Peanut butter mousse tarts lined with white chocolate bottoms and filled with sliced bananas and creamy peanut butter mousse.

Desserts with multiple components can seem daunting. Have no fear.
These peanut butter tarts are simple to make. Best of all, you may prepare the different components over the course of several days.
The one drawback to these tarts: they need to be eaten immediately!
Ideally, enjoy these peanut butter tarts within 24 hours of assembly.
Overtime, the tart shell will absorb the moisture from the mousse and start to soften.
Table of Contents
Peanut Butter Tart
These mini tarts use the same pâte brisée dough (shortbread pastry) as these Blood Orange Earl Grey Tarts.
It’s a very forgiving dough. Meaning, the dough may be rolled out multiple times without affecting the quality.
To save time, prepare dough ahead of time and store in the fridge overnight.
Bake the tart shells the following day. If you’re not ready to assembly, store the baked tart shells are room temperature for up to two days.
How to Assemble Banana Peanut Butter Mousse Tarts
- Spread layer of melted white chocolate instead baked tart shell. This ensures the tart remains crunchy even when filled with peanut butter mousse! (Note: you may sub in milk chocolate or dark chocolate.)
- Arrange sliced bananas over chocolate layer.
- Add a generous dollop of peanut butter mousse over bananas.
- Lastly, a drizzle of melted white chocolate completes the tart!
Peanut Butter Mousse
Gelatin or egg whites are often used to stabilize traditional mousses. Examples: coffee mousse cheesecake and strawberry mousse cake.
This peanut butter mousse is shortcut version!
It is a simple mixture of heavy cream and peanut butter.
Results will vary depending on the texture and quality of the peanut butter used.
For this recipe, I used smooth, natural peanut butter from Trader Joe’s.
It’s the kind of peanut butter that requires stirring prior to each use. It has two ingredients: peanuts and salt. That’s it.
As such, I had to add a touch of confectioners’ sugar (powdered sugar) to sweeten up the mousse.
Should you choose to use a sweetened peanut butter like Jif or Skippy, I suggest you omit the addition of confectioners’ sugar.
Don’t wait. Enjoy these banana peanut butter mousse tarts the same day of assembly!
Store any leftovers in a container in the fridge for up to two days. The crust will soften over time resembling an icebox cake in texture.
Peanut Butter Mousse Tarts
Ingredients
Crust:
- ½ cup unsalted butter,, (110 g) softened
- ¼ cup granulated sugar, (50 g)
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt, , or fine sea salt
- ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 large egg yolk
- 1 ½ cup cake flour,, (190 g) unsifted
Peanut Butter Mousse:
- 1 cup heavy cream,, very cold
- ¼ cup smooth peanut butter*
- ⅓ cup confectioners sugar
- generous pinch kosher salt*,, to taste
Additional Components:
- white chocolate
- thinly sliced bananas, , as needed
Instructions
Crust:
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream together butter, sugar, salt, and vanilla on medium speed. Mix until smooth. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed to ensure thorough mixing. Add the yolk and continue to mix on medium speed until incorporated. Add all the flour and mix on low speed until the dough is crumbly, about 30-45 seconds.
- Dump mixture onto a clean work surface and press contents together until it forms a cohesive dough. Press dough into a rectangle about ½-inch thick. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and let chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes up to overnight.
- Preheat oven to 400℉. Place chilled dough on a lightly floured work surface. Divide dough into 6 parts. Working with once piece at a time, roll dough out into an even layer about ¼-inch thick and about ½-inch larger than the 5-inch tart pan.
- Gently lift dough and position it over the tart pan. Using your fingertips, gently press dough against the sides and bottom of the pan. Use a knife or mini offset spatula to trim the overhang over the edge of the pan. Repeat with remaining pieces. If the dough happens to tear, simply repair the tear by pressing additional dough into the hole.
- Use a fork to dock holes on the bottom of the dough. Bake tart shells in preheated oven for 15-20 minutes until the dough is golden brown throughout. Let the crust cool in pan for 5 minutes before unmolding. Allow crusts to cool to room temperature on wire rack.
Peanut Butter Mousse:
- Place chilled cream in a chilled bowl. Whip to medium peaks. Add peanut butter, confectioners sugar, and salt. Continue to whip to almost stiff peaks.
White Chocolate:
- Gently melt white chocolate over a bain-marie (double boiler). Alternatively, microwave white chocolate at half power for 10-15 second intervals until melted and smooth.
Assembly:
- Spread a thin layer of melted white chocolate in each cooled tart shell. Let sit at room temperature for a couple minutes until chocolate sets. Or place in the refrigerator for 5 minutes to speed up the process.
- Arrange sliced bananas over chocolate shell. Spoon peanut butter mousse on top and gently spread into even layer to cover the bananas.
- Drizzle melted white chocolate over peanut butter mousse. Serve immediately, or keep tarts chilled until ready to serve.
Notes
- This recipe can also be used to make one 9-inch tart
- I used these 5-inch tart shells with removable bottoms
- I used smooth peanut butter from Trader Joe’s. It’s simply made with two ingredients: peanuts and salt. It’s the kind of peanut butter you have to stir before using.
- If you use sweetened peanut butter, reduce the amount of confectioners’ sugar to taste.
- Reduce amount of salt in mousse if your peanut butter is salty.
- White chocolate chips or chopped white chocolate will work. You can also use Ghirardelli white melting wafers or Wilton candy melts.
- If you don’t like white chocolate, milk chocolate or dark chocolate can also be used in it’s place.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.