Chocolate Lavender Tart

This dessert is so fast to make (honestly about 30 minutes), but it tastes and looks amazing! Fancy dessert coming through!!

For crust
5 ounces vanilla wafers (about 40)
3 Tablespoons butter, melted
1 Tablespoon honey
1 Tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder


For filling
1 cup whipping cream*
2 teaspoons dried lavender blossoms
12 ounces bittersweet or semisweet chocolate*
1 Tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
1 Tablespoon butter


Preheat oven to 350°F.

While butter is melting, grind vanilla wafers in a food processor until fine crumbs form. Add butter, honey, and cocoa powder and mix until well combined. Press crumbs evenly onto bottom (not up sides) of prepared tart pan. Bake until set, about 10 minutes. Cool.

Bring cream and lavender just to boil in small saucepan. Reduce heat to low and simmer 5 minutes.

Place chocolate in medium saucepan. Strain hot cream mixture into saucepan with chocolate. Stir over medium-low heat just until melted and smooth. Add cocoa powder and remaining 1 tablespoon butter; stir until melted and smooth.

Pour chocolate mixture over crust in tart pan. Chill at least 45 minutes (chocolate will be slightly soft after 45 minutes and firm after 2 hours). Cut into wedges and serve.


Notes:
*Original recipe says the tart can be made 1 day ahead, but I've eaten it three days later and it was still wonderful. Cover and keep chilled. Let stand at room temperature 1 hour before serving.


*The first time I made the tart I made this tart with whipping cream and the taste was incredible, but Rob and I thought it was a bit to firm - more like eating a bar of chocolate than a tart. Also, I never have heavy whipping cream on hand, so I tried it a second time with whole milk. Sadly, the tart never set completely. So I am going to keep working the whole milk angle and we'll see if I can't make it work. I'll certainly update the post when I am successful. 


*Original recipe calls for chocolate chips, but I've used both chocolate chips and big chunks of baking chocolate and both have worked well.