Tart dessert producing mixed feelings (11)
I believe the answer is:
bittersweet
'mixed feelings' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I cannot understand how one could define the other.
'tart dessert' is the wordplay.
'tart' becomes 'bitter' (I can't explain this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'dessert' becomes 'sweet' (synonyms).
'bitter'+'sweet'='BITTERSWEET'
'producing' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for bittersweet that I've seen before include "Arousing pleasure tinged with pain" , "Giving both pleasure and pain" , "Climber" , "Mixing pleasure and pain" , "Pleasant but also painful" .)