra sprinkles that fall and use them later.

While they are drying, you can keep them upright in a number of ways like sticking them into a container that is filled with granulated white sugar or rice or you can stick them into a block of styrofoam.

sprinkle birthday cake pop
sprinkle birthday cake pop

Want an easy no-bake “cake pop” idea? Try using large marshmallows on a stick and get to the decorating right away!

sprinkle birthday cake pop

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I store my cake pops?

If making these ahead of time, you can store your completed cake pops at room temperature for 1-2 weeks. You can store them for up to four weeks in the refrigerator, but the cold can create some condensation on your decorations and cause them to bleed or warp a bit.

Can I use white chocolate chips instead of melting wafers?

While candy melts work best for cake pops, you can also use chocolate chips instead. The mixture will be a little thicker and slightly harder to work with (but still OK). And the shell around the cake pops will be thicker once the chocolate sets.

Looking for other cake pop ideas?

Print

Birthday Cake Pops

Create fun birthday cake pops for your next party!
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Keyword birthday cake, cake pops
Prep Time 30 minutes
2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 30 minutes
Servings 35 cake balls
Calories 55kcal
Cost $15

Equipment

  • 1 small cookie scoop optional
  • 35-40 cake pop sticks
  • 1 microwave or double boiler

Ingredients

  • 1 boxed Funfetti or vanilla cake mix and whatever other ingredients you need to make the cake (eggs, oil, etc.)
  • 1/2-3/4 of a 16-ounce can of vanilla frosting (add little by little until you have right consistency)
  • candy melts in white
  • sprinkles

Instructions

  • 1. Bake the cake: Bake your cake according to the package instructions and allow to fully cool.
  • 2. Add the frosting and mix: Spoon the baked cake into a large mixing bowl. Add 1/2-2/3 of the container of frosting. Using the full container makes the cake pops a bit too soft and harder to work with once we dip them in chocolate. But, this is how you get cake pops to stick together—with frosting. Use clean hands to mix together the frosting and cake. The cake pop batter is going to be pretty soft, but moldable. Should feel like play dough consistency.
  • 3. Roll cake balls: Form your cake pop batter into small balls (about 3-4 tablespoons each). You don’t want them to be too big, just so they easily fit in the palm of your hand. Once you have formed all your pops (a standard size cake will make around 35-40 cake pops), put them in the refrigerator for 1-2 hours or the freezer for 30 minutes.
  • 4. Melt your candy melts: Melt candy melts in the microwave in 30-second increments on half power. You could also use a double boiler to do it on the stove top or a chocolate melter like this one. If you need to thin your candy melts, you can stir in a teaspoon of canola or vegetable oil once melted and you can reheat the chocolate for 15 seconds at a time to remelt if it starts to set up at any point.
  • 5. Attach the cake pop stick: First, put your stick into the melted chocolate and push the stick 2/3 through a cold cake pop.
  • 6. Dip the cake pop: Dip the attached cake pop into the melted chocolate and allow any excess chocolate to drip off the pop. Gently tap the cake pop stick on the side of your bowl to also shake off extra chocolate. Then, add any extra sprinkle decorations and store the cake pop upright while it sets (unless you don’t mind a flat bottomed cake pop).

Notes

*You can keep them upright in a number of ways while they set like sticking them into a container that is filled with granulated white sugar or rice or you can stick them into a block of styrofoam.
 

Tips for Making Cake Pops:

    • Add your icing to your cake crumble in small quantities so you just get the point of having enough for it to stick together. It should feel like play dough.
    • Make sure your cake balls are well chilled before coating.
    • Have your decorations nearby and prepped to go so you can attach them while the chocolate is still melted.
    • You can use a tall glass to pour your melted chocolate in (or melt it in a microwaveable mug) so you have a little dunk tank to fully submerge your cake pop into.

Nutrition

Calories: 55kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 0.3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Sodium: 102mg | Potassium: 9mg | Fiber: 0.2g | Sugar: 6g | Calcium: 32mg | Iron: 0.3mg
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Chocolate Covered Strawberries https://abeautifulmess.com/chocolate-covered-strawberries/ https://abeautifulmess.com/chocolate-covered-strawberries/#comments Tue, 17 Oct 2023 13:05:00 +0000 https://abeautifulmess.com/?p=118153 The combo of sweet strawberry and hard chocolate shell are a classic for a reason and we’ll show you how to make your own easy chocolate-covered strawberries with just a few simple steps. You only need two ingredients to make a chocolate covered strawberry, but you can also customize it by adding your own favorite toppings if you really want to make it a gourmet treat.

Whether it’s Valentine’s Day, a romantic date, or just a plain old Tuesday night, chocolate-covered strawberries are an easy treat that only take minutes to make (or you can make our Chocolate-Covered Strawberry Jello Shots for a fun twist).

Looking for more chocolate desserts? Check out:

chocolate covered strawberries

What strawberries are best for chocolate-covered strawberries?

When choosing your strawberries, you’ll want to consider:

  • Size: Large or small strawberries will work for chocolate-covered strawberries. The only difference is that you’ll get a larger chocolate-to-berry ratio with a smaller strawberry than a larger one, so if your favorite part is the berry, choose larger options, and if you love chocolate, you might want a smaller berry to dip.
  • Color: You’ll want to look for berries that are red all the way up to the green stem for optimal strawberry flavor. The more white you see on the berry, the less intense flavor it will have.
  • Freshness: Choose firm berries that haven’t started to get mushy or have soft spots. If you have a few in your container that have soft spots, you can always cut off that section and dip what is still firm to get the most of your berries.
chocolate melting wafers and strawberries for chocolate covered strawberries

Ingredients for chocolate-covered strawberries:

  • Melting chocolate: While you can use baking chips (Ghirardelli baking chips are a popular favorite), we like to use chocolate melts in milk or dark chocolate since you don’t need to temper the chocolate for it to harden properly. A lot of grocery stores carry both of these options, so check the baking aisle to see what they have and this option already comes in a microwaveable container.
  • Fresh strawberries: Fresh berries are best for chocolate-covered strawberries, so look for large firm berries that are red all the way up to the green stem.
  • Optional toppings: Chocolate-covered strawberries are delicious as-is, but you can also sprinkle or drizzle other toppings on top to customize your berries and take them to the next level.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is “tempering” chocolate?

Simply put, tempering chocolate is just cooling down the melted chocolate a bit before working with it as that will give the chocolate a smoother, glossier finish and keep it from melting on your fingers.

Do I need to temper my chocolate?

If you are using chocolate melting wafers, then you won’t need to temper the chocolate. But if you are using baking chips (or just regular chocolate chips), you’ll want to melt your chocolate and then add a small handful of unmelted chips to the bowl. Stir until all the chips melt together and that will bring your chocolate down to the right temperature for dipping.

strawberries in a basket

How to Make Chocolate-Covered Strawberries

Prep your plate and toppings: Prepare a large plate or baking sheet with wax paper to add your berries onto when dipped and chop up or prepare any toppings that you want to add to your berries so they will be ready to go before the chocolate sets.

Wash your berries: Rinse your berries and thoroughly dry your berries very well. You don’t want any water to interfere with the chocolate sticking, so dry, dry, dry to remove excess moisture.

Melt your chocolate: You can melt your chocolate on the stove, or in the microwave! If you don’t have a double boiler, see instructions below for how to make your own. If you want to thin out your dipping chocolate a bit, do so once the chocolate is fully melted.

  • In microwave: Melt your chocolate for 30 seconds at a time, stirring after each session, until chocolate is fully melted. Don’t heat it longer than you need to though to avoid overcooking the chocolate.
  • Over stovetop: Fill the bottom of a double boiler saucepan 1/4 full with water and bring to a boil. Lower to a simmer and add to saucepan. Add your chocolate and stir often until chocolate is just fully melted. If you don’t have a double boiler, see instructions below.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you thin dipping chocolate?

If your dipping chocolate is a little thicker than you would like, you can add 1/2-1 teaspoon at a time of vegetable oil, coconut oil, shortening, or melting aid to the chocolate to help thin it and make it a better consistency for dipping.

Dip your berries: Take your clean berries and hold them by their green stem. Dip berries into the chocolate and let the excess drip off the end before adding any additional topping and placing them onto your wax paper.

Allow berries to cool: Once your berries are on the wax paper, push them forward about 1/2″ to avoid the chocolate pooling at the tip of the berry and let the chocolate set. The chocolate will set at room temperature, but you can also put them in the fridge for 15 minutes to speed up the process as long as you take them back out afterwards.

dipped chocolate covered strawberries

What toppings go best with chocolate-covered strawberries?

While toppings are a personal preference, we love to add:

  • Drizzled chocolate: Melt and add a contrasting chocolate flavor (like white chocolate) to a small ziplock baggie and cut the tip off of the baggie to drizzle melted chocolate over your berries once your initial layer of chocolate has set. Or you can also just drizzle the melted chocolate off a spoon back and forth!
  • Sprinkles or nonpareils: If you want to add some color and a little extra crunch, sprinkles or nonpareils are a great choice.
  • Shredded coconut: Finely shredded coconut adds another layer and you can lightly toast the coconut in a dry pan for extra depth of flavor.
  • Chopped nuts: Finely chop your favorite nuts and sprinkle them over the chocolate before it sets.
  • Crushed Oreos: Crush up a few Oreos and you’ll get a delicious topping to sprinkle over your berries.
  • Mini chocolate chips: For the chocolate-on-chocolate lovers, add some mini chocolate chips to really punch up the chocolate flavor.
  • Crushed pretzels: It’s like eating a chocolate-covered pretzel and chocolate-covered strawberry at the same time—yes, please!

How to make your own double boiler:

If you don’t have a microwave, or a double boiler pot set, you can make your own set up with just a saucepan and a heatproof glass bowl!

  • Fill a saucepan 1/4 full with water and bring to a boil. Lower to a simmer.
  • Add a heatproof bowl that’s just big enough to have the bottom of the bowl sit in the top of the saucepan and traps the steam from the water below, heating the bottom of the glass bowl.
  • Add your chocolate and stir often until the chocolate is fully melted.

Tips for Chocolate-Covered Strawberries

  • Make sure your berries are totally dry before dipping to ensure the chocolate adheres to the berry properly.
  • Bring your berries to room temperature before dipping if you take them right out of the fridge. Otherwise, the berries will start to sweat a bit from the temperature change and your chocolate won’t set as well. Just leave them on the counter for 20-30 minutes.
  • Use toothpicks stuck directly into the tops of each berry to use as a little handle while you dip if there’s not much stem to hold onto.
  • Use sprinkles or colored chocolate to match the colors of holidays or parties to serve these year round.
  • Try dipping your berries in white chocolate for a spin on the classic flavor.
chocolate covered strawberries

How to store chocolate-covered strawberries:

Chocolate-covered strawberries are best eaten that day (or within 24 hours), so you can either leave them out at room temperature for up to 6 hours until you eat them (away from heat or sunlight so they don’t melt), or you can put them in the fridge after that in a single layer uncovered. Just give them 30 minutes at room temperature to warm up before serving.

Freezing chocolate-covered strawberries does not work well as the berries will break down and will be mushy once you try to bring them back to room temperature.

Looking for more strawberry dessert ideas? Check out:

Print

Chocolate-Covered Strawberries

Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Keyword chocolate, strawberry
Prep Time 20 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 20 strawberries
Calories 78kcal
Cost $7

Equipment

  • microwave or double boiler
  • wax paper or parchment paper

Ingredients

  • 1 pound strawberries (about 20 strawberries)
  • 10 ounces chocolate melts (or baking chips) in semisweet, milk chocolate, or dark chocolate

Instructions

  • Prep your plate and toppings: Prepare a large plate or baking sheet with wax paper to add your berries onto when dipped and chop up or prepare any toppings that you want to add to your berries so they will be ready to go before the chocolate sets.
  • Wash your berries: Rinse your berries and thoroughly dry your berries very well. You don’t want any water to interfere with the chocolate sticking, so dry, dry, dry to remove excess moisture.
  • Melt your chocolate: You can melt your chocolate on the stove, or in the microwave! If you don’t have a double boiler, see instructions below for how to make your own. If you want to thin out your dipping chocolate a bit, do so once the chocolate is fully melted.
    In microwave: Melt your chocolate for 30 seconds at a time, stirring after each session, until chocolate is fully melted. Don’t heat it longer than you need to though to avoid overcooking the chocolate.
    Over stovetop: Fill the bottom of a double boiler saucepan 1/4 full with water and bring to a boil. Lower to a simmer and add to saucepan. Add your chocolate and stir often until chocolate is just fully melted. If you don’t have a double boiler, see instructions below.
  • Dip your berries: Take your clean berries and hold them by their green stem. Dip berries into the chocolate and let the excess drip off the end before adding any additional topping and placing them onto your wax paper.
  • Allow berries to cool: Once your berries are on the wax paper, push them forward about 1/2″ to avoid the chocolate pooling at the tip of the berry and let the chocolate set. The chocolate will set at room temperature but you can also put them in the fridge for 15 minutes to speed up the process as long as you take them back out afterwards.

Notes

Tips for Chocolate-Covered Strawberries

  • Make sure your berries are totally dry before dipping to ensure the chocolate adheres to the berry properly.
  • Bring your berries to room temperature before dipping if you take them right out of the fridge. Otherwise, the berries will start to sweat a bit from the temperature change and your chocolate won’t set as well. Just leave them on the counter for 20-30 minutes.
  • Use toothpicks stuck directly into the tops of each berry to use as a little handle while you dip if there’s not much stem to hold onto.
  • Use sprinkles or colored chocolate to match the colors of holidays or parties to serve these year round.
  • Try dipping your berries in white chocolate for a spin on the classic flavor.
 
  • How to make your own double boiler:

    If you don’t have a microwave, or a double boiler pot set, you can make your own set up with just a saucepan and a heatproof glass bowl!
    Fill a saucepan 1/4 full with water and bring to a boil. Lower to a simmer.
  • Add a heatproof bowl that’s just big enough to have the bottom of the bowl sit in the top of the saucepan and traps the steam from the water below, heating the bottom of the glass bowl.
  • Add your chocolate and stir often until the chocolate is fully melted.

Nutrition

Calories: 78kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 0.2g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.03g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.01g | Sodium: 0.2mg | Potassium: 75mg | Fiber: 0.5g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 3IU | Vitamin C: 13mg | Calcium: 14mg | Iron: 0.1mg
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Oreo Cake Pops https://abeautifulmess.com/oreo-cake-pops/ https://abeautifulmess.com/oreo-cake-pops/#comments Wed, 11 Oct 2023 13:19:00 +0000 https://abeautifulmess.com/?p=118039 We love cake pops with their chewy sweet cake-like centers and hard chocolate shell (and all on a portable stick!), so it’s not hard to see why an Oreo cake pop would be especially delicious. This easy and fast no-bake treat requires just three ingredients and they are perfect for any party or holiday event.

These Oreo cake pops are basically our Easy Chocolate Oreo Truffles on a stick, so you can follow those instructions if you’d rather they be more of a cake ball presentation.

Looking for more Oreo recipes? Check out:

Oreo cake pops

Ingredients to make Oreo cake pops:

  • Oreos: Since you’re trying to get a specific cookie to filling ratio, you’ll want to use regular Oreos rather than double stuffed. You can, however, use flavored options like mint Oreos if you want to add in an additional flavor.
  • Cream cheese: The cream cheese is going to act as a binder for our cake balls and bind all the cookie crumbs together.
  • Melting chocolate: While you can also cover these in milk chocolate, white chocolate gives a nice visual contrast to the dark Oreo center—or you can do some of each!

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use chocolate chips instead of melting chocolate?

While candy melts work best for cake pops, you can also use chocolate chips instead. The mixture will be a little thicker and slightly harder to work with (but still OK) and the shell around the cake pops will be thicker once the chocolate sets. Just make sure to heat your chips for only 15 seconds at a time once they start to melt in the microwave so you don’t risk overheating the chocolate.

Can I use something besides cream cheese?

Yes, the cream cheese is a binding agent, so feel free to use a frosting you like or mascarpone cheese instead!

Oreo cake pop ingredients

TIP: If you don’t have a food processor, you can also crush all the Oreos by placing them in a large ziplock bag and crushing them with a rolling pin!

How to Make Oreo Cake Pops:

Make your dough: Use a food processor to blend your cookies down to a fine powder—make sure all the lumps are gone! Add your cream cheese and pulse until smooth (you can also use a hand mixer for this or even squish it all together with your hands).

Form your balls: Using a small cookie scoop, scoop out balls of dough and roll them in your hands to form a ball (you can scoop out 1-2 tablespoons of dough if you don’t have a cookie scoop). Place your balls on a tray or plate covered with parchment paper and put in the freezer for 10-15 minutes while you melt your chocolate.

Melt your chocolate: Melt candy melts in the microwave in 30-second increments on half power. If you need to thin your candy melts, you can stir in a teaspoon of canola or vegetable oil once melted and can reheat the chocolate for 15 seconds at a time to remelt if it starts to set up at any point.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I melt the chocolate if I don’t have a microwave?

You can easily melt chocolate on the stove with a double boiler, by putting a heat-proof glass bowl on top of a saucepan with simmering water underneath, or a chocolate melter like this one.

Attach cake balls to sticks: First, put your stick into the melted chocolate and push the stick 2/3 through a cold cake pop. Repeat with all cake pops and put back into the freezer for 15 minutes.

Dip your cake balls: Dip the attached cake pop into the melted chocolate and allow any excess chocolate to drip off the pop. Gently tap the cake pop stick on the side of your bowl to also shake off extra chocolate. Then, add any extra decorations and store the cake pop upright while it sets (unless you don’t mind a flat bottomed cake pop with the stick sticking up).

TIP: While they set, you can keep them upright in a number of ways like sticking them into a container that is filled with granulated white sugar or rice, or you can stick them into a block of styrofoam.

Oreo cake pops

Tips for Making Oreo Cake Pops

  • If your dough is too sticky, try chilling the dough in fridge for 15 minutes before making your balls.
  • Try melting your chocolate in a mug in smaller batches so you have a deeper pool of chocolate to dip into so you can submerge it easier than putting it in a large bowl.
  • Add a contrasting color of melted chocolate to a piping bag or small ziplock baggie with the tip cut off so you can drizzle a squiggle design over the finished cake pops.
  • Try using mint Oreos for a chocolate mint variety.
  • Reserve a bit of crushed Oreos to sprinkle over the dipped cake pops as a decoration.
Oreo cake pops

What are good toppings for Oreo cake pops?

  • Crushed Oreos: Crushing a few extra Oreos gives you the perfect topping to sprinkle on your completed cake pops.
  • Shaved chocolate: Chocolate shavings or chopped up chocolate chips work perfectly with this recipe.
  • Sprinkles or nonpareils: Raid your baking drawer for a few sprinkle options to add a little crunch to your cake pop.
  • Melted chocolate: Drizzling more melted chocolate (white, milk, or dark) from a ziplock baggie with the tip cut off is an easy way to decorate.
  • Peppermints: Crushed peppermints can transform these into the perfect holiday treat!

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you store Oreo cake pops?

You can store the cake pops in an airtight container in the fridge for up to five days.

Can you freeze Oreo cake pops?

Yes, you can freeze them for up to three months (let them thaw in fridge before serving).

Looking for other cake pop ideas? Check out:

Print

Oreo Cake Pops

This easy and fast no-bake treat requires just three ingredients and they are perfect for any party or holiday event.
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Keyword cake, cake pops, oreos
Prep Time 20 minutes
Chill Time 15 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings 15 cake pops
Calories 165kcal
Cost $7

Equipment

  • 1 Food processor

Ingredients

  • 24 Oreo cookies
  • 4 ounces cream cheese, softened (or ½ cup)
  • 12 ounces candy melts

Instructions

  • Make your dough: Use a food processor to blend your cookies down to a fine powder—make sure all the lumps are gone! Add your cream cheese and blend until smooth (you can also use a hand mixer for this or even squish it all together with your hands).
  • Form your balls: Using a small cookie scoop, scoop out balls of dough and roll them in your hands to form a ball (you can scoop out 1-2 tablespoons of dough if you don’t have a cookie scoop). Place your balls on a tray or plate covered with parchment paper and put in the freezer for 10-15 minutes while you melt your chocolate.
  • Melt your chocolate: Melt candy melts in the microwave in 30-second increments on half power. You could also use a double boiler to do it on the stove top or a chocolate melter like this one. If you need to thin your candy melts, you can stir in a teaspoon of canola or vegetable oil once melted and can reheat the chocolate for 15 seconds at a time to remelt if it starts to set up at any point.
  • Attach cake balls to sticks: First, put your stick into the melted chocolate and push the stick 2/3 through a cold cake pop. Repeat with all cake pops and put back into the freezer for 15 minutes.
  • Dip your cake balls: Dip the attached cake pop into the melted chocolate and allow any excess chocolate to drip off the pop. Gently tap the cake pop stick on the side of your bowl to also shake off extra chocolate. Then, add any extra decorations and store the cake pop upright while it sets (unless you don’t mind a flat bottomed cake pop with the stick sticking up).

Notes

TIPS:
  • If you don’t have a food processor, you can also crush all the Oreos by placing them in a large ziplock bag and crushing them with a rolling pin!
  • If your dough is too sticky, try chilling the dough in fridge for 15 minutes before making your balls.
  • Try melting your chocolate in a mug in smaller batches so you have a deeper pool of chocolate to dip into so you can submerge it easier than putting it in a large bowl.
  • Add a contrasting color of melted chocolate to a piping bag or small ziplock baggie with the tip cut off so you can drizzle a squiggle design over the finished cake pops.
  • Try using mint Oreos for a chocolate mint variety.
  • Reserve a bit of crushed Oreos to sprinkle over the dipped cake pops as a decoration.
  • While they set, you can keep them upright in a number of ways like sticking them into a container that is filled with granulated white sugar or rice, or you can stick them into a block of styrofoam.

Nutrition

Calories: 165kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 8mg | Sodium: 108mg | Potassium: 55mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 14g | Vitamin A: 102IU | Calcium: 11mg | Iron: 2mg
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Candy Apples https://abeautifulmess.com/candy-apples/ https://abeautifulmess.com/candy-apples/#comments Sat, 30 Sep 2023 13:01:00 +0000 https://staging.abeautifulmess.com/candy-apples Candy apples are a classic fall treat with their shiny red color, hard candy coating, and sweet or tart crisp apple underneath. It’s the best thing to make after apple picking, for a Halloween party, or just when you feel nostalgic and want to be a kid again.

Candy apples may look impressive and hard to make, but it’s actually pretty easy (just like our Easy Caramel Apples!)! We’ll show you how …

And just as a side note, since the sugar is extremely hot and you can get burned if not careful, we don’t recommend doing this project with kids. Just let them eat the final result rather than help with this one. 🙂

Looking for more fall treats? Check out:

homemade easy candy apples

What are candy apples?

Candy apples are a whole apple on a stick dipped in a thin hardened candy shell. While usually red, they can also be dyed other colors and they first appeared in 1908 in New Jersey when candy maker William Kolb created them.

ingredients for homemade easy candy apples

Ingredients for candy apples:

  • Apples: Using smaller apples will get you more finished apples out of one batch of candy coating. Try and pick ones with a nice round shape for the best looking candy apples.

  • Light corn syrup: Corn syrup helps you get that smooth candy finish.

  • Water: The water mostly boils off while the candy rises up to the proper hard crack stage temperature.

  • Red food coloring: Gel food coloring is preferred if you have it since it’s more concentrated so the color is brighter.

Frequently Asked Questions

What apples are best to use for candy apples?

While Granny Smith apples are probably one of the biggest favorites for candy apples, you can really use any variety that you like! Just be sure to pick a more firm variety like a Gala or Honeycrisp rather than a softer option like a Macintosh.

Supplies for candy apples:

  • Apple skewers: You can also use popsicle sticks or even sticks from branches for your skewers, but we like these bamboo ones since they already have a point for easy insertion.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is “hard crack” stage?

Hard crack stage is one of the highest temperatures used in candy making at 300°-310°. There is almost no water remaining in the mixture, so it hardens rather than staying softer like a taffy.

homemade easy candy apples

How to prepare your apples:

Wash and dry apples: You want to try and remove any wax that’s on the apples so your coating will stick and you can avoid getting annoying bubbles that pop out of the coating.

You can scrub them really well with a clean textured scrubber after rinsing them in hot water and rub them dry with a textured towel to try and remove as much wax as you can, or some people like to boil water and dip the apples in the water for about 5 seconds before rubbing dry (longer than 8-10 seconds can start to cook the apples, so don’t leave them in too long!).

Make sure the apples are fully dry before dipping as any amount of water will create bubbles in your coating.

Add skewers: Push or tap your skewers halfway into the top of your dried apples and set aside.

How to make candy apples:

Prepare your pan: Prepare a sheet pan or parchment paper sprayed with nonstick spray or butter so you’ll be able to remove the apples easily once cooled.

Cook your coating: Add the sugar, water, corn syrup, and food coloring to a saucepan over medium heat. Stir together and bring to a boil with a candy thermometer clipped to your pot (make sure it’s not touching the bottom of the pot or it won’t be an accurate read).

Bring coating up to 300°: Let the mixture boil for about 15-20 minutes until it reaches between 300°-310°. Remove the coating from the heat and allow the bubbles to settle down for a minute until smooth.

Dip your apples: Working quickly, tilt your pan to the side and dip an apple in the coating, swirling the apple to get each side coated. Pull the apple out and let the excess drip off before placing on a sheet pan or parchment paper.

If the candy coating starts to harden before you are done dipping all your apples, put it back on medium heat until it thins out again.

NOTE: Remember, this sugar is very hot, so be sure to keep your skin away from the sugar to avoid burns. You can also have a bowl of ice water nearby just in case you make contact with the sugar so you can quickly dip your hand in that, or even use heatproof gloves made for cooking.

Let cool: Once all your apples are dipped, let the coating harden (it just takes a few minutes) and your apples are ready to eat! Remember, candy apples have a hard sticky coating, so eat with caution!

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the best way to eat a candy apple?

Biting right into a candy apple is almost impossible and just asking for dental bills. Kids can lick the hard outside coating like a giant lollipop, but it’s most practical to cut the candy apple into slices before eating.

homemade easy candy apples

Tips for Making Candy Apples

  • Use organic apples if you can since some companies don’t use wax on their apples so you don’t have to try to remove it. Or use apples from a local orchard that doesn’t wax their apples.
  • Make sure your sugar reaches the 300° mark or the coating won’t harden and it will be more of a taffy texture.
  • Try and keep the candy shell thin when you dip; it doesn’t need to be super thick and will be harder to eat.
  • You can make your candy apples a color other than red if you want! Just remember the color of the apple comes through a bit and may muddle your final color depending on what shade you pick, but purple or black for Halloween is fun!
cleaning pot after homemade easy candy apples

What the best way to clean your pot after making candy apples?

Now that you candy apples are made, you may be staring at your pot thinking “now how am I ever going to clean that?!” It’s actually pretty easy!

  • Fill your pot with water.
  • Boil the water on the stove stirring every so often.
  • Once the candy leftover is dissolved, pour the water out and the hardened sugar is gone!

If you have some sugar up on the sides of your pot above the boiling water line, just use a spatula to keep pulling up some of the hot water over that spot until it starts to dissolve.

You can also dip your thermometer into the water as it boils to remove any hardened candy for the tip of that as well.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you avoid bubbles in your candy apples?

While sometimes bubbles are a bit of a mystery in candy apples, making sure you’ve removed as much wax as possible, checking that the apples are totally dry before dipping, and allowing the bubbles in the coating to settle before dipping will give you the best chance of a totally smooth mirror-like finish on your candy apples.

How do you store candy apples?

Candy apples can be stored in an airtight container for up to three days in the fridge.

homemade easy candy apples
Print

Easiest Candy Apples

Create homemade easy candy apples at home-perfect for fall and Halloween!
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Keyword apples, fall, halloween desserts
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 8
Calories 347kcal
Cost $10

Equipment

  • wooden skewers
  • saucepan
  • candy thermometer

Ingredients

  • 8-10 apples
  • 2 cups white sugar
  • ¾ cup water
  • ½ cup corn syrup
  • ½ teaspoon red gel food coloring

Instructions

  • Prepare you pan: Prepare a sheet pan or parchment paper sprayed with nonstick spray or butter so you’ll be able to remove the apples easily once cooled.
  • Cook your coating: Add the sugar, water, corn syrup, and food coloring to a saucepan over medium heat. Stir together and bring to a boil with a candy thermometer clipped to your pot (make sure it’s not touching the bottom of the pot or it won’t be an accurate read).
  • Bring coating up to 300°: Let the mixture boil for about 15-20 minutes until it reaches between 300°-310°. Remove the coating from the heat and allow the bubbles to settle down for a minute until smooth.
  • Dip your apples: Working quickly, tilt your pan to the side and dip an apple in the coating, swirling the apple to get each side coated. Pull the apple out and let the excess drip off before placing on a sheet pan or parchment paper.
    If the candy coating starts to harden before you are done dipping all your apples, put it back on medium heat until it thins out again.
  • Let cool: Once all your apples are dipped, let the coating harden (it just takes a few minutes) and your apples are ready to eat! Remember, candy apples have a hard sticky coating, so eat with caution!

Notes

NOTE: Remember, this sugar is very hot, so be sure to keep your skin away from the sugar to avoid burns. You can also have a bowl of ice water nearby just in case you make contact with the sugar so you can quickly dip your hand in that, or even use heatproof gloves made for cooking.

How to prepare your apples:

Wash and dry apples: You want to try and remove any wax that’s on the apples so your coating will stick and you can avoid getting annoying bubbles that pop out of the coating.
You can scrub them really well with a clean textured scrubber after rinsing them in hot water and rub them dry with a textured towel to try and remove as much wax as you can, or, some people like to boil water and the dip the apples in the water for about 5 seconds before rubbing dry (longer than 8-10 seconds can start to cook the apples so don’t leave them in too long!).
Make sure the apples are fully dry before dipping as any amount of water will create bubbles in your coating.
Add skewers: Push or tap your skewers halfway into the top of your dried apples and set aside.

Tips for Making

  • Use organic apples if you can since some companies don’t use wax on their apples so you don’t have to try to remove it. Or use apples from a local orchard that doesn’t wax their apples.
  • Make sure your sugar reaches the 300° mark or the coating won’t harden and it will be more of a taffy texture.
  • Try and keep the candy shell thin when you dip; it doesn’t need to be super thick and will be harder to eat.
  • You can make your candy apples a color other than red if you want! Just remember the color of the apple comes through a bit and may muddle your final color depending on what shade you pick, but purple or black for Halloween is fun!

Nutrition

Calories: 347kcal | Carbohydrates: 91g | Protein: 0.5g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 0.1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.01g | Sodium: 17mg | Potassium: 196mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 85g | Vitamin A: 98IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 15mg | Iron: 0.2mg
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Apple Tart https://abeautifulmess.com/apple-tart/ https://abeautifulmess.com/apple-tart/#comments Tue, 26 Sep 2023 13:00:00 +0000 https://abeautifulmess.com/?p=116700 This homemade French apple desert is a simple way to make an elegant looking version of an apple pie that is sure to wow your guests. The layers of tender sliced apples and buttery crust make the best companions and it’s easy to make but looks impressive.

A classic French apple tart has cooked down apples that create a compote that go under the apples, but we are keeping it simple here with plain ol’ sugar, pads of butter, and apples—yum! Top with homemade whipped cream to take it to the next level. More of a chocolate person? Try our Chocolate Tart!

Looking for more apple deserts? Check out:

baked easy apple tart

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best apples to use for an apple tart?

You can use just about any apples you like, but you’ll want to pick a firmer variety like a Gala or Granny Smith as opposed to a softer option like a Macintosh. Golden Delicious and Honey Crisp apples are also a popular favorite.

Do you have to peel the apples for apple tart?

You don’t have to peel the apples if you would rather leave the skin on and skip that step. The skins should soften as they cook, but they may make the apples look a little wrinkly, so some people prefer to peel them first.

Ingredients for apple tart

Ingredients for apple tart

  • Apples: You’ll want 4-5 of your favorite apple variety for this tart. A firm variety is best!
  • Butter: Salted or unsalted butter will work for this, so just use what you have on hand.
  • Sugar: Some people like to add brown sugar to their tart, but we are using basic white granulated sugar for ours.
  • Cinnamon: The more classic French-style recipes don’t usually use cinnamon in theirs, so you can omit it if you want, but we like just a touch for a little deeper flavor.
  • Salt: Just a little salt in your dough will bring out the buttery, crispy flavor.
  • Flour: All-purpose flour is all you need for this recipe.
  • Water: Add water carefully just a bit at a time so your dough doesn’t become too wet.

Tips for making apple tarts

  • To make the process easier, you can use a refrigerated pie crust in your tart pan to save time.
  • If you like cinnamon on your apples, try adding an 1/8 teaspoon of nutmeg too!
  • If you want your tart to look like a rose, add your apple slices in concentric circles around the edge so it all spirals into the middle.

Directions

Make the dough: In a food processor, pulse together the flour, sugar, salt, and cold butter until crumbly. Add the first 3 tablespoons of cold water and pulse again. If needed, add an additional tablespoon of cold water. It will still look crumbly but you want the dough to just come together when you pinch it with your fingers.

Dump onto a clean counter and press the dough together into a disc (you can knead it 2-3 times to get it to come together). Cover in plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to chill. You can also make the dough ahead of time and freeze for up to 3 days.

Add dough to tart pan: On a floured surface, roll out your dough into a 12″ circle and place in your 9″ tart pan. If your dough is sticking, lightly flour the dough and your rolling pin every few rolls and flip it over once or twice.

To add your dough to your pan you can either roll the dough around your rolling pin and unroll it over your pan, or fold the dough circle in half, and in half again so you have a pizza wedge shape and then unfold the shape in the tart pan.

Press dough into the tart pan and roll your rolling pin over the top to cut off any excess. Prick the bottom with a fork and place back in the fridge while you make the filling.

sliced apples for apple tart

Prepare your filling: Peel your apples and cut off the “cheeks” of the apple. Slice into thin slices, keeping the apple cheek together.

Mix together your cinnamon and sugar and set aside.

Add your filling: Sprinkle one tablespoon of sugar over the bottom of your pie pan and add your apple cheeks on top, fanning them out slightly. Fill the pan with your apples, alternating directions as you go, and you can cut some apples to fit any small gaps you may have at the end. The apples will shrink some, so you want to pack the tart as full as you can.

Sprinkle your cinnamon sugar over the top and dot with your cubed butter.

baked apple tart

Bake your tart: Bake at 350° (177°C) for an hour or until apples are tender. Check your pie crust about 40 minutes in and use a pie shield or piece of foil with a hole cut out if needed to keep your crust from getting too brown.

You can also put a baking pan on the lower oven rack under the tart in case any juices drip down from the tart pan.

Let cool: Let your tart cool slightly before serving. For extra sheen, you can brush some melted apricot jam or marmalade over the top of your tart to keep the apples from drying out and it gives the tart a beautiful shine as well.

baked apple tart
baked apple tart

How do you store an apple tart?

You can store your apple tart for up to two days at room temperature if you cover it with plastic wrap, or you can keep it up to four days covered in the fridge.

To heat it back up, reheat the pie at 200°F (93°) until warm or in the microwave for 10-second intervals until it’s to your liking.

baked apple tart

Apple tart goes great with:

Print

Easy Apple Tart

This easy version of a French classic has a buttery crust and tender apples
Course Dessert
Cuisine French
Keyword apple tarte, apples
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Chill Time 30 minutes
Total Time 2 hours
Servings 8 people
Calories 248kcal
Cost $7

Equipment

  • 1 9" tart pan
  • 1 Food processor
  • 1 Rolling Pin

Ingredients

Crust Ingredients:

  • 1 ¼ cup flour
  • ½ tablespoon sugar
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup cold butter
  • 3-4 tablespoons cold water

Filling Ingredients:

  • 4-5 apples, peeled
  • ¼ cup sugar (plus one tablespoon)
  • ½ teaspoon cinnamon
  • ¼ cup cubed cold butter
  • 1 tablespoon orange marmalade or apricot jelly (optional)

Instructions

  • Make the dough: In a food processor, pulse together the flour, sugar, salt, and cold butter until crumbly. Add the first 3 tablespoons of cold water and pulse again. If needed, add an additional tablespoon of cold water. It will still look crumbly but you want the dough to just come together when you pinch it with your fingers.
    Dump onto a clean counter and press the dough together into a disc (you can knead it 2-3 times to get it to come together). Cover in plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to chill. You can also make the dough ahead of time and freeze for up to 3 days.
  • Add dough to tart pan: On a floured surface, roll out your dough into a 12″ circle and place in your 9″ tart pan. If your dough is sticking, lightly flour the dough and your rolling pin every few rolls and flip it over once or twice.
    To add your dough to your pan you can either roll the dough around your rolling pin and unroll it over your pan, or fold the dough circle in half, and in half again so you have a pizza wedge shape and then unfold the shape in the tart pan. Press dough into the tart pan and roll your rolling pin over the top to cut off any excess. Prick the bottom with a fork and place back in the fridge while you make the filling.
  • Prepare your filling: Peel your apples and cut off the “cheeks” of the apple. Slice into thin slices, keeping the apple cheek together. Mix together your cinnamon and sugar and set aside.
  • Add your filling: Sprinkle one tablespoon of sugar over the bottom of your pie pan and add your apple cheeks on top, fanning them out slightly. Fill the pan with your apples, alternating directions as you go, and you can cut some apples to fit any small gaps you may have at the end. The apples will shrink some, so you want to pack the tart as full as you can.
    Sprinkle your cinnamon sugar over the top and dot with your cubed butter.
  • Bake your tart: Bake at °350 for an hour or until apples are tender. Check your pie crust about 40 minutes in and use a pie shield or piece of foil with a hole cut out if needed to keep your crust from getting too brown.
    You can also put a baking pan on the lower oven rack under the tart in case any juices drip down from the tart pan.
  • Let cool: Let your tart cool slightly before serving. For extra sheen, you can brush some melted apricot jam or marmalade over the top of your tart to keep the apples from drying out and it gives the tart a beautiful shine as well.

Notes

What are the best apples for apple tarts?

You can use just about any apples you like, but you’ll want to pick a firmer variety like a Gala or Granny Smith as opposed to a softer option like a Macintosh. Golden Delicious and Honey Crisp apples are also a popular favorite.

Tips for making apple tarts:

  • To make the process easier, you can use a refrigerated pie crust in your tart pan to save time.
  • If you like cinnamon on your apples, try adding an 1/8 teaspoon of nutmeg too!
  • If you want your tart to look like a rose, add your apple slices in concentric circles around the edge so it all spirals into the middle.

Nutrition

Calories: 248kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 46mg | Sodium: 212mg | Potassium: 109mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 18g | Vitamin A: 581IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 13mg | Iron: 0.3mg
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