Kentucky Derby Dessert

In honor of this weekend's Kentucky Derby festivities, I wanted to share my recipe for a creamy tart, spiked with orange marmalade and topped with crunchy chocolate covered almonds. With just five ingredients, you can make the tart in a flash and serve it to your happy guests, or bring it as a hostess gift! By the way, the recipe is from my cookbook Robin Takes 5.

Orange Marmalade Tart with Chocolate Covered Almonds

You can make this tart countless ways just by switching the preserves – I use orange marmalade, but you could certainly use apricot preserves, seedless raspberry, strawberry or blackberry preserves, or any other jam, jelly or preserve you like.

Serves 8

Prep time: 15 minutes

Cooking time: 10-12 minutes

9-inch refrigerated pie crust

8 ounces light cream cheese, softened at room temperature

1 cup orange marmalade

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup chocolate covered almonds, coarsely chopped (into 1/2-inch pieces)

Preheat the oven to 450ºF.

Press the crust into the bottom and up the sides of a 9-inch removable bottom tart pan.  Prick the bottom all over with a fork.  Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until golden brown.  Allow the cooked crust to cool slightly. 

Meanwhile, whisk together the cream cheese, orange marmalade and vanilla until blended.  Spread the mixture all over the bottom of the tart and smooth the surface.  Top with the chocolate covered almonds.  Refrigerate until ready to serve (up to 24 hours).