French Chocolate orange tart {gluten free, paleo}

This chocolate orange tart is the perfect embodiment of a classic French dessert, made healthy. 

Imagine a French chocolate tart infused with the zest of bright fresh oranges, Grand Marnier orange liqueur, and cooled in a gluten free almond chocolate tart crust. Delicious, fragrant and accidentally healthy - now that’s the perfect dessert. 

Jump to:

• This chocolate orange tart is the perfect embodiment of a classic French dessert, made healthy. 
• Terry's Chocolate Orange in the form of a Tart
• Inspired by winter desserts
• When to serve this Chocolate Orange Tart?
• Why I love this orange chocolate tart recipe
• INGREDIENTS YOU NEED to make this easy chocolate tart
• Equipment
• How To Make French Chocolate Tart with Oranges
• Storage 
• Top Tips
• Variations on this Dark Chocolate Orange Tart
• Products 
• Frequently Asked Questions 
• Accompanying Dishes
• Recipe

Terry's Chocolate Orange in the form of a Tart

Imagine Terry’s chocolate orange. Now imagine breaking into it on Christmas Eve. As you slam that little chocolate ball onto the table, the silver wrapping crinkling in your hands, feeling the impact reverberating through the pieces. 

Then, when you unfold it and see all the little pieces fall to the sides, revealing an infinite number of possibilities from which to start your chocolate orange journey.

Then, as you bite into the little chocolate pieces and suck on them until your mouth is full of the tingling sensation of chocolate and citrus.

Now, imagine all that flavor, and put it in a tart. 

Then add French patisserie know-how, and you’ve got yourself this classic French chocolate and orange tart.

Except, it’s healthy. Add some healthy ingredients, a gluten free tart crust and a vegan chocolate ganache.

Now do I have your attention?

Inspired by winter desserts

The inspiration for this chocolate and orange tart came from winter desserts and flavors.

I wanted to create a dessert that would be rich and comforting, but also sensuous and refreshing. 

I wanted a dessert that would look at home on a festive table in winter, when the house smells of pine boughs and there are candles twinkling everywhere.

I wanted a dessert that would go with homemade mulled wine, chocolate date balls, and shortbread cookies.

And I wanted a dessert that would be fresh and unique. And that’s how this gluten free chocolate and orange tart was born.

When to serve this Chocolate Orange Tart?

This rich but healthy chocolate orange tart would be at home on any table! It’s quite easy to do, so it makes for a great weekend treat.

But my favorite way of serving this orange chocolate tart is for Christmas.

The Perfect Christmas Dessert

With the balance of rich chocolate and refreshing orange flavors, a crispy thin gluten free tart crust and a creamy ganache center, this French tart makes for a wonderful ending to a rich and festive meal on Christmas Eve.

It would be at home at the end of Christmas dinner, as well as a Christmas Day or Boxing Day Lunch.

There is something completely Christmas-y about orange and chocolate put together, and I for one immediately smell Christmas trees and hear the crinkling of tinsel and the ringing of bells whenever I take a bite from this French orange tart.

And what’s more, this gluten free and dairy-free tart is allergen-friendly, at home with most people’s food sensitivities - making this tart a welcome reprieve for those of us struggling with allergies during the holidays.

For more Christmas recipes:

If you are looking for another chocolate dessert, try these chocolate recipes:

If you are looking for another orange dessert:

Why I love this orange chocolate tart recipe

I can’t get enough of the rich, full-bodied flavor of this orange chocolate tart - a sentiment that’s shared by all who try it. This is why I love this tart:

• Easy - With less than 15 minutes of work and minimal baking, this tart is a dream to put together!
• Fresh - the sharp citrus flavor of this tart makes it feel fresh and refreshing - in a way that really cuts through all the chocolate.
• Healthy - This chocolate orange tart has a grain free almond crust, a vegan ganache filling, is sweetened with maple syrup, and has no gums or starches. What could be better in a decadent dessert?
• Gluten-free - Have I mentioned that the crust is made with nuts and the filling is also gluten free?!
• Tasty - chocolate and orange are a classic combination
• Christmas appropriate - with a few small touches (rosemary bits, a mix of oranges), you can easily dress this beautiful tart up for Christmas!
• Freezer-friendly - This chocolate orange tart freezes and defrosts very well.
• Can be made ahead - The filling and crust can be made on separate days.
• Loved by all - kids and adults alike go crazy over this rich and citrusy chocolate and orange dessert!

INGREDIENTS YOU NEED to make this easy chocolate tart

• almond flour - You can use store bought almond flour or grind your own flour. This is the only “flour” in this tart! You can also use another nut flour if you’d like.
• cocoa powder - use high quality Dutch cocoa powder for the best taste and color.
• maple syrup or liquid sweetener of your choice - you can use honey, maple syrup or a liquid sweetener of your choice if you want a low carb or sugar free dessert.
• egg yolk -  egg yolk is used as a binder in the crust. For a vegan alternative, use a flax or chia egg. 
• coconut oil - I love the flavor coconut oil gives to my baked goods, but you can use another oil you like here.
• full-fat coconut milk - the chocolate ganache filling of this tart relies on coconut milk for the creaminess. Place your coconut milk in the fridge to cool for a few hours before baking, as it helps to separate the fattier “cream” layer from the rest..
• dark chocolate - You can use regular chocolate, vegan or dairy-free chocolate - just make sure it’s a good quality chocolate you actually like to eat! 
• Orange liquor - You can use Grand marnier, Triple Sec or any other orange liqueur of your choice in this tart.
• Orange zest - this is crucial to the citrus-forward flavor of the tart. You can use orange extract in its place, but I just love the freshness of orange zest!

Equipment

• Oven
• Tart pan - I used this rectangular tart form
• Mixing bowls
• Spatulas

How To Make French Chocolate Tart with Oranges

Prepare the gluten free chocolate tart crust:

Preheat oven to 325F. Oil a tart pan with a removable bottom.

In a large bowl, whisk together almond flour, cocoa powder, sweetener, and salt. Add remaining ingredients and mix until you get a soft dough.

Wrap dough in plastic, and chill for at least 10 minutes.

Working between two sheets of parchment paper, roll out the dough into a ⅛-inch thick round. Transfer to the fridge to cool for another 10 minutes, until the top sheet of parchment paper can be peeled off easily.

Transfer rolled out dough to tart pan. Peel off the remaining sheet of parchment paper, and use your fingers to shape the dough around the tart pan.

Transfer to 325F oven and bake for 22-25 minutes. Let cool fully before removing from pan.

To make vegan chocolate orange ganache:

To make vegan chocolate ganache:

Open coconut milk without shaking. Remove the coconut creamy part up top, then top with enough of the coconut water to get to 1 ¼ cups (300 ml) in total volume. Microwave the coconut milk in 30 second batches until it is hot and simmering, about 1 ½ minutes in total.

Transfer chocolate to a heatproof bowl. Top with heated coconut milk and set aside for 5 minutes until chocolate has fully melted.

Gently whisk the vegan ganache, working in small circles from the center and spreading outwards, until the whole ganache is glossy and dark. Do not rush or whisk overly vigorously, or your ganache will not be evenly tempered.

Whisk in orange zest and orange liqueur.

Assemble orange chocolate tart:

Pour ganache into a cool chocolate tart crust. Transfer to fridge to cool completely, at least 2 hours.

Top with orange slices and orange twists, chocolate shavings. Rosemary sprigs will help give the tart a Christmas-y appearance.

Storage 

You can keep this gluten free French chocolate tart in the fridge for 5 days. You can also wrap it well in plastic wrap, and freeze it for up to 6 months.

Top Tips

• Use a chocolate orange chocolate bar to really push home the orange flavor!
• Place your coconut milk in the fridge for a few hours to separate the creamy part of the coconut milk.
• To roll out the chocolate tart crust more easily, place it between two pieces of parchment paper. This will make it easier to transfer into the tart pan.
• You can use orange extract in place of the orange liqueur and orange zest. 
• If you don’t have a tart pan with a removable bottom, use a cake pan with a removable bottom, or a quiche pan - but then you likely won’t be able to remove it from the pan. 
• You can also make this dessert into individual mini orange tartlets.

Variations on this Dark Chocolate Orange Tart

This recipe is for a gluten free, paleo and dairy-free dark chocolate tart. 

• Vegan orange tart - omit the egg yolk from the crust (you may need to use a chia egg, or add a touch more coconut oil). Use vegan chocolate in the coconut milk ganache.
• Chocolate lime tart - exchange the orange zest for lime zest, and use lime juice in place of the liqueur.
• Blood orange and chocolate tart - top the tart with blood orange slices in place of the orange slices.

Products 

This orange chocolate tart has so few ingredients - let’s make sure they are good ones!

I used this rectangular tart form to give this classic French chocolate orange tart a classic shape. You can also use a regular round tart pan with a removable bottom. Or, to make this into a classy individual desserts, you can use mini tart forms.

For the chocolate filling, use a high quality dark baking chocolate like this one.

Use these vegan chocolate chips if you need a dairy-free chocolate.

I also love this chocolate orange bar to really drive the orange chocolate flavor forward!

For the orange liqueur, I like Triple Sec, Cointreau or Grand Marnier.

Frequently Asked Questions 

Accompanying Dishes

You can serve this healthy chocolate tart with the following dishes:

• Bulgur salad with feta, blood orange and pomegranate seeds
• Baked feta pasta with blood orange and olives
• Chicken Marbella Ottolenghi with dates and olives for Passover
• Spelt orange pecan sugar-free cinnamon buns
• Russian mulled wine (Glintvein), or the perfect drink for the festive season

Recipe