Eggless Chocolate Orange Walnut Tart

This luscious tart recipe , originally without chocolate , was delicious enough , but …let’s face it , its chocolate !

Serves 8

Adapted from Bon Appetit

CRUST

1 cup all purpose flour

1/2 cup ( 1 stick ) butter , chilled , unsalted , cut into 1/2 inch pieces

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 tbs ( about ) ice water

FILLING

3/4 cup whipping cream

3/4 cup sugar

6 oz bittersweet chocolate ( such as Lindt , or any other good chocolate )

2 Tbs orange liqueur

1 tbs grated orange peel

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

pinch of salt

1  3/4 cups ( 6  1/2 oz ) walnut halves

CRUST

Combine first 3 ingredients in processor . Using on / off turns , process until mixture resembles coarse meal . Add water 1 tbs at a time , processing until moist clumps form . Gather into ball . Flatten into disk . Wrap in plastic ;chill 30 minutes ( maybe prepared 1 day ahead ) .

Preheat oven to 350*F . Lightly butter 9 inch diameter tart pan with removable bottom . Press dough onto bottom and up sides of pan . Pierce crust several times with fork . freeze crust 15 minutes .

Bake crust until golden , piercing with fork if bubbles form, about 20 minutes .Transfer pan to rack and cool crust completely . Maintain oven temperature .

FILLING

Combine cream , sugar ( and chocolate , if using ) in heavy medium saucepan . Bring to simmer , stirring until sugar and chocolate ( if using ) dissolve . Whisk in liqueur , orange peel , vanilla and salt . Remove from heat . Place crust in pan on baking sheet. Sprinkle nuts on crust. Ladle cream mixture over . Bake until mixture bubbles and top is light brown , about 35 minutes . Transfer tart to rack and cool completely .