Indian summer sweets: White chocolate mousse and Nutella tarts (recipe)

White Chocolate Mini Pies


Recipe and photo by "The Hungry Housewife": Leslie Green


Serves 6


Ingredients:


6 pre-made mini graham cracker tart shells


1 egg white, beaten


1 cup heavy whipping cream


3 tablespoons sugar


1 teaspoon vanilla extract


4 ounces cream cheese, softened and whipped until smooth


4 ounces white chocolate, chopped


6 tablespoons Nutella


Fresh berries for garnish


Directions:


1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Brush the graham cracker tart shells with beaten egg white and bake for 5 minutes. Remove the from oven and allow them to cool completely.


2. In a small saucepan, bring about 1 inch of water to a boil. Make a double boiler by placing a bowl on top on the saucepan with the boiling water so it fits snuggle over the top without touching the water. Put the white chocolate in the bowl, and stir until completely melted. Set aside.


3. In a medium bowl, combine the cream, sugar with an electric mixer and vanilla until it starts to thicken. Add the softened cream cheese in 3 parts, mixing well in-between each addition. Whip to a whip cream consistency. Fold in the melted chocolate. Cover and place the chocolate, cream cheese mixture in the fridge for about one hour.


4. Place one tablespoon of the Nutella in each of the tart shells. Place the chocolate mixture in a zip lock bag, snip off the edge and pipe it into the mini pie shells. Garnish with fresh berries. Refrigerate until ready for serving.


Enjoy,


The Hungry Housewife

I know very well that summer is behind us and that it is officially fall, so I should be making pumpkin desserts or treats loaded with lots of warm cinnamon. But lets be serious here: We live in Florida and it is pretty much summer all year long.  These mini pies just scream summer to me with the fresh berries on top contrasting against the luscious white chocolate cream cheese mousse.

However, underneath that cloud of heaven, there is a delightful surprise waiting for you — a deep chocolate-hazelnut layer. If you are not a Nutella fan (seriously, is there such a person?) you can opt to leave it out and just have the graham cracker crust filled with the mousse. That would be completely acceptable and equally delicious.

These do come with a warning. The recipe makes 6 mini pies, so just be sure you have 6 people to divvy them out to. Trust me on this one. While I was testing this recipe, I made the mistake of making them while no one was home. Bad, bad , bad decision. I will not divulge how many I consumed, but it was more than one and less than 6. You see I have zero will power when it comes to anything in a dessert form. It is an awful personality flaw passed from my grandmother to my mother and now on to me. Great. Give me the option of a filet or a piece of chocolate cake and 9 times out of 10 I will inhale the chocolate cake first. Who even came up with the silly rule that you have to eat dessert last?

These white chocolate mini pies are a breeze to make and will surely impress your guests.

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