Cranberry White Chocolate Tart

The holiday season deserves a dessert that’s both stunning and irresistible. This cranberry and white chocolate tart combines festive flavors with creamy indulgence, making it the perfect centerpiece for your next gathering.

Cranberry White Chocolate tart with Nut Crust

The rich white chocolate ganache paired with tangy cranberry filling creates a symphony of sweet and tart flavors that impresses your guests. Whether you’re hosting a special occasion or cozying up during the winter months, this tart delivers the ultimate treat. For a flawless base, consider this flaky gluten-free tart crust that works beautifully with the cranberry and white chocolate layers. Ready to bake your show-stopper of a dessert? Let’s get started!

In Poland, Christmas is a long-awaited time filled with family time, special traditions, snowy evenings, and the delicious aroma of holiday baking. Among the many festive treats, cranberry and white chocolate tart are among them. This dessert combines cranberries’ vibrant tanginess with white chocolate’s creamy sweetness, all nestled in a delicate nut crust. It’s the perfect dessert to share with family and friends during the holidays.

Christmas Eve, or Wigilia, is one of the most magical times of the year in Poland. Families gather to share a traditional meal, with twelve dishes representing the apostles. Dessert is often saved for later in the evening, but preparations for sweet treats begin early. You can learn more about Christmas traditions in Poland here.

My grandmother had a knack for making the most beautiful tarts during the holidays. She would roll out her dough with precision, line her trusty tart pan, or make nut crusts and carefully fill them with cranberries she had simmered with fresh orange zest. Her tarts were always a hit at our family gatherings, their ruby-red filling glistening in the candlelight as the snow fell softly outside.

This modern version of her recipe brings together the flavors she loved with a rich layer of white chocolate ganache, making it a true centerpiece for any festive table.

Why Choose Cranberry and White Chocolate Tart for Your Christmas Celebrations?

When it comes to holiday desserts, nothing tops the elegance and flavor of a cranberry and white chocolate tart. This delightful dessert combines the tartness of cranberries with the rich, creamy notes of white chocolate, making it an irresistible centerpiece for any Christmas celebration. Let’s explore why it’s the perfect choice for the season.

A Show Stopper of a Dessert

The cranberry and white chocolate tart is not just a treat—it’s a feast for the eyes. Its vivid red cranberry layer and creamy white chocolate topping make it an attractive addition to your holiday spread. The Christmas flavors come alive here and bring the holiday spirit. This tart commands attention when served atop a flaky gluten-free tart crust, nut crust, or buttery pie shell.

Want to create even more drama? Sprinkle some sugared cranberries or orange zest on top for a sparkling finish. This elegant dessert looks like it came straight from a high-end bakery but is simple enough to make in your own kitchen using tools like a tart pan and food processor.

Made with a removable bottom tart pan for easy serving, it’s ideal for sharing at holiday parties, potlucks, or family dinners. It’s the ultimate crowd-pleaser that captures the warmth and joy of Christmas in every bite.

Core Ingredients

• Fresh Cranberries: Tangy and vibrant, fresh cranberries add a bold punch.
• White Chocolate Chips: These melt into a silky-smooth white chocolate ganache, adding a rich, creamy layer on top. Check out this white chocolate bark recipe for ideas on quality chocolate.
• Orange Zest and Juice: A splash of orange juice and a sprinkle of zest bring a refreshing citrusy brightness, perfectly complementing the tart cranberries.
• Unsalted Butter: Adds richness to the white chocolate gange and nut crust and reugarl crust if you are using it.
• Brown Sugar, Monk Fruit, Erytirol, and Maple Syrup: These sweeteners balance the tartness of the cranberries, giving the cranberry mixture a delightful tangy-sweet taste.

Essential Tools

1. Tart with Removable Bottom: This ensures easy release of the tart after baking, keeping the edges of the tart crust intact for a polished look.
2. Food Processor: Necessary for prepping the tart dough, quickly combining the dry ingredients with cold butter. Check this guide on making your own tart crust for more tips.
3. Immersion Blender or High-Speed Blender: Perfect for blending the cranberry filling into a smooth and luscious texture.
4. Small Saucepan and Medium Saucepan: Use these to prepare the cranberry sauce and gently melt the white chocolate ganache over medium heat.
5. Plastic Wrap: Essential for chilling the tart dough before rolling it out on a lightly floured work surface.
6. Parchment Paper and Pie Weights keep the tart shell evenly shaped while blind baking, ensuring the sides of the pan hold the dough without shrinking if you are using my gluten-free crust or regular flour crust. I made a nut and coconut crust because it complements the crust very well.
7. Small Bowl for Mixing: Great for preparing smaller elements like whisking egg yolks or mixing zest into the cranberry compote

How to Make a Cranberry and White Chocolate Tart

Creating the perfect cranberry and white chocolate tart requires attention to each dessert layer.

Making the Crust

The base of this tart is a simple yet delicious crust. Soak dates for 2 hours. Add blanched almonds to the food processor and pulse to crumble. Add coconut flakes and pulse it again. Add dates and pulse it again. Add coconut oil, ghee, or butter and pulse it again to paste. If it is not holding together, add a little bit of the water from the soaked dates. Transfer it to the removable bottom tart form. Bake it at 350 F for 20 minutes until golden brown.

Cranberry Filling

The cranberry filling is the heart of this tart. Combine fresh cranberries, orange juice, orange zest, lemon juice, and monk fruit with erythritol or sugar in a saucepan and cook over medium-heat until the cranberries burst and soften. Make a slurry with 2 tablespoons of arrowroot and 2 tablespoons of water and add to the mixture. Whisk until it firms up. Blend the mixture with an immersion blender or high-speed blender until smooth, pour it into the crust, and let it cool. This layer adds a vibrant, tangy flavor that contrasts beautifully with the white chocolate.

White Chocolate Ganache

For the creamy topping, melt white chocolate chips (I used Lilys because they are also sugar-free, but you can use the one you like) with heavy cream and butt in a saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring until smooth. Pour the mixture over the cranberry filling into the tart shell and spread it into an even layer. Put it in tehe fridge and let it set until firm. This ganache layer adds sweetness and a luxurious texture to the tart.

This is a friendly reminder that white chocolate is not white. It has a yellow shade. You can make it whiter by adding special food coloring, but I did not want to do that. So, the pictures of the white chocolate ganage you see online contain some chemicals.

Finishing Touches

For a festive look, decorate the tart with sugared cranberries and thin slices of orange peel. The sugared cranberries sparkle, making the tart a stunning centerpiece for your holiday table.  

Before serving, take the tart out of the fridge for 2 hours so the gange softens.

Presentation Ideas

Presentation is everything, especially for a show-stopping dessert like the cranberry and white chocolate tart.

1. Sugared Cranberries: Add a frosty, elegant touch by garnishing the top of the tart with sugared cranberries. Learn how to make them with this homemade sugared cranberries guide. They add a festive sparkle and complement the cranberry filling. These sparkling gems add a bit of crunch and make the tart visually stunning. Arrange them on the top of the tart with strips of orange peel for a decorative finish.
2. Citrus Accents: Sprinkle a bit of orange zest or arrange thinly sliced orange peel on top for color and freshness. You can also use dried citrus, like I did.
3. Herb Garnish: Small rosemary sprigs add a simple but sophisticated charm, blending beautifully with the holiday vibe.
4. Dusting Decoration: A light dusting of powdered sugar over the white chocolate layer creates a snow-like effect—pure winter magic!

Storing Leftovers

An airtight container is key to keeping your tart fresh and preventing it from drying out. Why is this important? Without one, your tart’s creamy chocolate layer can harden, and its tangy cranberry layer might lose its zing due to exposure to air.

Your cranberry and white chocolate tart will remain fresh for 4-5 days.

Vegan Options

If you’re looking you’re your tart vegan-friendly, there are easy swaps that retain the indulgence of the classic version. Instead of traditional white chocolate, opt for vegan white chocolate made without dairy. Combine it with coconut milk for a creamy, luscious ganache that rivals its non-vegan counterpart.

• Coconut Milk as Cream Substitute: Full-fat coconut milk adds the perfect richness to the ganache. Heat gently over medium-low heat , then pour it over vegan white chocolate for a silky texture.
• Vegan Crust Essentials: Replace butter with coconut oil or a plant-based butter alternative when preparing the crust.
• Sweeteners: Use maple syrup or other plant-based sweeteners to balance the tart cranberries and create a delightful flavor harmony.

Looking for a chocolate-based vegan dessert as well? Check out this recipe for Dark Chocolate Bark with Rose Petals for more plant-based inspiration.

The cranberry and white chocolate tart is a festive masterpiece combining elegance and irresistible flavor. Its creamy white chocolate layer, tangy cranberry filling, and buttery base make it ideal for any holiday table. Whether using a traditional tart crust or experimenting with alternatives, this dessert guarantees deliciousness in every bite!

Celebrate the season with this show-stopping dessert. Share your creations on social media and inspire others with your culinary skills! For more holiday inspiration, dive into another festive treat with this Cranberry Curd Tart Gluten-Free. Happy baking, and enjoy spreading holiday cheer!

For a tart focused on holiday spirit, try incorporating cranberries into more of your dishes, like this 10-minute cranberry compote, for a versatile and festive touch!

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