This Chocolate Peppermint Tart is ready in just 30 minutes and a fun dessert for the holidays! A cocoa crust is filled with a peppermint cream cheese filling and topped with crushed candy canes.
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My desire to bake always amplifies during the holidays. Pretty much as soon as the cooler weather hits and the holidays are in sight, I want to make a bunch of baked goods that are ignored the rest of the year. And because of this, I also like to use holiday flavors as much as I can. Peppermint is pretty much synonymous with Christmas and the inspiration for this Chocolate Peppermint Tart.
I like to make variations of this tart because it is so incredibly simple to make and tastes amazing, regardless of the flavors. I am a complete SUCKER for a chocolate crust, they are just the best and I love them. The crust is similar to a soft cookie but you can make it crunchy by using granulated sugar instead of powdered sugar in the crust. Personally, I prefer the softer crust but found by accident one day that granulated sugar made it crisp.
I love to use a rectangle tart pan which you can find here! Square, long skinny rectangles, or the traditional circle pan shapes also work. If you do not have a tart pan, you could also use a pie dish or any other type of baking dish.
Find more holiday recipe inspiration here and dessert recipes here!
Chocolate Peppermint Tart
Ingredients
Cocoa Crust
- 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar (confectioners' sugar)
- 1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter (3/4 cup)
Filling
- 12 ounces cream cheese softened
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 candy canes crushed
- 1/4 cup white chocolate chips
- 1 teaspoon peppermint extract
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Topping
- 2 candy canes crushed
- 1/4 cup white chocolate chips
- sprinkles of choice
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F.
- Using a food processor, combine the powdered flour, sugar, cocoa powder, and butter. Blend just until the mixture forms a ball.
- Press the dough into the sides and bottom of a 9-10 inch tart pan. Pat to make the crust even.
- Bake the crust until it is just cooked through, approximately 10 minutes. You can test it with a toothpick like a cake. Remove from oven and set aside to cool.
- Make the filling by adding the cream cheese, sugar, vanilla, and peppermint extract in a small bowl. Beat until smooth.
- Place all of the candy canes in a resealable bag or in a clean towel, covered. Hit the candy canes with a rolling pin or something heavy to crush.
- Add half of the crushed candy canes and 1/4 cup white chocolate chips to the cream cheese mixture. Stir to combine. Adjust taste accordingly with more peppermint extract, candy canes, or vanilla.
- When the crust is cooled down (slightly warm is okay, just not hot) add the cream cheese mixture and spread evenly throughout the tart.
- Sprinkle the remaining crushed candy cane pieces, white chocolate chips, and sprinkles if desired across the tart.
- Chill until ready to serve.
Chocolate and peppermint are always the best combination this time of year!!
I love both chocolate and peppermint flavours! Lovely and so easy to make too!