This week’s TWD recipe is Chocolate Crunched Caramel Tart and was chosen by Carla of Chocolate Moussey. When I got to choose the TWD recipe nearly a year ago this would have been my second pick – a crisp tart shell filled with caramel and peanuts and topped with chocolate ganache. I scaled the recipe back to make only two small tarts.
Dorie’s shortcrust pastry is very easy to make and tastes delicious (almost as good raw as baked!). I rolled out enough to line my two little tart tins and then froze the rest for another day. The caramel layer was made by melting sugar in a pan, then adding a little corn syrup (known as liquid glucose here), then butter and then cream. I was a bit nervous about melting the sugar from scratch, so I did add little water to get it going. My caramel actually turned out pretty perfectly – it was the same dark toffee colour of the photo in the book. But I think next time I wouldn’t take the caramel quite as dark, to get a lighter flavour rather than a dark, smoky toffee flavour.
Once cooled a little, honey roasted peanuts are added to the caramel. I loved the effect of this which is interesting given that I don’t like things such as snickers bars. I did like the way though that the nuts gave a slightly salty taste to the caramel. I think that salted caramel flavour is one of the most wonderful things. The topping on the tart is a thick layer of ganache. I used 70% cocoa chocolate and once again, I think next time I would use a lighter chocolate – maybe 60% as the whole effect was quite rich.
My sister was up for the weekend and we kind of looked at each other thinking hmmm, this is going to be very rich. But we stood up to the challenge and the tart was wonderful – one of those things that you think you are not going to be able to eat very much of as it is just so rich, but you keep going back for another bite as it is just too good!!!
See if the other TWDers loved this tart here.
14 comments:
Tammy, your tart looks wonderful! I like Snickers bars, but this was definitely better than that!
Your tarts turned out so well - great job!
That looks so good! I baked my tart shell on Saturday, but it was too hot to make the filling, so that is what I will do first thing tomorrow morning.
Your tart looks perfect!! Great job.
Wow that's a big layer of caramel! I agree, the smokey flavor is not the one that I prefer either.I liked this, but it's so rich. I can't believe I am saying this, but I think it's too much ganache for me!
Not like Snickers bar? You're my kind of girl (because I would be left with all of them ;) ) Your tarts look great!
i would definitely be up for the challenge of eating this as well--looks so good!
Your mini tarts are just way to cute.
What cute little tarts! I love them and the flavors were delicious together weren't they?
Hi Tammy, its Jen :) Just letting you know Ness has now got in touch with me re: Hospice Baking Round. So thanks for emailing her. I am looking forward to participating!
I would have liked to get the caramel to nut to chocolate ratio that you had. Looks great!
How sweet you got to send some time with your sister. The tart looks amazing and tasty!
See ya next Tuesday for some Split Level Pudding!
Great post. I always like to read people's opinions about what they'd do differently the next time. I know just what you mean about items that you think would be rich but you just can't stop yourself eating more of.
Beautiful tart. This was sooo good. And fairly easy.
Fantastic.
Post a Comment