Chocolate Strawberry Tarts
One of those easy to make summer desserts you can whip up in no time
Low fat vanilla yogurt and part-skim ricotta cheese make these chocolate strawberry tarts light and refreshing.
There's nothing like the combination of chocolate and strawberries, and these chocolate strawberry tarts are no exception. They are an ideal spring or summer dessert when you want something sweet, but not too heavy.
Serve these tarts as dessert for Easter dinner or Mother's Day brunch when strawberries are in season. You can make them up to a day in advance and just refrierate them until you're ready to serve dessert. These tarts make such an attractive presentation, your guests will never guess how easy they are to make.
It's important to use fresh strawberries with these tarts. The frozen berries just won't slice properly, and they'll make the tarts watery. Although it doesn't matter what type of cocoa powder you use, these tarts will taste best with high-quality dark cocoa powder, such as Hershey's Special Dark Cocoa.
If you want to reduce the calorie and fat count even more, and don't mind taking the time to prepare your own crusts, simple make a grape nuts pie crust (recipe below) and fill with the chocolate strawberry filling.
Chocolate Strawberry Tarts
- 2 cups non-fat or low fat vanilla yogurt
- 2 cups part-skim ricotta cheese
- 2 Tbsp. plus 2 tsp. unsweetened Dutch process cocoa powder
- 4 tsp. sugar
- 8 prepared graham cracker tart shells or prepared grape nuts tart crust below
- 1 cup fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
- fresh mint leaves (optional)
In a medium mixing bowl, beat vanilla yogurt, ricotta cheese, cocoa powder and sugar together with an electric mixer until fluffy and well-combined. Spoon into prepared graham cracker tart shells. Chill until ready to serve. Just before serving, top the tarts with the sliced strawberries. Garnish with fresh mint leaves if desired.
Makes 8 tarts.
Per tart with graham cracker tart shells: 267 calories, 11 g fat (5 g saturated fat), 22 mg cholesterol, 31 g carbohydrate, 1 g fiber, 11 g protein, 5% vitamin A, 19% vitamin C, 28% calcium, 5% iron
Grape Nuts Tart Crust
- 12 graham cracker squares
- 1/3 cup Grape Nuts cereal
- 2 Tbsp. granulated sugar
- 1 Tbsp. plus 1 tsp. canola oil
- 1 Tbsp. egg white (or 1 small egg white)
- 2 Tbsp. apple juice concentrate
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Pulse the graham cracker squares, Grape Nuts, sugar and canola oil in a food processor fitted with the metal blade. Pulse in the egg white and apple juice concentrate. The mixture should be sticky enough to press into individual tart ramekins. If not, add a little more apple juice concentrate. Press into ramekins or individual tart pans. Bake 7-9 minutes until lightly browned. Cool completely. Fill as directed above.
For more great light and easy dessert recipes, see also:
