Everyone needs their share of chocolate-y goodness. We all crave that pick me up that only chocolate can give us. I’ve had a hacking cough for the past week. When I say hacking, I feel like a barking dog or howling wolf as I try to clear the congestion in my throat. The cold weather up here in Canada can be brutal. Earlier this week it was -17 F, arctic tundra temperatures in my books.
Now, I am getting back to my normal routine after being sick and the first real thing I wanted to make is a chocolate tart of some sort. Getting over a cold is something to celebrate, right? And celebrate I did…with chocolate. I dug into my “good” chocolate stash that I pick up every time I go back to the States because it is hard for me to find it in Kingston, and if I do it’s more expensive. So, I am guilty of some cross-border chocolate smuggling. If the Immigration Officer asks about food, I do say, chocolate and I usually get a smirk. Let me tell you, I have seen some strange foodstuffs being examined at the Immigration-Customs area, but I don’t want any of you to lose your appetites.
This chocolate tart won’t make you lose your appetite, it is layered with a nutty caramel. I used flaky puff pastry as a base. I love the combination of chocolate, caramel, and nuts. Therefore, I did some experimenting and came up with this recipe. It is relatively easy, so if you are pressed for time, it might serve as a good option. Translation: if you need chocolate within 1 hour, this will work for you.
I also wanted to mention that I am a finalist for the food52 contest, “Your Best Salad with Apples.” I am extremely flattered and honored to be chosen as a finalist and recommend any of you who like to challenge yourself and meet a very supportive community to join. It’s great fun to come up with a recipe suited to each week’s contest. I made a “Shades of Green Chopped Salad.” Feel free to check it out and check out the other finalist, whose salad looks fabulous. Voting ends next week, so I will let you know if I win. Either way, I’m thrilled to be a finalist.
Chocolate Caramel Triple Nut Tart
(I made something similar before, pictured here)
Serves 6
Ingredients
for the nutty caramel:
1 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon water
6 tablespoons butter, softened
1 tablespoon heavy cream
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup of chopped mixed nuts, I used almonds, pecans, and walnuts
pinch of kosher salt
for the chocolate:
6 ounces good-quality 70% dark chocolate, chopped
2 ounces good-quality semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 tablespoons butter, softened
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 eggs, at room temperature
crust:
7 ounce piece of puff pastry, thawed in the refrigerator overnight, if frozen
garnish:
fleur de sel, I love it, my husband hates salt in his desserts, but I usually win.
extra chopped nuts, optional
whipped cream or ice cream, optional
Method
Make the caramel first by heating a small saucepan on medium heat. Add in the brown sugar and water and mix with a rubber spatula. Keep stirring the sugar until it starts to melt and, about 5 minutes. Once melted, mix in the butter and allow it to form a caramel. Make sure the sugar is dissolved. Turn the heat up slightly and let the caramel bubble. Be very careful as to not let the caramel splatter or burn you. After about 2 minutes, turn down the heat to low and add in the heavy cream and vanilla extract. Mix in the nuts and turn the heat off and sprinkle the caramel with a tiny pinch of salt. Allow the caramel to cool while you melt the chocolate.
Over a double-boiler (use a heat-safe bowl) on medium heat, melt the chocolate (both kinds) together. Once melted fold in the butter so that the chocolate becomes glossy. Take the bowl off the heat and mix in the vanilla extract. Beat the 2 eggs in another bowl and whisk in a little of the warm chocolate into the eggs so that they won’t scramble when you add them to the larger bowl of chocolate, i.e. temper the eggs. Once you have tempered the eggs, fold them into the chocolate so that they are well mixed in. Set aside.
Roll out the puff pastry so that it will fit a 9 inch tart pan with a removable bottom. I rolled it about 1 inch bigger than the pan so I could create a sort of rustic, messy look for the crust. If you prefer a neater look, that’s fine as well.
Once the puff pastry is properly in the tart pan, layer the nutty caramel on the bottom in an even layer. Then smooth the chocolate over the caramel. If you rolled out the puff pastry larger than the pan, then fold over the edges, sort of like a galette. Brush the exposed pastry with some milk. Put the tart in the fridge for 10-15 minutes so that it sets.
At this point, preheat your oven to 375 degrees.
After 15 minutes, bake the tart in the oven for 30 minutes or until the puff pastry turns light golden brown. When you remove the tart from the oven, let it sit for 15 minutes because the caramel will be a little gooey. If you prefer it to be gooey, eat it straight from the oven! Sprinkle a little fleur de sel over the top, if you wish. Serve with any of the above mentioned garnishes, if desired.
*After baking, you can put the tart in the fridge for 15 minutes as well.
I was trying to control my appetite, but just looking at this beautiful tart has ruined it for me. You combined my favorite flavors. Oh and congrats again on your yummy salad!
Thank you! You’re a skinny minnie, Sue. Eat all the tart you want!
mmmmmm yuuum!!!! valrhona is my “nice chocolate” stash too 🙂 Congrats on being a finalist!
Thanks, Karen! I get stressed when my stash is almost finished, hehe.
Oh my goodness, oh my goodness! I think just reading through this recipe made me gain 5 lbs! Looks delicious, I”ll be trying this one out…soon!
Hope you do try it out, thanks! 🙂
You know I have voted for you and would love wish you all the best for your eggplant dip too in the next contest! Saw it yest! I looove chocolate & nuts! What a beautiful color of the crust Nadia…I am spell bound with this one!The plate in first picture is so beautiful!
Thank you, sweetie! It was just a store-bought puff pastry, guess I had good oven timing! 😉
Oh my this looks heavenly!!!
thanks, chocoholic!
Omg, this tart looks full of goodness!! I think I’m gettıng ınvolved ınto this winter chocomania too! =) And I have just voted for your salad! Good luck for you, Nadia!
aww thanks for voting for me and for your lovely comment!
Voted! Congratulations, friend!
PS: I’d like for you to send me some of this chocolate tart with my bagel shipment! 🙂
Thank you, Azmina!
Your comment made me laugh out loud. Don’t worry, missy you’ll get your bagels next month inshallah!
and we’ll see about the extra sweet treat LOL 😉
Oooooh la la, your tart looks fabulous. And I will vote for you at Food52 if I can. (Not sure if you have to be a member to vote or not. I will roll on over there later and check out the situation). Congrats on being chosen as a finalist!
I am very much tempted to try this out! Congratulations on the salad. :0
This does look heavenly! A wonderful way to celebrate being healthy again AND being a finalist! Congratulations to you…you deserve it Nadia!
Stay warm over there!!
There better be some left for me when I get home!!! great pics…you’re getting pretty good with the ‘new’ camera. Love you!
The whole thing is left, I had a sliver! I made it yesterday for you too for when you come home today and for me almost getting over my cough! LYPT:D
wow this is amazing love the layers of crunchieness in here sorry to hear you were sick stay warm
Great idea to combine nuts, chocolate and caramel with puff pastry in a tarte! Can’t go wrong and a little bit each day will keep my mood at the fair level.
Hey, I just got acquainted with the 52 blog crowd and I like it a lot! It is a nice way to get reminded of what one should cook, following what event and the like!
congratulations on being a finalist, that means you almost won, (how many other contestants?) Best of luck Nadia!
Mmmm, that looks like a very satisfying treat. Congrats on being a finalist! Good luck to you!
YUMMO! I want a piece of this delicioiusness right now! 🙂
Congrats on being the finalist! Good Luck! 🙂
Great chocolate tart and filled with nutritious ingredients. Best of luck, Nadia! Can everybody vote?
Congratulations on being a finalist! I’m not surprised…you are one talented woman! This chocolate tart looks pitch-perfect.The crust looks flaky and the filling looks decadent and divine. Thank you for sharing with me today. I hope that you have a Saturday full of good memories and relaxation.
Nadia- this is so mazedaar! i love it. and i hope you win the food52 competition. i want you to make this for me! x shayma
This sounds wonderful and your photos are just amazing!
Congrats on being the finalist! Good Luck!
Chocolate within the hour sounds good to me. I’m glad to hear you are feeling better, chocolate is always a nice pick me up when you’re feeling lousy isn’t it? Congrats on being a finalist for the food52 contest and good luck!
This tart looks fantastic – and I love your plate, so pretty! And congrats on being a finalist! So awesome!
WOW congrats NADIA!!! I am not surprised you’re a finalist with the amazing meals you make though 🙂 Best of luck for the win!!
btw..I really wanted to bury my face in this chocolate caramel triple nut tart (but that’d be like inappropriate right?)…somehow you’ve managed to place all my favorite words in one recipe.
congratulations on being a finalist Nadia.. you are so talented and creative 🙂 this tart looks gorgeous! thank you for sharing this.
This is so yummy thats why you deserve to be a finalist, If I am the judge you have easily won just the looks on that one is enough
Good luck with your beautiful shades of green salad! I have given you a Stylish Blogger Award, you can pick it up at my blog if you like and thanks for all your support & inspiration!!
Oh my goodness, this looks so delicious!! and congratulations to you!!
That looks so devine 🙂 yummy! Thanks for sharing and congratulations!
MJ – muchamunch.wordpress.com
That tart looks sooo insanely delicious and just beautiful! I loved that you used puff pastry for the crust and a variety of nuts for the filling. Oh my goodness do I want to eat that tart right now!
Congrats on being a finalist, how exciting! 🙂
You can never go wrong with chocolate – especially if combined with caramel. It looks delicious.
This looks and sounds wonderful. It’s a good indication of why you made it to this round. I’m relatively new to your blog, but wanted you to know how much I love the food and recipes you feature here. I hope you have a wonderful weekend. Blessings…Mary
This looks amazing! I had a similar chocolate craving today and made some nutella peanut butter cookies. Will have to remember this for next time.
Yum Yum!!! And congrats!:)
Oh gosh, the color of your Caramel Chocolate filling is STUNNING!!! 🙂
Looks amazing! Beautiful photos!
Oh, I came here too late to vote! Congratulations on your Runner-up win! That salad does sound delicious!
And this tart is amazingly appetizing! Especially with caramel–my favorite amongst sweets!
I love your site, and looking forward for updates!
Sharizat
This looks absolutely divine, I hope to try this in the near future