Chocolate Cherry Tarts

Everybody loves these little chocolate–cherry bombs. I pretty much always have to make a double batch—especially for parties, holidays, or "I just invited more people than I meant to" situations.

Rich chocolate pastry, creamy pudding filling, dried cherries folded in, and a tart cherry on top. Pop-able, pretty, and perfect for serving a crowd… or hoarding in your fridge. No judgment. 

Makes: about 24 mini tarts

Ingredients:

Chocolate Pastry Cups:

• ⅓ cup medicated butter, softened

• 4 oz reduced-fat cream cheese, softened

• 2 Tbsp brown sugar (or brown sugar substitute)

• 2 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder

• 1 cup cannaflour

Filling:

• 1 (4-serving size) pkg sugar-free, fat-free instant chocolate pudding mix

• 1¾ cups fat-free milk

• ½ tsp almond extract

• 2 Tbsp dried cherries, chopped if large

• 24 unsweetened frozen tart cherries, thawed

Directions:

1. Make the pastry cups:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 1¾-inch mini muffin pan.

2. In a mixing bowl, beat medicated butter, cream cheese, brown sugar, and cocoa powder on medium speed until smooth.

3. Stir in the cannaflour until a soft dough forms.

4. Scoop about 1 rounded teaspoon of dough into each muffin cup. Press it evenly across the bottom and up the sides to form small tart shells.

5. Bake 12–15 minutes, until pastry is dry, set, and evenly browned.

6. Cool in the pan on a wire rack for about 5 minutes. Carefully remove pastry cups and let cool completely on the rack.

2. Make the filling

1. In a bowl, whisk together pudding mix, milk, and almond extract for about 1 minute, until smooth.

2. Cover and chill about 5 minutes, until slightly thickened.

   • If you're making a double batch of shells and cherries, you can use all the pudding. Otherwise, store half in an airtight container for another dessert.

3. Fold dried cherries into the remaining pudding mixture.

3. Assemble

1. Spoon or pipe the cherry-chocolate filling into the cooled pastry cups.

2. Top each tart with one thawed tart cherry.

3. Chill until ready to serve. Keep refrigerated.

These are party weapons: bite-sized, pretty, and sneaky. The medicated pastry plus creamy filling hits just right—so remind people they're not regular Costco samples.