Chocolate-Caramel Macadamia Nut Tart

Serves: 5

Cierra Adams

1 January 1970

Based on User reviews:

54

Spice

42

Sweetness

51

Sourness

38

mins

Prep time (avg)

5

Difficulty

Ingredients:

1 tsp

Salt

1.25 cups

Sugar

1 cup

Water

Directions:

1

For crust: or crust: Blend flour, powdered sugar, and salt in processor

2

Add butter and cut in using on/off turns until mixture resembles coarse meal

3

Add 1 tablespoon ice water and blend just until moist clumps form, adding more ice water by teaspoonfuls if mixture is dry

4

Transfer dough to 9-inch-diameter tart pan with removable bottom

5

Using lightly floured fingers, press dough firmly and evenly onto bottom and up sides of pan

6

Chill crust 1 hour

7

Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 375°F

8

Line crust with foil; fill with dried beans or pie weights

9

Bake crust until pale golden around edges and sides are set, about 20 minutes

10

Remove foil and beans; bake until crust is golden and cooked through, about 14 minutes

11

Transfer to rack and cool crust completely in pan

12

Or crust: Blend flour, powdered sugar, and salt in processor

13

Add butter and cut in using on/off turns until mixture resembles coarse meal

14

Add 1 tablespoon ice water and blend just until moist clumps form, adding more ice water by teaspoonfuls if mixture is dry

15

Transfer dough to 9-inch-diameter tart pan with removable bottom

16

Using lightly floured fingers, press dough firmly and evenly onto bottom and up sides of pan

17

Chill crust 1 hour

18

Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 375°F

19

Line crust with foil; fill with dried beans or pie weights

20

Bake crust until pale golden around edges and sides are set, about 20 minutes

21

Remove foil and beans; bake until crust is golden and cooked through, about 14 minutes

22

Transfer to rack and cool crust completely in pan

23

For ganache: Bring cream to simmer in heavy small saucepan

24

Remove from heat

25

Add chocolate; stir until smooth

26

Spoon 3 tablespoons ganache into 1 corner of small resealable plastic bag and seal; set aside at room temperature for piping

27

Spread remaining ganache evenly over bottom of crust

28

Sprinkle chopped macadamia nuts evenly over ganache layer in crust

29

Freeze crust while preparing caramel filling

30

Bring cream to simmer in heavy small saucepan

31

Remove from heat

32

Add chocolate; stir until smooth

33

Spoon 3 tablespoons ganache into 1 corner of small resealable plastic bag and seal; set aside at room temperature for piping

34

Spread remaining ganache evenly over bottom of crust

35

Sprinkle chopped macadamia nuts evenly over ganache layer in crust

36

Freeze crust while preparing caramel filling

37

For caramel filling: Combine sugar and 1/3 cup water in heavy medium saucepan

38

Stir over medium-low heat until sugar dissolves

39

Increase heat and boil without stirring until syrup is golden amber, occasionally brushing down sides of pan with wet pastry brush and swirling pan, about 8 minutes

40

Remove pan from heat

41

Add cream and butter; stir until any caramel bits dissolve and mixture is smooth

42

Attach candy thermometer to side of pan and bring mixture to boil over medium-high heat

43

Boil without stirring until thermometer registers 240°F, about 2 1/2 minutes longer

44

Remove from heat

45

Whisk in vanilla and salt

46

Remove crust from freezer

47

Working quickly, pour caramel filling into crust

48

Gently shake tart pan to allow filling to settle evenly in crust

49

Cool completely at room temperature, about 3 hours

50

Remove crust from freezer

51

Working quickly, pour caramel filling into crust

52

Gently shake tart pan to allow filling to settle evenly in crust

53

Cool completely at room temperature, about 3 hours

54

Place reserved resealable plastic bag with chocolate ganache in microwave and heat in 5-second intervals just until smooth and pourable

55

Using scissors, cut off very small tip from corner of bag with ganache

56

Pipe ganache decoratively over caramel filling in crosshatch pattern

57

Chill until chocolate is set, about 20 minutes

58

DO AHEAD: Can be made 2 days ahead

59

Cover and keep chilled

60

Bring tart to room temperature before serving

61

Remove sides from tart pan

62

Place tart on platter

63

Cut into wedges and serve with vanilla ice cream, if desired

64

Combine sugar and 1/3 cup water in heavy medium saucepan

65

Stir over medium-low heat until sugar dissolves

66

Increase heat and boil without stirring until syrup is golden amber, occasionally brushing down sides of pan with wet pastry brush and swirling pan, about 8 minutes

67

Remove pan from heat

68

Add cream and butter; stir until any caramel bits dissolve and mixture is smooth

69

Attach candy thermometer to side of pan and bring mixture to boil over medium-high heat

70

Boil without stirring until thermometer registers 240°F, about 2 1/2 minutes longer

71

Remove from heat

72

Whisk in vanilla and salt

73

Remove crust from freezer

74

Working quickly, pour caramel filling into crust

75

Gently shake tart pan to allow filling to settle evenly in crust

76

Cool completely at room temperature, about 3 hours

77

Remove crust from freezer

78

Working quickly, pour caramel filling into crust

79

Gently shake tart pan to allow filling to settle evenly in crust

80

Cool completely at room temperature, about 3 hours

81

Place reserved resealable plastic bag with chocolate ganache in microwave and heat in 5-second intervals just until smooth and pourable

82

Using scissors, cut off very small tip from corner of bag with ganache

83

Pipe ganache decoratively over caramel filling in crosshatch pattern

84

Chill until chocolate is set, about 20 minutes

85

DO AHEAD: Can be made 2 days ahead

86

Cover and keep chilled

87

Bring tart to room temperature before serving

88

Remove sides from tart pan

89

Place tart on platter

90

Cut into wedges and serve with vanilla ice cream, if desired