Passion Fruit Chocolate Bars are sweet, tart and so chocolaty -- they're rich, creamy and dreamy! Add a heart to the top and serve them for Valentine's Day! 
I encourage you to try this awesome, delicious combination of flavors.
The tart passion fruit with the sweet chocolate, and a whole lot of creaminess, is mind-blowing.
This dessert can be made into these bars, as a pie or a tart.
The Layers in Passion Fruit Chocolate Ganache Bars
- The bottom. The bottom layer is a crust made with crisp double chocolate chip cookies. You can use any crisp dark chocolate cookie you’d like.
- The middle. This is a layer of passion fruit curd, which is out of this world.
- The top. The top is the beautiful Ganache.
It was all I could do not to eat all of it before it made its way into this dessert.
Once you know how to make curd, you can also use it for other recipes with passion fruit.
* Here’s a photographic guide on How to Cut, Eat and Juice Passion Fruit *
The Passion Fruit Chocolate Bars are incredibly smooth and rich, sweet and tart.
The chocolate ganache balances the sweet-tart flavor of the passion fruit perfectly.
You can use semisweet or bittersweet chocolate -- the choice is yours.
Who wouldn't love a little more chocolate in their life -- enhanced with a little passion, no less! 😉
Recipe Tips
- The layer of passion fruit curd will be a bit softer than the layer ganache, making slicing the bars tricky. To solve this problem, place it in the freezer for about 15 minutes before slicing and serving.
- I love the Dove hearts on top. Not only are they delicious and add well to the dessert, but they also serve as a guide to slice the square bars. That said, they're optional. You can also use a chocolate of your choice, if there's one you like better.
Enjoy, and I hope you'll share these scrumptious Passion Fruit Chocolate Bars with friends -- spread the love!
More recipes with passion fruit . . .
And a big thank you to Melissa's Produce for the beautiful passion fruits for recipe testing.
Passion Fruit Chocolate Ganache Bars
Ingredients
For the crust
- 10 ounces crisp dark chocolate cookies
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted
For the passion fruit curd
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup passion fruit juice (from about 8 to 10 passion fruits) see notes
- 4 large eggs
- 1 large egg yolk
For the ganache
- 1 cup semisweet or bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- coarse sea salt for sprinkling
- 16 chocolate Dove hearts if desired
Instructions
- Prepare the pan. Line a square (8 X 8-inch) baking pan with parchment paper. (Use a large piece that will cover the sides and cut slits in each corner so that it will lay flat.). Set aside.
For the crust
- Make the crust and press it into the pan. Add the cookies to a food processor fitted with the blade attachment and blend until smooth. Mix with the melted butter and then very firmly, press it into the prepared pan. Set aside.
For the passion fruit curd
- Combine and mix the ingredients. In a heat proof bowl, combine the butter with the sugar and mix until blended. Then add the passion fruit juice, eggs and egg yolk. Use a whisk to blend until it’s as smooth as possible. (It will likely have little lumps from the butter. That’s okay!)
- Cook, cool and add the mixture to the crust. Place the bowl over a pot it fits snugly into, with a couple of inches of water in it. (Be sure the bottom of the bowl doesn’t touch the water.) Turn the heat to medium and whisking often, cook until the mixture is thick — it should coat the back of a spoon when it’s ready, about 15 minutes. Let it cool to room temperature and then pour it evenly over the crust. Refrigerate until it’s set, about 1 hour.
For the the ganache
- Do this step as soon as you add the curd to the crust and begin refrigerating.Make the ganache. Add the chocolate to a medium-sized mixing bowl and set aside. Add the cream and vanilla to a small saucepan and scald. When it’s ready, it should be very hot, but not boiling, and tiny bubbles will appear along the edges of the surface. Pour this over the chocolate and let it sit for about 4 minutes. Then mix until thick and smooth. Let this cool completely at room temperature.
- Add ganache on top of the curd. Once the layer of curd has solidified and the ganache is cool, evenly pour it on top and refrigerate until the ganache is set, at least 1 hour.
- Add salt and chocolates and slice. Sprinkle with the salt, and if desired add 16 chocolate Dove hearts. Slice the dessert into bars, using the hearts as a guide. (The layer of curd will be a bit softer than the ganache, making slicing a bit tricky — to solve this issue, place it in the freezer for about 15 minutes before slicing and serving.)
NOTES
NUTRITION
David
It is hard to find passion fruit in Tucson. You probably aren't surprised. Every once in a while, and I hate mixing it with anything as it is so rare. But I trust you, so why not chocolate? Happy Valentine's Day!
valentina
While I do love this combination with chocolate, I couldn't help but think, I should've first done a post on just the passion fruit curd -- it's so lovely on it's own! I must still do it. 🙂
David Scott Allen
Yes, the curd would be lovely! Still looking here in Tucson. The one store that used to carry passion fruit has stopped. Grrr. And I have so many passion fruit recipes waiting to be made!
Lisa Bryan
I'm such a fan of passion fruit and we were lucky enough to have our own vines of it growing up! This dessert looks delicious!
valentina
Lucky indeed! I can only imagine how delicious the scent was from those vines. 🙂
Sarah @ Champagne Tastes
I've never really worked with passionfruit because they're basically impossible to get here! But this sounds sooo yummy!
valentina
I hope you can get your hands on some one day! 🙂
Emily
Passion fruit is one of my favorite flavors ever but I have to admit I've never tried it with chocolate before- sounds and looks amazing!
valentina
Thanks, Emily! I love the two together. 🙂
Beth
What a fantastic idea! So very original! I love it!
valentina
Thank you! 🙂
Brandi Crawford
What an awesome combination! I may have to try this. Beautiful photos.
valentina
Thanks so much, Brandi!
Pretty
Chocolate and passion fruit, winning combination for me. Will have to try this recipe!
valentina
Thanks! 🙂 Hope you enjoy!
Kelsey
The passionfruit curd was delicious, but unfortunately the ganache didn't set for me at all. The whole thing just turned out to be (yummy) mush. Any tips for getting the ganache a little thicker? I thought I followed everything precisely, but it was my first time making ganache so maybe I messed something up along the way.
valentina
Hi Kelsey. First of all, I'm sorry it didn't turn out exactly right, and thank you for sharing your experience. Let's see . . . my first guess is that it needed more time to set up in the refrigerator. Normally with a thin layer, an hour should be enough, but try doubling that next time. These measurements should work, but it will always be a bit thicker if you add more chocolate -- you can try that also. I am glad it still tasted good! LMK if you try it again and how it goes. 🙂
sippitysup
This is a wonderful addition to your impressive collection od passionfruit recipes. I sense (dare I say?) a passion. GREG
valentina
Love your comment! I am indeed quite passionate about passion fruit! 😉 XOXO
Cathy | She Paused 4 Thought
I love passion fruit and want to make the curd. Sounds delightful! I need to visit all of your other passion fruit recipes. 🙂
valentina
Thanks so much, Cathy! I'm loving passion fruit -- the mousse is my favorite!
Heather
This looks and sounds delicious! Can't wait to test it out.
valentina
Great! I hope you love it!
2pots2cook
Wow ! Never combined passion fruit with chocolate ! Keeper, indeed !
valentina
Hope you love it! 🙂 ~Valentina
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Passion fruit and chocolate... how perfectly fitting for Valentine's day! These look like a real treat, Valentina and I can't wait to try! Now I just need to get my hands on some passion fruit! YUM!!
valentina
Thank you, Dawn. Enjoy and Happy Valentine's Day. 🙂 ~Valentina
Kelly | Foodtasia
Valentina, I'm so loving the combination of chocolate and passion fruit! And how perfect for Valentine's Day! These look absolutely wonderful!
valentina
Many thanks, Kelly. Happy Valentine's Day! 🙂 ~Valentina
Kathy @ Beyond the Chicken Coop
What a beautiful dessert! Love all the layers of flavor - perfect for Valentine's Day!
valentina
Thanks so much, Kathy. Happy (belated) Valentine's Day. 🙂 ~Valentina
Liz
What a spectacular dessert! And I'm dying to try the passion fruit curd, too!
valentina
Thanks, Liz! 🙂 ~Valentina
Marissa
What a fun creamy / chocolatey / fruity treat, Valentina! I so rarely see passion fruit in desserts - love the idea of making it into a curd for these beauties!
valentina
Thank you, Marissa. Yes, the curd alone is so good, too. 🙂 ~Valentina
David @ Spiced
Oh, this dessert sounds fantastic! I love the passion fruit combined with chocolate here. We never (ever, ever) see passion fruit here in upstate New York, but I discovered frozen passion fruit puree in the freezer section at our local grocery store. (It's 100% passion fruit.) That lets me still make passion fruit desserts without actually having passion fruit. I'm putting these chocolate bars on the list of things to make soon! Perfect for Valentine's Day!
valentina
I'm so happy you can at least get the frozen purée. Saves you a little work, too. 😉 Enjoy -- Valentine's Day or not. 🙂 ~Valentina