Raspberry-Chocolate Tart

Photo: flickr user Rubber Slippers In Italy

Ingredients

cup chocolate wafer cookie crumbs

(abt 6 oz plain chocolate wafers)

6 tablespoons unsalted butter - (¾ stick) melted

cup sugar

pint fresh raspberries

cup sugar

2 tablespoons water

1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

1 ct mascarpone cheese - (8 oz)

(available at Italian markets and many supermarkets)

cup chilled heavy whipping cream

teaspoon vanilla extract

2 cts fresh raspberries - (½ pint e

cup seedless raspberry preserves

Preparation

For Crust: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine cookie crumbs, melted butter, and sugar in processor; process until crumbs are evenly moistened. Press mixture onto bottom and up sides of 9-inch-diameter tart pan with removable bottom. Bake crust until set, about 10 minutes. Cool crust completely on rack.

For Filling: Combine raspberries, 1/4 cup sugar, 2 tablespoons water, and lemon juice in processor. Puree until smooth. Pour puree through strainer set over medium bowl, pressing on solids to extract as much liquid as possible; discard seeds in strainer.

Combine mascarpone, heavy whipping cream, vanilla, and remaining 1/4 cup sugar in another medium bowl. Using electric mixer, beat until mixture is smooth and stiff peaks form. Fold in raspberry puree. Spread filling evenly in cooled chocolate crust. Cover and refrigerate tart overnight.

For Topping: Arrange fresh raspberries in concentric circles atop tart. Stir raspberry preserves in heavy small saucepan over medium-low heat until melted to form glaze. Brush glaze over fresh raspberries. Refrigerate tart at least 1 hour and up to 4 hours.

Remove tart pan sides. Place tart on platter. Cut into wedges and serve.

This recipe yields 8 servings.

Test-kitchen tip: To make the crumbs for the crust, finely grind purchased plain chocolate wafer cookies in a processor.

Description: "This dessert has a baked chocolate-cookie crust and a chilled light-and-fluffy filling of pureed fresh raspberries folded into whipped mascarpone cheese."