Chocolate Pecan And Caramel Tart Recipes

Steps:

• Crust: Whisk together flour, cocoa powder, and salt until combined. Beat butter with confectioners' sugar on medium speed until pale and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add egg yolk and beat until combined. Add flour mixture and beat on low speed until just combined and crumbly (do not overmix). Pat dough into a disk; wrap in plastic. Refrigerate at least 1 hour and up to 2 days, or freeze up to 1 month.
• On a lightly floured piece of parchment, roll dough into a 12-inch circle. Fit into a 9-inch tart pan with a removable bottom. With a paring knife, trim dough flush with rim; refrigerate until firm, 30 minutes.
• Blind-bake crust: Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Prick bottom of tart all over with a fork. Bake until set and dough is dry, 18 to 20 minutes. Let cool completely.
• Filling: Combine granulated sugar, corn syrup, and 1/4 cup water in a small saucepan over medium-high heat and cook, stirring gently, until sugar is dissolved. Continue to cook, without stirring, until syrup comes to a boil, occasionally washing down sides of pan with a wet pastry brush to prevent crystals from forming. Cook until syrup is amber in color, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from heat. Carefully add heavy cream (caramel will steam and spatter). Add butter, vanilla, salt, and chocolate; stir until melted and smooth. Add pecans; stir until combined. Transfer mixture to tart crust. Let stand until set and cool, about 2 hours. Tart can be served room-temperature or refrigerated, uncovered, up to 3 days. Let stand at room temperature 30 minutes and sprinkle with flaky salt before serving.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F Blend crackers and 2 tablespoons sugar in processor until fine crumbs form. Add melted butter; process until moist clumps form. Press mixture firmly over bottom and up sides of 9-inch-diameter tart pan with removable bottom. Bake crust until golden and firm, about 7 minutes. Cool completely on rack.
• Stir bittersweet chocolate in top of double boiler set over simmering water until melted and smooth. Pour chocolate into tart crust. Using small metal spatula, spread over bottom of crust. Arrange 1 1/2 cups pecans in single layer over chocolate.
• Mix 1/4 cup water and 1 cup sugar in heavy medium saucepan. Stir over medium heat until sugar dissolves. Increase heat to medium-high; boil without stirring until syrup is deep amber color, occasionally brushing down sides of pan with wet pastry brush and swirling pan, about 6 minutes. Remove from heat. Add 3/4 cup cream and 2 tablespoons butter (mixture will bubble vigorously). Set over low heat; stir until caramel is smooth, about 1 minute. Pour over pecans atop chocolate in crust. Chill until set, about 45 minutes. Stir milk chocolate and 1/4 cup cream in heavy saucepan over low heat until smooth. Pour over caramel; spread evenly. Arrange 1/2 cup pecans around edge of tart. Chill at least 8 hours and up to 1 day.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F. Roll the chocolate pâte sucrée 1/8 inch thick, and fit into a 9-inch fluted tart pan with a removable bottom. Dock the bottom of the tart with a fork. Refrigerate 30 minutes.
• Place the chopped pecans on a baking sheet, and toast until slightly darkened and fragrant, about 10 minutes; set aside.
• Line the tart shell with parchment paper, pressing into the edges, and cover with dried beans or pie weights. Place on a baking sheet; bake for 20 minutes. Remove the paper and beans, and continue baking until the crust is golden, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
• Make the caramel by placing the sugar, salt, and water in a small saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat. Wash down the sides of the pan with a pastry brush dipped in water to prevent crystals from forming. Cook, gently swirling the pan (do not stir), until the caramel is a rich amber color. Remove from heat, and add 1/2 cup cream and the butter and vanilla; stir until smooth.
• Pour the mixture into the chocolate tart shell. Sprinkle the toasted pecans over the caramel; refrigerate while melting the chocolate.
• Place the chocolate in a medium heatproof bowl. Bring the remaining cup cream to a boil in a small saucepan; pour over the chocolate. Let sit for 5 minutes; stir until completely smooth. Pour over the caramel and nuts; return the tart to the refrigerator to chill for at least 1 hour.
• When ready to serve, if desired, dust the top of the tart with cocoa powder and garnish with caramel-dipped pecans.
• Caramel-Dipped Pecans
• Gently insert an 8-inch wooden skewer into each pecan. Set aside.
• Prepare an ice-water bath, and set aside. Combine the sugar, water, and cream of tartar in a medium saucepan, and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Wash down the sides of the pan with a pastry brush dipped in water to prevent sugar crystals from forming. Cook, without stirring, until the mixture begins to brown. Gently swirl the pan to color evenly. Remove from heat when the caramel is a rich amber color, and place the pan in the ice bath for 5 seconds to stop the cooking.
• Allow the caramel to sit until slightly thickened, about 15 minutes. (To test: Dip a wooden spoon into the caramel, and lift it several inches over the pan; if a drip slowly forms and then hardens, the caramel is ready.) When the caramel is ready, dip the pecans, lifting up and swirling slightly to fully coat. Hold the skewer over the pan to allow the drip to lengthen and slightly harden, about 1 minute. If necessary, use a pair of scissors to cut the drip from the caramel remaining in the pan.
• Place the skewers on an inverted baking sheet lined with waxed paper, and allow the caramel to completely harden, about 5 minutes. If desired, stand the skewers upright in flower foam or a heavy container until ready to serve. Gently remove the skewers before serving.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350F.
• Put 2 cups of the pecans into a food processor or blender and process until finely ground.
• Mix pecans with granulated sugar and melted butter and press into a 9-inch pie pan.
• Bake 12 minutes or until lightly browned (if this puffs up during cooking, just lightly pressed down with a spoon).
• Microwave caramels and 1/3 of the whipping cream on high 3 minutes or until the caramels are melted, stirring often.
• Pour into crust.
• Lightly chop the remaining pecans and sprinkle over the caramel mixture.
• Put the rest of the whipping cream, chocolates, powdered sugar and vanilla in a sauce pan.
• Cook over low heat stirring often until the chocolate is melted.
• Pour the chocolate mixture over the pie and spread to cover.
• Refrigerate at least 2 hours.
• Enjoy!