This chocolate caramel tart recipe is a sumptuous dessert made with a cocoa shortcrust base filled with a chocolate almond cream filling, a layer of salted caramel sauce, and rich chocolate ganache— an absolute delight for chocolate lovers.
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Why you'll love this tart
This is truly the dessert for all chocolate lovers! The chocolate caramel tart with salted caramel is an amazing dessert with all those different textures in the mouth both crunchy and creamy.
It is a bakery that requires a little time of preparation and organization. Indeed as it contains 4 different recipes that are layered to create this fabulous dessert.
The salted caramel chocolate tart can be perfect for family meals or as a gift for special days like Mother's Day or Grandma's Day.
More Tart Recipes
Ingredients Notes
*You will find the quantities and complete instructions in the recipe card at the end of the page.
Cocoa shortcrust pastry
- Flour: All-purpose flour provides structure and texture to the dough.
- Unsweetened Cocoa Powder: Unsweetened cocoa powder is the key ingredient that gives the pastry its intense cocoa flavor.
- Almond Flour: Almond flour, also known as almond meal, is used to give a subtle nutty flavor.
- Sugar: Powdered sugar, preferably extra fine, is used to sweeten the pastry.
- Fine Salt: A small amount of fine salt is included to enhance the overall flavor of the pastry.
- Butter: Very cold unsalted butter provides richness, moisture, and fat content, resulting in a pastry that is both crumbly and sandy when baked.
- Egg: Eggs serve as a binding agent in the dough, contributing to its structure and texture.
Chocolate almond filling
- Almond Meal: Almond provides a rich almond flavor and texture.
- Sugar: You can use either granulated sugar or brown sugar, depending on your preference.
- Butter: Softened unsalted butter is essential for achieving a smooth and creamy texture in the chocolate almond filling.
- Egg: A room-temperature egg serves as a binding agent and contributes to the structure and creaminess of the filling.
- Chocolate: You can choose between semi-sweet or bittersweet chocolate, either melted or cocoa powder.
Caramel salted butter
- Sugar: Granulated sugar is used to create the caramelization in the sauce, giving it its characteristic sweetness and rich color.
- Heavy Cream: Full-fat heavy cream adds a creamy and luxurious texture to the sauce, making it smooth and luscious.
- Butter: You have the option to use either salted butter, which provides the desired salty element, or unsalted butter with the addition of sea salt to achieve a salted butter flavor.
Chocolate Ganache:
- Chocolate: You can use either semi-sweet or bittersweet, good quality chocolate. It provides the rich and intense chocolate flavor for the ganache.
- Heavy Cream: Full-fat heavy cream is used to create the creamy and velvety texture of the ganache. It combines with the chocolate to make a luscious, silky filling for your chocolate tart.
Materials Needed
How to make Salted Caramel Chocolate Tart
Cocoa tart crust
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Place in a large bowl and mix the all-purpose flour, almond meal, confectioner's sugar, and cocoa powder and add the cold butter cut into pieces.
- Mix with your hands until you obtain a sandy texture, then add the egg at room temperature and mix gently without kneading too much until you form a ball of dough.
- Roll out the chocolate dough with a rolling pin to a thickness of 3-4 mm between 2 sheets of parchment paper and place in the freezer for 15 minutes.
- Take the pastry crust out of the freezer and line a 9-inch tart pan or tart ring, prick the bottom with a fork, put it back in the freezer for at least 1 hour and bake for about 10 minutes.
Chocolate almond cream
- Melt the chopped chocolate in a double boiler or in the microwave.
- Then place the softened unsalted butter with the powdered sugar and almond meal in a bowl and mix with a wooden spoon.
- Then add the egg and the melted chocolate and mix again until you get a homogeneous cream.
- Pour the chocolate almond cream mixture into the cocoa crust and return to the oven for another 15 minutes.
- Let it cool a little before removing the tart ring and then transfer it to a wire rack to cool completely.
Salted caramel sauce
- Start by placing the granulated sugar in a saucepan and heat over medium heat until the sugar dissolves and caramelizes, it should have an amber color.
- Still on the heat, add the butter cut into pieces and mix with a wooden spoon until it is well incorporated and the texture is homogeneous and smooth.
- Then add in 2-3 times the heavy cream slowly while mixing at the same time until it is well incorporated. Continue cooking for about 5 more minutes, until the caramel is thicker and smooth.
- Allow the caramel to cool slightly before pouring the hot caramel into the tart, then allow the tart and caramel filling to cool completely in the refrigerator for 1 hour.
Dark Chocolate ganache filling
- Cut the bittersweet chocolate into pieces or use chocolate chip and place it in a medium bowl with the liquid cream. Then place the bowl on a saucepan with a little water over medium heat to melt in a double boiler.
- You can also use the microwave to make this chocolate ganache
- Let the chocolate and heavy cream melt while stirring with a spatula until the ganache is smooth and completely melted.
- Let the chocolate filling cool a little before pouring it into the crust on top of the salted caramel until it completely fills the bottom of the tart shell.
- Place the finished chocolate tart in the refrigerator until completely cooled, about 1-2 hours. Once the tart is cold you can decorate it with chocolate flakes, sprinkles or add flaky sea salt.
Serving Suggestions
- Whipped Cream: Serve each slice of chocolate caramel tart with a dollop of freshly whipped cream for a delightful contrast in texture and a touch of lightness.
- Vanilla Ice Cream: Accompany your tart slices with a scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream to create a warm-cold dessert experience that's sure to please.
- Caramel Drizzle: Drizzle extra salted caramel sauce over each serving of the tart to intensify the caramel flavor and add a decorative touch.
- Chopped Nuts: Sprinkle chopped nuts, such as toasted almonds or pecans, on top of each slice for a delightful crunch and nutty flavor.
- Fresh Berries: Decorate the plate with a handful of fresh berries like raspberries or strawberries for a pop of color and a fruity complement to the rich flavors.
Storage and Freeze instructions
Refrigeration: Properly stored, it can maintain its flavor and texture for about 4-5 days in an airtight container or plastic wrap to protect it from absorbing any fridge odors.
Freezing: For longer storage, freeze your chocolate caramel tart by wrapping it tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil to prevent freezer burn for 3 months. When serving a frozen slice, either thaw it gradually in the refrigerator or enjoy it directly from the freezer for a firmer, chilled texture.
Recipe Tips
- Chilled Dough: Ensure the cocoa shortcrust pastry dough is well chilled before rolling it out and placing it in the tart pan. Chilled dough is easier to work with and results in a flakier crust.
- Salted Caramel Layer: When adding the layer of salted caramel sauce, spread it evenly over the chocolate almond cream. Allow the caramel layer to cool completely before adding the ganache.
- Chocolate Ganache: Pour the warm chocolate ganache over the tart slowly and evenly, allowing it to flow into all the nooks and crannies.
- Chilling Time: After assembling the tart, refrigerate it to allow all the layers to set and meld together. This usually takes a few hours or overnight for best results.
- Slicing: When ready to serve, use a sharp knife dipped in hot water for clean, smooth slices. This prevents the layers from sticking to the knife and ensures neat portions.
Recipe Variations
- Fruit Infusion: Add a layer of fresh fruit, such as sliced strawberries, raspberries, or banana, between the chocolate almond cream and the salted caramel for a fruity twist.
- Nutty Delight: Incorporate chopped nuts like toasted almonds, hazelnuts, or pecans into the chocolate almond cream filling to provide extra crunch and nutty flavor.
- Spiced Caramel: Infuse your salted caramel sauce with warm spices like cinnamon or a pinch of cayenne for a unique and spicy kick.
- Caramelized Pears: Arrange caramelized pear slices on top of the chocolate almond cream layer before adding the salted caramel for a sophisticated flavor combination.
- Raspberry Coulis: Drizzle a vibrant raspberry coulis over the tart just before serving to add a burst of fruity tanginess.
- Chocolate Orange: Add a touch of orange zest or a splash of orange liqueur to the chocolate ganache for a zesty, citrusy complement to the caramel.
- No bake chocolate salted caramel tart: Replace the tart shell with graham cracker crumbs for a no-bake version.
- Chocolate caramel tarts: using my recipe of tartlet shells you can make them in individual versions.
Recipe Questions
Can I use milk chocolate instead of semi-sweet chocolate for this chocolate tart?
Yes, you can use milk chocolate instead of chocolate for your chocolate tart, but keep in mind that it will result in a sweeter and less intense chocolate flavor.
Do I need to blind bake with pie weights?
No, if you chill the tart crust in the freezer for at least 30 minutes, it should prevent it from deforming during baking, and you won't need to blind bake it with pie weights.
Can I make the pastry dough with a food processor?
Yes, you can make the pastry dough with a food processor; simply combine all the dry ingredients, add the cold butter, and then the eggs, and process until the dough comes together.
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PrintChocolate Caramel Tart
- Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Yield: 12 parts
Description
Chocolate and salted butter caramel tart, with a cocoa shortcrust, a chocolate almond cream, a layer of salted caramel sauce and a chocolate ganache (for a 9 inch 25 cm tart)
Ingredients
Cocoa shortcrust
- 240 g (2 cups) Flour - all-purpose
- 30 g (⅓ cup) Almond meal
- 30 g (⅓ cup) Cocoa powder - unsweetened
- 100 g (¾ cup) Powdered Sugar
- 1 pinch Salt
- 150 g (⅔ cup) Butter - unsalted and cold
- 1 Egg - room temperature
Chocolate almond cream
- 100 g (1 cup) Almond meal
- 50 g (¼ cup) Sugar
- 100 g (½ cup) Butter - softened
- 1 Egg - room temperature
- 100 g (3,5 oz) Baking chocolate - semi-sweet or bittersweet
Caramel salted butter
- 100 g (½ cup) Sugar
- 40 g (¼ cup) Salted butter
- 75 ml (⅓ cup) Heavy cream - full-fat
- 1 pinch Sea salt
Dark chocolate ganache
- 120 g (4 oz) Baking Chocolate - semi-sweet or bittersweet
- 180 ml (¾ cup) Heavy cream - full fat
Instructions
Cocoa shortcrust
- In a large container, place the dry ingredients, flour, almond meal, cocoa powder, confectioner's sugar and salt.
- Then add the cold chopped butter and mix with your hands until you get a sandy texture.
- Then add the egg and mix with your hands to gather the dough without kneading until you get a ball of dough.
- Place the dough between 2 sheets of parchment paper and roll out with a rolling pin to a thickness of 3-4 mm then place the rolled out dough in the freezer for 15 minutes.
- Take the dough out of the freezer, shape a 9 inch 25 cm tart ring and prick the bottom with a fork then put it back in the freezer for 1 hour.
- Then bake the tart shell on a baking sheet in a preheated oven at 347°F/175°c for 10 minutes.
Chocolate almond cream (frangipane)
- Start by creaming the butter in a bowl with a wooden spoon, then add the sugar, almond meal, egg and melted chocolate.
- Mix until you obtain a smooth and homogeneous cream.
- Take the tart shell out of the oven and fill the inside with the chocolate almond cream.
- Then return to the oven and continue baking for another 15 minutes.
- Let the tart shell cool completely with the almond cream filling.
Salted caramel sauce
- In a saucepan over medium heat place the powdered sugar and heat until caramelized, it should be completely melted with an amber color.
- Then add the semi-salted butter and a pinch of fleur de sel and mix with a wooden spoon until you obtain a smooth and homogeneous texture.
- Then add the heavy cream in several times and while mixing between each addition.
- Let the caramel cook for another 3-4 minutes to thicken and then let it cool down a little.
- Pour a small layer of salted caramel in the bottom of the tart and place the tart in the refrigerator until the caramel has cooled down completely, about 1 hour.
Dark chocolate ganache
- Place the chopped chocolate and heavy cream in a bowl.
- And melt in a double boiler on a saucepan containing a little water over medium heat until you get a smooth and homogeneous ganache.
- Let the chocolate ganache cool a little before pouring it into the tart on top of the caramel until it completely fills the bottom of the tart.
- Place the chocolate caramel tart in the fridge for at least 2 hours before decorating with chocolate shavings and a little sea salt.
Notes
Storage: Up to 5 days in the fridge and up to 3 months in the freezer.
- Prep Time: 50 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: cake, Dessert
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Calories: 571
- Sugar: 31
- Sodium: 202
- Fat: 40
- Saturated Fat: 22
- Carbohydrates: 52
- Fiber: 4
- Protein: 7
- Cholesterol: 108
Keywords: Caramel tart, Chocolate tart, Salted caramel chocolate tart, chocolate caramel tart,
This tart looks really delicious, isn't the ganache too firm when it sets? I can't wait to try it, thanks for the recipe.
Hi Ines, thanks , the ganache will firm up just enough but will remain creamy. You can leave it out of the fridge for a bit before serving if you want the chocolate to be melty.