Chocolate Pecan Tart

We spent New Years Eve playing the Nintendo Wii with friends at our house and let me just say, we need a Wii. I don’t want to buy a billion games or waste hours playing anything new, but on nights when Handsome and I both have no clue what to do, the Wii would be a perfect solution. Ping pong an bowling, here I come. We were so involved in 100 pin bowling we didn’t even notice that the clock struck midnight and we missed the ball drop (giggle).

It even comes in red now. Doesn’t that seem perfect for me?

So, why can’t we have one? Because Handsome is a sore winner. He could beat a kid at tic-tac-toe and still want to run a victory lap around the block announcing his achievement to the world. Yeah, that kind of sore winner. And its a little cold out this time of year for victory laps, so there goes that dream.

Oh well, on to the chocolate pecan tart dessert recipe.

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Chocolate Pecan Tart

Adapted from Wanda’s Pie in the Sky Seen on Tastespotting Blog

Ingredients

For the Chocolate Tart Pastry

• 1 cup of very cold butter cut into ½ inch pieces
• 1 1/3 cups of all purpose flour
• 1/3 cup of pastry flour
• ¾ cups of icing sugar
• 2/3 cup of cocoa
• ¼ teaspoon of kosher salt
• ¼ cup of water

Chocolate Pecan Tart Filling

• 4 eggs
• ½ cup of granulated sugar
• ¾ cup of brown sugar
• ½ teaspoon of kosher salt
• 2/3 cup of corn syrup
• 2/3 cup of whipping cream
• 1 tsp of vanilla extract
• 1/3 cup of brandy
• ¼ cup of butter, melted
• 1 ½ cup of pecan halves

Chocolate Topping

• ½ cup of whipping cream
• 4 ounces of semi-sweet chocolate
• 1 tablespoon of corn syrup

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 375 F.

Using a food processor, combine the butter, flour, pastry flour, cocoa, icing sugar, and salt and pulse until the texture resembles coarse sand. Add the water and mix until the mixture just comes together. Do not over process.

Using your fingers, press the dough into a 10 x 1¼ inch flan pan with a removable bottom. Chill for 30 minutes. Line the pie with parchment paper and fill with baking beans. Bake for 15 minutes or until just firm. Remove from the oven and discard the parchment paper and baking beans.

For the filling

Reduce the oven to 350F.

Using your KitchenAid Stand Mixer fitted with flat beater attachment, beat the eggs, both the sugars, salt and syrup until just combined but not frothy. Stir in the whipping cream, vanilla, brandy, melted butter (making sure it has cooled). Fold in the pecans. Pour into the prepared pre-baked crust and bake for 50-60 minutes, until the filling is set and slightly puffed in the center. Cool completely before topping.

For the topping

Coarsely chop the chocolate and place in a heat-proof bowl. Place a small saucepan on medium heat and cook until the cream just comes to a simmer. Remove from the heat, and pour over the chocolate. Let sit for a couple minutes and stir until the both the cream and chocolate form a homogeneous mixture. Add the corn syrup and stir again.

Using a teaspoon, dot the topping of the cooled pie and swirl decoratively.

Serve this chocolate pecan tart at room temperature or slightly chilled.

Store refrigerated for up to 5 days.

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