This Cookies and Cream Fudge Tart is loaded with a creamy cookie filling and decadent chocolate center.
Sometimes life is easy, and we know exactly what is going to happen and how that should go. It's easy to make plans and try to follow them.
Then there are times things happen unexpectedly, and we have no idea why something like that could happen. It's in those moments that we can rely on a wonderful Saviour, and know He has a plan for our lives. We may not understand that plan. It may not make any sense to us, but it all fits perfectly into God's plan. This doesn't always make it easier on us, but it will help us as we deal with the hurt and pain.
Today I am celebrating the life of a wonderful friend. Joan from Chocolate, Chocolate, and More was taken much too soon from this world last week. It was completely unexpected and rocked the food community.
I just love the friendships that I have found through this fun world of blogging. The food blogger community is a great place of support, knowledge, and friendship.
A few years ago, I was invited to a Pillsbury event where I first met Joan. She was so friendly, outgoing, and bubbly that you couldn't help but want to be around her. She had a way of making you feel so comfortable. Just a few weeks ago, I was at a blog event in Jamaica. The lady at the front desk directed me to some couches to wait until my room was ready.
But all of a sudden, Joan came over and gave me a big hug and showed me where everyone else that I knew was sitting. She had such a big heart and big love for life. That night we sat at the same table for dinner sharing fun facts about each other. It was such a shock to hear she had passed in her sleep from a heart attack so suddenly last week. The only indicator was an upset stomach and nausea...ladies, this is a good reminder that heart attacks affect women differently. Make sure to get it checked out if you have these symptoms that will not go away.
It made me realize just how short our time on earth is, and that I want to be sure that I am keeping God and my family first no matter what comes my way. The people that are in our life are very important, and we should be letting them know every time we can how much we love them. It also made me realized that life is full of choices, and I need to continue keeping the important things first.
What I love about the blogging community is the support that everyone has for each other. So many bloggers are jumping in and helping to keep Joan's blog going for her three children. Bloggers make money from people visiting their pages. We want the income to keep coming in for her children.
Today is National Chocolate Day, and I know so many blog friends are sharing their memories of Joan with decadent chocolate desserts. I know that is just the way Joan would have wanted it.
As I thought about what dessert I wanted to share today, I headed to Joan's blog for inspiration.
I scrolled through so many decadent treats that I need to make in my kitchen, but this double chocolate fudge tart stood out to me. Partly because I just bought a tart pan and mostly because look at that rich chocolate center...this needed to happen right away.
The cookie crust with a creamy chocolate center is great on its own, but then I got thinking about how I could give it a fun little BruCrew twist. I folded more chopped cookies into some Cool Whip and spread it on top. Then to finish it off and make it look pretty I added some sprinkles and mini cookies.
Remember to live your life to the fullest potential every day.
Enjoy the small things. Embrace the big moments. Hug your family every chance you get. Indulge in a chocolate treat every day. Smile and laugh with friends.
You never know when a curveball may come and change things in your life.
Recipe
Cookies and Cream Fudge Tart
A cookies and cream filling on a rich chocolate filling makes a delicious dessert to share. Perfect for enjoying at any party or event.
Ingredients
For the Crust
- 2 cups chocolate cream filled cookies, crushed
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
For the Filling
- 8 tablespoons butter
- 10 ounces baking dark chocolate
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon salt
For the Topping
- 1 - 8 ounce container Cool Whip, thawed
- 1 cup coarsely chopped chocolate cream filled cookies
- mini chocolate cream filled cookies for garnish
- colored sprinkles
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°.
- Combine the cookie crumbs and melted butter. Press into the bottom and sides of a 9 inch tart pan. Bake for 8 minutes. Remove and cool.
- Heat the butter and chocolate over low heat until melted and creamy. Remove the pan from the stove and let cool 10 minutes.
- Beat the eggs. Add the heavy cream, sugar, vanilla, and salt and beat until frothy. Whisk in the cooled chocolate. Pour into the cooled crust. Do not over fill.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes. Cool. Refrigerate at least 2 hours before serving.
- Combine 2 cups of Cool Whip and the chopped cookies. Spread over the top of the cooled tart. Use the remaining Cool Whip to pipe around the edges. Top with mini cookies and sprinkles.
- Cut into 14 slices. Store in a sealed container in the refrigerator.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 14 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 477Total Fat: 31gSaturated Fat: 17gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 72mgSodium: 302mgCarbohydrates: 48gFiber: 2gSugar: 33gProtein: 4g
Nutrition facts are an estimate and are not guaranteed to be accurate. If you need special diet advice, please see a registered dietician.
More chocolate treats to indulge in:
Cookies and Cream Chocolate Pie
Best Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake
Danette
How do you know when the tart is done? I've never made one before. Thanks.
Jocelyn
Bake it for the 25-30 minutes, and it will be done. The top will look puffy and the edges will be starting to crack when it is finished. The middle will sink some as it cools, but you will fill that with the cookie and cream filling.
Danette
Thanks.
Danette
What size of tart pan did you use? Thanks.
Jocelyn
I used a 9 inch tart pan. (It's listed in step 1 🙂 )
Teri Giese
Good morning, Have been chatting all week about Joan on the many in common blogs I follow, since only back in March. Joans'blog blog was 1 of the first. Seems many of her closest friends blogs quickly followed. Was it our love for all things sweet? From all I have learned about Joan, from all of you dear people, I do believe that is why. The "sweet"and "love for",meaning Joan.Was not just the decedent recipes that I enjoyed, it was the smile, the humor, the casual conversation always as if with a friend.A friend I can not meet here. We will meet again someday, until then, will keep baking and cooking and posting. Have only a Pinterest account, so have a board in her honor. "The Best of Chocolate".In Joan's honor.
Julianne @ Beyond Frosting
I am so glad that you got to spend some time with her in Jamaica. I didn't get the chance to hear must about the trip other than a few tips she learned, but I am sure she had a good time. Thank you for sharing this post.
Hayley @ The Domestic Rebel
Oh Jocelyn, I'm so blessed to consider you such a great friend of mine! This tribute to Joan was so touching and a great reminder that life is short and we must live it to the fullest we can each day. I love you, and I love this tart. I know Joan would flip for it, too! My favorite part are the sprinkles, of course, but everything about it looks AMAZING!
Jocelyn
Girl, I am so glad to be able to know you and call you friend. You are a sweetheart and I love you too!!!! Thank you so much for your friendship over the years!!! I wish we could have enjoyed this tart together!!!
Laura @ Laura's Culinary Adventures
What beautiful thoughts!
Mary
This ---> Remember to live your life to the fullest potential every day. Enjoy the small things. Embrace the big moments. Hug your family every chance you get. Indulge in a chocolate treat every day. Smile and laugh with friends.
You just summed up the awesomeness of Joan's example in those sentences. She was an amazing woman and her loss is a reminder to all of us to prioritize the things that REALLY matter, not simply the urgent day to day. She would have loved all of these shared memories.
Jocelyn
She truly was an amazing person and will never be forgotten!!! This tragic loss definitely has me thinking each day about how I need to keep the important things first!
Maureen Blackburn
My heart goes out to all of Joan's friends and family. She will be missed by many of us who have enjoyed her creativity. The chocolate tart is a terrific tribute, and the sprinkles are perfect way to lighten the sadness of loss.
Tracey A.
I was so sad to hear about Joan today. Once again, I was reminded how short our life can be, how unpredictable and how sad. Along with the beauty of sharing her life with her, through her love of cooking, I was able to catch a glimpse of Joan and her wonderful spirit. Today, in her honor, I baked the Chocolate Bliss Cake and talked to her while I was making it. Please aware of her presence around you by the reminders and finding of pennies, butterflies, rainbows, birds, feathers and CHOCOLATE fragrance. May her spirit be felt by her family in the hard days to come. God bless,
Tracey
Tonia from TheGunnySack
It's so hard to understand, but it sure does remind us that we need to live each day to the fullest. I'm happy to have met you in person during that trip to Pillsbury and thankful for all of your support over the past few years. The food blogging community is amazing and we will all miss Joan dearly!
Jocelyn
I am so thankful to have met you there as well. It is amazing to me how tight food bloggers are and how supportive. I appreciate everything you have done over the years too!!!
sue|theviewfromgreatisland
The outpouring of love and memories would have made Joan so happy and proud...I just wish we could all sit down at one big table and enjoy all these chocolate treats together!
Jocelyn
Enjoying all these delicious chocolate treats and remembering the fun things about Joan would have been awesome. Thankfully as bloggers we can do this virtually...it just isn't quite the same!
Liz@HoosierHomemade
This looks incredible! I know Joan will be missed by everyone who knew her.
Prayers and hugs!
~Liz
Alyssa
This tart is beautiful! I bet Joan would have loved it. This is a great tribute for Joan. What you said about living life to the fullest is so true, we never know what is going to come our way.
Jocelyn
Thank you so much, Alyssa. Each day we have is a gift, and we should be living it to the fullest each day. This was such a sad reminder to keep the important things first!!!
Misha
Well said. We don't know how long we have, so it's important to live life to the fullest each day. Hugs to all in the blog family. Thoughts and prayers for Joan's family. Your choice is excellent! I am going to have to make this in Joan's honor this weekend.
Joanne
This is a beautiful and loving post for your friend! I am shocked to hear that Joan passed away, since I follow her blog. I feel so sad for her children.
Rachel Cooks
Beautiful post, Jocelyn. I am so grateful that when unexplainable things happen we have God's plan to find peace in.
This tart is unbelievable and Joan would LOVE it. I am so sad I didn't have the chance to meet her next week like I was planning to.
Jocelyn
Definitely resting in God's arms gives us a peace that is unexplainable. I'm so thankful to have met you and know that we share that same faith. I wish you could have met Joan...she had such an excitement about life!!!
Medha @ Whisk & Shout
This looks unreal! So sorry for your loss and my condolences to the family. What a lovely way to celebrate your friend 🙂
Mir
It is comforting to think that there are plans and purposes beyond our control, though it's also so hard to think about Joan's children. My heart goes out to her family. And it's so lovely of so many of Joan's friends to do these posts for her!
Jocelyn
It is just so hard to imagine and understand when things happen out of our control. My heart goes out to her kids as well!!!
Lyuba@willcookforsmiles
Cookies and cream AND fudge?! This is fantastic!
Joan would love this tart 🙂
Jocelyn
Thanks, Lyuba. I had a feeling all the chocolate and cookies would be something Joan would love!!!
Jocelyn (Grandbaby cakes)
This is beautiful Jocelyn. I felt the same way about Joan. So blessed I had the chance to know her.
Jocelyn
Thank you, Jocelyn. I am so blessed to have met you through blogging too!
Aimee @ ShugarySweets
Oh my gosh this chocolate tart is stunning. And that layer of cookies and cream on top is the perfect finishing touch!! I'm so blessed to have you in my life. Meeting you through blogging has been truly one of the best things to happen to me!! I'm sure Joan would be smiling at this chocolate tart, knowing you garnished it with EXTRA chocolate 🙂
Jocelyn
I have to agree 100% with you...you are the sweetest best friend I could have ever imagined. Who knew blogging would lead me to such an awesome friend?!?!?!