Tuesday, September 29, 2009

TWD: Chocolate-Crunched Caramel Tart


I guess it's appropriate that Carla of Chocolate Moosey chose Chocolate-Crunched Caramel Tart for this week's Tuesday's with Dorie recipe. I would expect nothing less than a rich, chocolatey dessert from a blog named "Chocolate Moosey". Thanks Carla!

I have to admit that my interest in chocolate has waned since I've started this blog. Hard to believe, I know. I once considered myself a die-hard chocolate fan.

Don't get me wrong, I still love chocolate. I guess I've just fallen in love with so many non-chocolate desserts since I started blogging that I no longer have a one-track mind when it comes to sweets.


Although this tart could very well swing me back to the dark (chocolate) side. Oh, holy cow! Was it ever delish!

There was a caramely peannutty treasure hidden under the luscious chocolate ganache. Seriously, this was the best caramel I've ever made, and possibly the best I've ever tasted. I could eat it with a spoon!


Thanks so much to Carla for this fabulous pick. If you'd like to peak at the recipe, check out Dorie Greenspan's book "Baking, From my Home to Yours", or visit Carla's site.

Baking Notes:
- I made one 4" tart
- I used my home-made puff pastry for the tart shell. I baked for maybe 15-20 minutes at 400 degrees F with pie weights in the shell and then maybe 5-7 with them removed.
- I quartered the amount of peanuts
- I quartered the ganache recipe and still had probably double what I needed. I used semisweet chocolate
- I made the whole caramel recipe, since it really wasn't that much, and I figured since I typically struggle with caramel, having more would increase my chance of success.

18 comments:

vibi said...

Mmmmm... very well done Jacque! Love the daintiness of it... the cut looks very elegant!

Anonymous said...

I agree with you. It's time to find more ways to use the amazing caramel that goes in this tart!

Nichicakes said...

Yum yum yum! Your photos always look delicious!

chocolatechic said...

I too, could have just eaten the caramel and have been done with the dessert.

Bella Baker said...

Yum! Your tart looks great and that puff pastry looks so incredibly flaky and delicious!!! WOW!

April said...

Yum! The layers look perfect!

Soy*Baby said...

Looks wonderful. Yummy.

Unknown said...

Oooh Jacque the tart looks delicious! So Snickery! I wish I had a slice!!

grace said...

my love for chocolate shall never waver! i love your little tart--the fact that you used your pastry makes it even more appealing.

Flourchild said...

Super cute mini Tarts. YOU did a great job! This recipe was so good and I could swim in that caramel!

Anonymous said...

YUM. Your tart looks great.

Juliana said...

Wow, this chocolate tart with caramel looks so rich and full of flavor...yummie!

Leslie said...

What an adorable mini! I know what you mean about loving so many other kinds of desserts now. This one was so good that only having a mini would be a lot safer!

Susan said...

Your tart looks fabulous! I loved this recipe. Caramel, chocolate, peanuts...perfect!

Mary Jo said...

this looks fantastic

margot said...

Holy cow is right, this was so good, and yours looks perfect. I made two mini tarts but I also made the whole caramel recipe, no problem having a bit of leftover.

Carol Peterman/TableFare said...

It's funny when I was writing up my post I was thinking about how much I love chocolate and maybe that's why I am so crazy for this tart. We have had a run of non-chocolate recipes, so I was ready. I am with you on the caramel, it was great.

Katrina said...

I have bee3n out of town and am planning to make this tomorrow for my husband's birthday! Decadence! I feel the same about chocolate desserts, still love them, but since joining TWD a year ago and taking some classes at our local natural foods store by a trained chef who has never served us chocolate anything, I'm really growing to like a lot of different things.
Now, back to this tart! ;)