Decadent A-1 Black Cherry Brie Tartlets with Chocolate Walnuts
Indulge in a luxurious culinary experience with these Decadent A-1 Black Cherry Brie Tartlets. Perfect for any gathering, these delightful bite-sized treats feature flaky puff pastry shells, generously filled with creamy French Brie cheese. The heart of this recipe lies in the exquisite black cherry sauce, infused with the bold flavors of A.1. Original Sauce, adding a unique savory twist to the sweetness of the cherries. To elevate the dish further, we top each tartlet with rich dark chocolate-covered roasted walnuts, offering a delightful crunch and contrasting flavor. Ideal as an appetizer or a fancy dessert, these tartlets are sure to impress your guests while delivering a seasonal savory delight that is simply irresistible.
N/A
Servings
N/A
Calories
11
Ingredients
Ingredients
fresh sweet black cherries
1/2 lb (pitted and chopped, or use 2 (16 oz) cans of pitted sweet black cherries in syrup, drained with syrup reserved)
granulated bakers sugar
1/3 cup (use 1/2 cup if substituting sour canned cherries)
grated orange zest
1 tablespoon
A.1. Original Sauce
1 tablespoon (use 1 1/2 tablespoons if using canned cherries)
cornstarch
2 tablespoons
walnuts
1/2 cup (chopped into small pieces)
dark chocolate chips
1/2 cup
French double cream brie cheese
8 ounces (at room temperature)
frozen prepared puff pastry shells
1 (10 oz) package (6 prepared according to package directions)
oranges
6 (peels thinly sliced for garnish)
cherries
3 ounces (halved for garnish)
Instructions
1
Preheat your oven and bake the puff pastry shells according to the package instructions until golden brown. Keep an eye on them to prevent burning.
2
While the pastry shells bake, prepare the cherry mixture. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine the chopped cherries and reserved cherry syrup if using canned cherries. Stir until the cherries are warmed and release their juices.
3
Gradually whisk in the granulated sugar, ensuring it dissolves evenly into the cherry mixture. Then, mix in the grated orange zest and A.1. Original Sauce, tasting as you go to achieve your desired flavor balance.
4
Once aromatic, add cornstarch one tablespoon at a time while whisking constantly until the mixture thickens. Remove from heat and allow it to cool.
5
For the chocolate walnuts, create a bain marie using a heatproof bowl over a pot of boiling water. Add dark chocolate chips to the bowl and melt, stirring occasionally.
6
In a separate small frying pan, toast chopped walnuts until they become fragrant. Once the chocolate has melted, fold in the toasted walnuts until coated. Keep on the bain marie to stay warm.
7
After the pastry shells are done baking, reduce the oven temperature to 250°F (120°C). Spoon room temperature French Brie into each pastry shell, pressing it down to create an even layer.
8
Return the filled pastry shells to the oven for 1-2 minutes, just until the Brie is melted and bubbly.
9
Remove from the oven and generously spoon the cherry mixture over the melted Brie in each shell. Finish by adding chocolate-covered walnuts on top, distributing them evenly.
10
To plate, drizzle with any reserved cherry sauce, add a few halved cherries, and garnish with thinly sliced orange peels. Serve immediately while warm for a delightful combination of flavors and textures.
Nutrition Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the name of this recipe?
The recipe is for Decadent A-1 Black Cherry Brie Tartlets with Chocolate Walnuts.
What are the primary flavor components of these tartlets?
The tartlets feature flaky puff pastry, creamy French Brie, a savory-sweet black cherry sauce made with A.1. Original Sauce, and dark chocolate-covered roasted walnuts.
How should the puff pastry shells be prepared?
Bake the puff pastry shells according to the package instructions until they are golden brown, taking care to prevent them from burning.
What kind of cheese is recommended for this recipe?
The recipe calls for French double cream Brie cheese, which should be at room temperature before use.
How is the cherry mixture cooked?
Combine chopped cherries and reserved syrup in a saucepan over medium heat, then whisk in sugar, orange zest, and A.1. Original Sauce before thickening with cornstarch.
What unique savory ingredient is added to the cherry sauce?
A.1. Original Sauce is added to the cherry mixture to provide a unique savory twist.
Can I use canned cherries instead of fresh ones?
Yes, you can use two 16 oz cans of pitted sweet black cherries in syrup, ensuring you drain them and reserve the syrup.
How do you thicken the cherry sauce?
Gradually add two tablespoons of cornstarch, one tablespoon at a time, while whisking constantly until the mixture achieves the desired thickness.
How are the chocolate walnuts prepared?
Toast chopped walnuts in a frying pan until fragrant, then fold them into melted dark chocolate chips.
What is the best way to melt the chocolate chips?
Use a bain-marie, which is a heatproof bowl set over a pot of boiling water, and stir the chips occasionally until smooth.
What oven temperature is used to melt the Brie in the shells?
After the initial pastry baking, reduce the oven temperature to 250 degrees Fahrenheit (120 degrees Celsius).
How long should the filled shells stay in the oven?
Bake the shells filled with Brie for 1 to 2 minutes, or just until the cheese becomes melted and bubbly.
What is the final assembly step for the tartlets?
Spoon the thickened cherry mixture over the melted Brie and top with the chocolate-covered walnuts.
How should the dish be garnished?
Garnish with a drizzle of reserved cherry sauce, halved cherries, and thinly sliced orange peels.
Is this dish considered an appetizer or a dessert?
This recipe is versatile and can be served as either a sophisticated appetizer or a fancy dessert.
How many tartlets does one package of puff pastry shells yield for this recipe?
The recipe uses 6 shells prepared from a 10 oz package.
What should I do if I use sour canned cherries instead of sweet ones?
If using sour cherries, increase the amount of granulated sugar to 1/2 cup to balance the tartness.
How much A.1. Original Sauce is needed?
Use 1 tablespoon for fresh cherries, or 1 and 1/2 tablespoons if using canned cherries.
Should the walnuts be whole or chopped?
The walnuts should be chopped into small pieces before toasting and coating in chocolate.
How is the orange zest used in the recipe?
One tablespoon of grated orange zest is mixed into the cherry sauce to add citrus notes.
What is the recommended serving temperature?
The tartlets should be served immediately while warm for the best combination of flavors and textures.
How many cherries are needed for the garnish?
About 3 ounces of halved cherries are used for the final garnish.
How many oranges are required for the garnish?
The recipe suggests using the peels of 6 oranges, thinly sliced, for garnishing the plates.
What type of sugar is best for the cherry sauce?
Granulated bakers sugar is recommended for this recipe.
Can the chocolate walnuts be prepared in advance?
They should be kept on the bain-marie to stay warm and pliable while you prepare the remaining components.
What texture should the Brie have when pressing it into the shells?
The Brie should be at room temperature so it can be easily pressed down into an even layer inside the shells.
How much dark chocolate is used?
The recipe calls for 1/2 cup of dark chocolate chips.
Is the cherry sauce served hot or cold?
The cherry mixture is cooked until thickened, allowed to cool slightly, and then spooned over the warm, melted Brie.
How many ingredients are in this recipe in total?
There are 11 distinct ingredients used in this recipe.
Why is the orange zest added?
It provides aromatic citrus notes that complement the sweetness of the cherries and the richness of the Brie.