Chocolate Caramel Macadamia Nut Tart Food

CHOCOLATE MACADAMIA NUT TART

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Place macadamia nuts in a medium skillet and toast over low heat, stirring often until golden brown all over, about 8 minutes. Do not burn. Set aside to cool completely.
• In a double boiler, combine the chocolate and butter and melt, stirring over moderate heat. Set aside to cool slightly.
• In a large bowl, whisk the whole eggs, egg white, sugar and corn syrup until combined. Stir in the rum, the cooled chocolate mixture and the nuts until blended. Pour the filling into the partially baked chocolate pastry shell and bake for about 45 minutes, until the center is set and does not wiggle. Set aside to cool on a rack. Serve at room temperature or chilled, garnish with whipped cream.
• On a work surface, mix the flour and cocoa until well blended; form into a mound. Make a well in the center and add the remaining ingredients. Using your hands, slowly blend the ingredients in the well until partially mixed, then incorporate the flour and cocoa until completely combined and a soft dough forms. Pat the dough into a disk, wrap well and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight. (see Note).
• Between 2 sheets of waxed paper, roll out dough into a 13-inch round. Refrigerate for 10 minutes. Remove the waxed paper and transfer the dough to an 11-inch tart pan with removable bottom. Fit the dough evenly into the pan and trim any overhanging pastry. Refrigerate for at least 10 minutes more. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
• Line the chilled shell with aluminum foil and weigh down with pie weights or dried beans. Bake for 10 minutes. Then remove the weights and foil and bake for 5 minutes longer until set but slightly soft.
• Note: This is a cookie-like crust. The dough softens quickly once out of the refrigerator and is a bit difficult to transfer to the tart pan, but scraps can be used to repair any cracks.

CARAMEL-NUT TART WITH MILK CHOCOLATE AND COGNAC CREAM

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375°F.
• Line the tart pan with the pâte sucrée according to page 196. Prick the bottom with a fork and line it with a few open and fanned out coffee filters or a piece of parchment paper. Fill the lined tart shell with beans or pie weights, and bake 15 minutes, until set. Take the tart out of the oven, and carefully lift out the paper and beans. Return the tart to the oven, and bake another 10 to 15 minutes, until the crust is an even golden brown. Set the tart on a rack to cool completely.
• Spread the nuts on a baking sheet (keep each type separate) and toast 8 to 12 minutes, until they're golden brown and smell nutty. Some will toast more quickly than others, so watch them carefully and remove the toasted nuts as needed.
• Place the sugar and 1 cup water in a very clean medium-sized heavy-bottomed saucepan. Over medium-high heat, cook the sugar, shaking the pan often to stir-don't use a utensil to stir, as it could cause the sugar to crystallize. Continue cooking and swirling the pan until the caramel is a deep golden brown, just beyond the soft-crack stage (about 310°F on a candy thermometer). It should be a nice dark color, but not burned.
• Remove from the heat, and slowly whisk in 2/3 cup cream, stirring with the whisk the entire time, until the caramel is smooth and the cream is fully incorporated. (Be aware that the caramel will foam up as you add the cream. It's very hot, so be careful and pour slowly.) Allow to cool a few minutes. Place the nuts and honey in a bowl. Pour the caramel over them, and stir to combine well. Season with 1/4 teaspoon salt, and pour the mixture into the baked tart shell, to just below the rim. It's important not to overfill the crust. Refrigerate the tart at least 2 hours.
• Melt the milk chocolate in a small saucepan over very low heat, and stir in 1/3 cup water. Just before serving, whip 1 cup cream and the cognac to soft peaks in a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment.
• Slice the tart in half, and cut one half into twelve thin slices. Refrigerate the rest for leftover snacking. Place one slice at the center of each of six plates. Prop up a second slice on top of the first, setting it at an angle and letting the pointed end of the slice rest on the plate. Continue with the remaining slices. Garnish each with three dollops of the cognac cream, and drizzle the milk chocolate across the tart.
• Note
• The tricky part to this dessert is making the caramel filling. If it cooks too long, it will taste bitter; and if it doesn't cook long enough, it won't achieve that chewy consistency.

CHOCOLATE-MACADAMIA NUT TART

Steps:

• Pate Sucree:In the bowl of a food processor, combine flour and sugar. Add butter, and process until mixture resembles coarse meal, 10 to 20 seconds. In a small bowl, lightly beat egg yolks; add ice water. With machine running, add the egg mixture in a slow, steady stream through the feed tube. Pulse until dough holds together without being wet or sticky; be careful not to process more than 30 seconds. To test, squeeze a small amount together: If it is crumbly, add more ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time. Divide dough into two equal balls. Flatten each ball into a disk, and wrap in plastic. Refrigerate at least 1 hour. Dough may be frozen up to 1 month. To thaw, transfer disks to refrigerator overnight, or let stand at room temperature 1 hour.
• Tart:Preheat oven to 400 degrees. On a lightly floured surface, roll out one disk of pate sucree to a 14-inch round, about 1/8 inch thick (reserve remaining disk for another use). Fit into an 11-inch round tart pan with removable bottom; trim dough flush with rim. Use trimmings to patch any thin spots in shell. Refrigerate 30 minutes or up to overnight.
• Meanwhile, in a large bowl, whisk together eggs, sugar, and bourbon until combined. Whisk in flour and salt, then whisk in butter. Stir in chocolate until combined. Pour mixture into chilled tart shell. Cover top with nuts, pressing them halfway down into the filling.
• Bake 10 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees and continue baking until crust and filling are golden, about 35 minutes more. If tart is browning too quickly, tent with aluminum foil. Transfer pan to a wire rack and let cool completely. Tart can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature up to 2 days.

HAWAIIAN CHOCOLATE MACADAMIA NUT TART

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Toast macadamia nut pieces, and coconut flakes in separate pans in the preheated oven until golden brown, about 8 minutes. Remove to cool.
• Press one of the pie crusts onto the bottom of a 12 to 14-inch fluted tart pan. Cut the remaining pie crust into strips, and use it to fill in the edges of the tart pan, ensuring that the crust is completely sealed. Gently press the chocolate chips into the pie crust, and set aside.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, vanilla, and corn syrup until smooth. Stir in the sugar, margarine, macadamia nuts, and coconut flakes. Pour over pie crust.
• Bake in preheated oven until a knife inserted halfway between the center and the edge of the crust comes out clean, 50 to 55 minutes. Cool completely on a wire rack.

WHITE CHOCOLATE & MACADAMIA TART

Steps:

• Preheat oven to moderately slow, 160°C, and lightly grease a 23cm springform flan pan.
• Place flour, butter, nuts and icing sugar in a food processor and process until well-combined, add egg yolks and water and process until the ingredients just come together.
• Turn onto a lightly floured surface, knead gently, wrap in plastic wrap and chill for 30 minutes.
• Roll out the pastry between 2 sheets of baking paper, ease into prepared pan, trim the edges and chill for 10 minutes.
• Bake blind (see Note below) for 15 minutes, remove paper and filling, and bake for another 10 minutes.
• FILLING: Melt 250g chocolate in a small saucepan over a low heat; in a small bowl, using an electric beater, beat the egg yolks, eggs and caster sugar until the mixture is thick and creamy; stir in the cream, vanilla extract and melted chocolate.
• Sprinkle the pastry base with macadamia nuts, pour the chocolate mixture into the pastry case; bake for 35-40 minutes or until the filling is set.
• Cool to room temperature.
• Serve the tart, drizzled with the remaining melted white chocolate.
• NOTE: To blind bake, put rice, dried beans or pastry weights in the pastry shell, then bake as directed.

CHOCOLATE-NUT CARAMEL TART

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450°. Unroll pastry into a 9-in. fluted tart pan with removable bottom. Press onto bottom and up sides of pan; trim pastry even with edge (discard trimmed pastry or save for another use). Generously prick bottom of crust with a fork. Bake 9-11 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely on a wire rack., Reserve 2 tablespoons Nutella for topping; spread remaining Nutella into cooled crust. In a small saucepan, combine caramels and cream; cook over medium-low heat until blended, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat; stir in macadamia nuts. Spread evenly over Nutella., In a microwave, heat reserved Nutella until warmed; drizzle over filling. Refrigerate 1 hour or until firm. If desired, serve with whipped cream.

MACADAMIA CARAMEL TART

Steps:

• In a food processor, combine the flour, 1/2 cup sugar and butter. Cover and pulse until blended. Add eggs; pulse until blended. On a lightly floured surface, gently knead dough 5 times or until a ball is formed., Between two sheets of waxed paper, roll two-thirds of dough into a 13-in. circle; press onto the bottom and 2 in. up the sides of an ungreased 9-in. springform pan. Cover and chill. Roll remaining dough into a 9-in. circle; chill., In a large heavy skillet, cook and stir the remaining sugar over medium heat until melted and dark brown, about 20 minutes. Slowly stir in cream until blended. Remove from the heat; stir in nuts. , Cool for 15 minutes. Pour into prepared pan. Top with 9-in. pastry circle. Fold pastry from sides of pan over the top pastry; seal edges with a fork. Brush top with egg white., Bake at 325° for 50-55 minutes or until golden brown. cool on a wire rack for 20 minutes. Carefully run a knife around edge of pan to loosen. Remove sides of pan. Cool completely before cutting.

VENUS' CHOCOLATE MACADAMIA NUT TART

Steps:

• In a large mixing bowl, cream together 1/2 cup softened butter and 1/4 cup sugar until pale, about 3 minutes; beat in egg.
• In a separate bowl, mix flour and cocoa powder. Using a wooden spoon, stir the dry ingredients into the creamed mixture and gather the dough into a ball. Flatten the dough into a disk and wrap in waxed paper; refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
• On a lightly floured surface, roll out chilled dough into a 10 inch round and about 1/4 inch thickness. Transfer dough to an 8 inch tart pan, pressing dough evenly into pan; prick all over with a fork and freeze for 10 minutes.
• Bake tart shell in preheated oven for 12 minutes; transfer to a rack to cool.
• To make caramel: In a small saucepan over low heat, bring 1/2 cup heavy cream to a simmer. In a heavy medium saucepan over high heat, gradually add 1/2 cup sugar in small amounts, stirring constantly, until it melts and turns golden brown. Remove saucepan from heat and slowly stir in hot cream; stir in 2 tablespoons butter and allow mixture to cool.
• To make chocolate cream: In a medium bowl, combine semisweet chocolate and liqueur. In a small saucepan over high heat, bring remaining 1/2 cup heavy cream to a boil and pour it over chocolate; stir mixture with a wooden spoon until chocolate is melted and very smooth.
• Reserve 13 whole macadamia nuts and chop the rest. Pour cooled caramel into the cooled tart shell and spread evenly with a metal spatula; sprinkle chopped nuts over caramel. Pour chocolate cream on top and spread evenly.
• Arrange 10 whole nuts around the edge of the tart to mark 10 slices; place remaining 3 nuts in the center. Refrigerate the tart for 1 hour or until firm; serve.

WARM CHOCOLATE & MACADAMIA NUT TARTS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 190C/fan 170C/gas 5. Roll out the pastry to the thickness of a £1 coin and line 4 tartlet cases (about 10 x 3cm). Trim the excess off by rolling a rolling pin over the top of the cases to make a neat edge. Firm up in the freezer for 30 mins. Line with greaseproof paper and baking beans, then cook on a baking sheet for 15 mins. Remove the beans and paper, then cook for 3-5 mins more until the pastry is pale golden and biscuity.
• While the pastry is cooking, melt the chocolate, cream and alcohol, if using, in a heatproof bowl over a pan of barely simmering water. Meanwhile, whisk the eggs, yolk and sugar until light and frothy. Briefly whisk the melted chocolate into the eggs and fold through most of the chopped macadamia nuts.
• Divide the chocolate mixture between the cases and scatter with the remaining nuts. Uncooked tarts can now be frozen. Bake for 12 mins or 20 mins from frozen. The tops of the tarts will soufflé up and they should still be soft in the middle. Serve sprinkled with icing sugar.

CHOCOLATE MACADAMIA TARTLETS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Place dough on a piece of parchment; roll out to 1/8 inch thick. Transfer to a baking sheet; chill 10 minutes. Remove from refrigerator; cut dough into four 3 3/4-by-5 1/2-inch rectangles. Fit dough into four 2-by-4-inch tart pans with removable bottoms, pressing into corners. Prick bottom of tarts all over with a fork. Chill at least 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, spread nuts in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet; toast until golden and fragrant, about 10 minutes. Remove from oven; set aside.
• Remove shells from refrigerator; line with parchment, pressing into edges. Fill with dried beans or pie weights. Place on a baking sheet; bake 20 minutes. Remove paper and beans; continue baking until crust is firm, 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
• Make caramel: In a small saucepan, bring sugar, corn syrup, and the water to a boil over medium-high heat; wash down sides of pan with a pastry brush dipped in water to prevent crystals from forming. Reduce heat to low; cook, swirling pan to color evenly, until caramel is a rich amber color. Remove from heat; carefully add 1/4 cup cream (it will spatter), butter, creme fraiche, vanilla, and salt. Stir until smooth. Let cool slightly; stir in nuts.
• Melt 5 ounces chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water. Pour 1 1/2 tablespoons chocolate into each shell; spread to coat evenly. Chill until set, about 10 minutes. Remove from refrigerator; pour caramel into shell. Set aside.
• Make ganache: Place remaining 3 ounces chocolate in a heatproof bowl. Bring remaining 3/4 cup cream to a boil in a small saucepan. Pour over chocolate; whisk until smooth. Cool until slightly thickened, about 10 minutes. Pour 2 1/2 tablespoons over caramel; smooth with an offset spatula. Store at room temperature, in an airtight container, up to 1 day.