Description
Rich chocolate caramel tarts deliver a luxurious dessert experience that blends silky ganache with buttery caramel. Crisp pastry shells and deep cocoa notes promise delightful indulgence for passionate bakers seeking sweet perfection.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup cocoa powder
- 4 large eggs
Filling Ingredients:
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/2 cup caramel sauce
Garnish and Flavor Enhancers:
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 oz dark chocolate
- 1/4 cup chopped nuts (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the chocolate tart shell by combining flour, cocoa powder, and cold butter in a food processor, pulsing until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- Add eggs to the dry mixture and pulse until the dough comes together, forming a cohesive ball.
- Wrap the dough in plastic and refrigerate for 30 minutes to firm up and relax the gluten.
- Preheat the oven to 375°F and roll out the chilled dough to 1/8-inch thickness.
- Carefully transfer the dough into individual tart molds, pressing firmly into corners and trimming excess edges.
- Blind bake the tart shells for 15 minutes using pie weights, then remove weights and bake an additional 5-7 minutes until crisp.
- Create caramel by heating sugar and water in a heavy-bottomed pan, cooking without stirring until it turns deep amber, approximately 8-10 minutes.
- Remove caramel from heat and slowly whisk in heavy cream, being cautious of potential splattering.
- Stir in vanilla extract and salt into the caramel mixture until smooth and glossy.
- Pour warm caramel into baked chocolate tart shells, filling them about 3/4 full.
- Allow caramel to set at room temperature for 15-20 minutes.
- Melt dark chocolate and drizzle over the set caramel surface.
- Optional: Sprinkle chopped nuts on top for added texture and flavor.
- Chill tarts for 30 minutes before serving to ensure perfect consistency.
Notes
- Chill the dough thoroughly to prevent shrinkage and maintain a crisp, flaky tart shell during baking.
- Use a digital thermometer when making caramel to avoid burning and achieve the perfect amber color consistently.
- Create gluten-free variation by substituting regular flour with almond or gluten-free flour blend, ensuring same texture and taste.
- Enhance flavor complexity by experimenting with different chocolate types like milk or white chocolate for drizzling, offering unique taste profiles.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 35-40 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 25 g
- Sodium: 100 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg