Chocolate + Strawberries = Summer Dessert Tart

This dessert features fresh strawberries, chocolate, cream cheese, and drizzles of fudge. How can it not be good??! It is the perfect summer dessert - it looks patriotic, it tastes yummy, and it is cool and refreshing. It also is pretty!

CHOCOLATE STRAWBERRY CREAM CHEESE TART     

CRUST:

¾ cup all-purpose flour

½ cup finely chopped almonds toasted

6 Tbsp. butter, melted

½ cup baking cocoa

¼ cup packed brown sugar

FILLING:

2 pkg. (8 oz. each) cream cheese, softened

1 cup confectioners’ sugar

1 tsp. vanilla extract

3 cups halved fresh strawberries

3 Tbsp. hot fudge ice cream topping

1.    Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a small bowl, combine crust ingredients; press onto the bottom and up the sides of an ungreased 9-inch fluted tart pan with removable bottom. Bake 12-15 minutes or until crust is set. Cool on a wire rack.

2.    In another small bowl, beat cream cheese, confectioners’ sugar and vanilla until smooth. Spread over bottom of the prepared crust. Arrange strawberry halves, cut side down, over filling. Cover and refrigerate at least 1 hour. 

3.    Just before serving, drizzle fudge topping over tart. Refrigerate leftovers. 

Yield: 12 servings