Chocolate Pecan Caramel Tart Recipes

CHOCOLATE, PECAN, AND CARAMEL TART

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.

SALTED CARAMEL-PECAN TART

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Make the crust: Lightly coat a 9-inch fluted tart pan with a removable bottom with cooking spray. Spread the pecans on a baking sheet and roast until golden brown, 8 to 10 minutes; let cool. Transfer 1/2 cup of the pecans to a food processor; add the flour, sugar and kosher salt and pulse until the nuts are finely ground. Add the butter and pulse until it is in pea-size bits. Pulse in the egg yolk and vanilla until large clumps form.
• Transfer the dough to the prepared pan and press it into the bottom and up the sides. Prick the bottom all over with a fork, then freeze until firm, about 20 minutes.
• Line the crust with foil and fill with pie weights or dried beans. Bake until set, about 25 minutes, then remove the foil and weights and continue baking until golden, 10 to 15 more minutes. Transfer to a rack and let cool completely.
• Make the caramel for the filling: Combine the sugar, 1/4 cup water and the kosher salt in a medium saucepan over medium heat, stirring just until the sugar dissolves. Cook, swirling the pan but not stirring, until amber, 8 to 10 minutes. Brush any sugar crystals off the side of the pan with a wet pastry brush. Remove from the heat and carefully whisk in the heavy cream, butter and vanilla (the mixture will bubble). Return to medium heat and simmer, whisking constantly, until thick enough to coat a spoon, 3 to 4 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes.
• Gently whisk the eggs and flour in a large bowl, then whisk in the caramel. Place the crust on a baking sheet, arrange the remaining 1 1/4 cups pecans in the bottom and add the filling. Bake until set around the edge, 30 to 35 minutes. Transfer to a rack to cool.
• Put the chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring, until smooth. Drizzle over the tart and sprinkle with sea salt. Let the chocolate set before slicing.

CHOCOLATE CARAMEL PECAN TART

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Unfold dough on lightly floured parchment. Roll out into a 1/8-inch-thick rectangle, about 10 by 15 inches. Transfer dough on parchment to a baking sheet. Fold edges in to form a 1-inch border. Pierce bottom of shell with a fork. Brush border with egg wash; sprinkle with sanding sugar. Freeze until firm, about 15 minutes.
• Bake shell until puffed and golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes. Press down on bottom with an offset spatula to flatten (leave border puffy). Let cool completely on a wire rack.
• Combine granulated sugar and water in a small saucepan; cook over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, 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. Let boil, swirling pan occasionally, until caramel is dark amber, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Gradually add cream (caramel will steam and spatter). Add butter and chocolate; stir until melted and smooth. Pour filling into tart shell and spread to cover bottom. Sprinkle with pecans and salt. Let cool slightly, then refrigerate until set, about 1 hour. Let stand 10 minutes; serve with whipped cream. Tart can be made ahead and stored in refrigerator up to 1 day.

CHOCOLATE-CARAMEL PECAN TART

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.

CHOCOLATE PECAN CARAMEL PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Microwave 5 Tbsp. of the margarine in medium microwaveable bowl on HIGH 30 sec. or until melted. Add wafer crumbs and pecans; mix well. Press firmly onto bottom and up side of 9-inch pie plate. Bake 10 min. Cool completely; set aside.
• Place caramels, 2 Tbsp. of the cream and the remaining 1 Tbsp. margarine in small saucepan; cook on low heat until caramels are completely melted and mixture is well blended, stirring frequently. Pour into prepared crust; cool while preparing filling.
• Sprinkle gelatine over cold water in small saucepan; let stand 1 min. Cook on low heat 5 min. or until gelatine is completely dissolved, stirring frequently. Stir in 1/2 cup of the cream and the chocolate. Cook until chocolate is completely melted, stirring frequently. Cool 15 min. Beat 1 cup of the cream and the vanilla in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until thickened. Gradually add chocolate mixture, beating until light and fluffy. Spread over caramel layer in crust. Refrigerate 3 hours or until firm. Beat remaining cream with electric mixer until stiff peaks form. Spoon over pie just before serving. Store leftover pie in refrigerator.