Dreamy Chocolate Salted Caramel Tarts Recipe for Sweet Bliss

Decadent chocolate salted caramel tarts bring pure indulgence to your dessert table with a perfect balance of rich flavors.

Sweet and salty dance together in this irresistible treat that melts effortlessly on your tongue.

Buttery pastry cradles a silky smooth chocolate ganache, crowned with golden caramel swirls.

Delicate sea salt crystals provide unexpected bursts of intensity against the deep cocoa backdrop.

Professional pastry chefs would marvel at how simple ingredients create such complex sensations.

Each bite promises a luxurious experience that connects nostalgia with innovative baking techniques.

Let this recipe be your gateway to dessert magic that will impress everyone around the table.

What’s So Good About Chocolate Salted Caramel Tarts

• Create luxurious desserts with minimal culinary skills, perfect for home bakers wanting gourmet results without complex techniques.
• Prepare these elegant tarts in under 2 hours, making them ideal for spontaneous gatherings or impressive dinner parties with minimal preparation time.
• Adaptable recipe allows easy modifications like using different chocolate types, adding nuts, or adjusting salt levels to suit individual taste preferences and dietary needs.
• Experience a delightful combination of crisp buttery crust, smooth salted caramel, and rich chocolate ganache that delivers multiple layers of indulgent flavors in every single bite.

Must-Have Ingredients for Chocolate Salted Caramel Tarts

• All-Purpose Flour: Essential base for creating a crisp, buttery foundation for the tart.
• Powdered Sugar: Adds subtle sweetness and helps create a delicate texture.
• Cold Butter: Provides rich flavor and creates flaky layers in the crust.
• Egg Yolk: Helps bind the dough and adds richness to the crust.
• Cold Water: Helps bring the dough together without overworking it.

• Granulated Sugar: The primary ingredient for creating a deep amber caramel.
• Butter: Adds richness and helps create a smooth caramel texture.
• Heavy Cream: Provides creaminess and helps stabilize the caramel.
• Sea Salt: Enhances the caramel's flavor with a perfect sweet-salty balance.

• Chocolate Chips, Dark Chocolate, or Bittersweet Chocolate: Creates a rich, smooth chocolate topping.
• Heavy Cream: Helps create a silky, glossy ganache texture.

• Flaky Sea Salt: Adds a final flavor punch and decorative touch.
• Chocolate Shavings, Cocoa Powder: Optional decorative and flavor-enhancing elements.

Get Going with Chocolate Salted Caramel Tarts

Step 1: Whip Up the Dough

Toss flour and powdered sugar into a food processor. Drop in cold butter and blitz until crumbly. Crack an egg yolk and splash some cold water into the mix. Pulse until the dough forms a cohesive ball, adding extra water if needed. Shape the dough into a smooth disc, hug it with plastic wrap, and park it in the refrigerator for a quick 30-minute chill.

Step 2: Craft the Tart Shell

Crank the oven to 350F. Roll out the chilled dough and gently press it into tart pans. Poke tiny holes in the base with a fork. Layer parchment paper on top and sprinkle pie weights or dried beans. Bake for 15 minutes, then strip away the weights and continue baking 5-10 minutes until golden brown. Let the shells cool completely.

Step 3: Create Luscious Caramel

• Butter
• Melted sugar

Slowly pour in heavy cream, watching for bubbling. Sprinkle sea salt and let the caramel cool slightly. Pour the silky caramel into the tart shells. Refrigerate 20-30 minutes until set.

Step 4: Whisk Decadent Chocolate Ganache

Warm heavy cream until it barely starts to simmer. Pour over chocolate chips in a bowl. Wait 2-3 minutes, then stir until glossy and smooth. Drizzle the ganache over the caramel layer, smoothing with a spatula.

Step 5: Final Flourishes

Chill the tarts for at least an hour to firm up the ganache. Before serving, sprinkle flaky sea salt and optional chocolate shavings. Serve chilled or at room temperature for a sublime dessert experience.

Tricks That Elevate Chocolate Salted Caramel Tarts

• Chill Dough Effectively: Wrap the dough tightly in plastic wrap to prevent drying out and allow for easier rolling later.
• Control Caramel Consistency: Watch the sugar carefully while cooking, stirring constantly to avoid burning and achieve a perfect amber color.
• Prevent Ganache Splitting: Use room temperature chocolate and cream to ensure a smooth, glossy chocolate layer without separation.
• Achieve Crisp Tart Shell: Blind bake the crust with pie weights to maintain its shape and create a crisp, golden base that won't become soggy.
• Salt Balance Matters: Use high-quality sea salt sparingly to enhance the chocolate and caramel flavors without overpowering the dessert.

Chocolate Salted Caramel Tarts: Save and Reheat Right

• Store tarts in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Place parchment paper between layers to prevent sticking and maintain the delicate ganache texture.
• Wrap individual tarts tightly in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil. Freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving.
• Warm tarts gently at room temperature for 10-15 minutes before serving. Avoid microwaving, which can melt the ganache and caramel layers.
• For best taste and texture, consume within 2-3 days of preparation. The crust remains crisp, and flavors stay vibrant during this time.

Serve Chocolate Salted Caramel Tarts with These Ideas

• Select a rich, full-bodied red wine like Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot to complement the deep chocolate and caramel flavors. The wine's dark fruit notes will beautifully enhance the dessert's sweetness.
• Serve a smooth, sweet Portuguese Port wine that matches the tart's decadent chocolate and caramel layers. Its rich, velvety texture creates a luxurious dessert experience.
• Brew a strong, dark espresso to cut through the tart's richness. The coffee's intense, slightly bitter notes will balance the sweet caramel and smooth chocolate perfectly.
• Pour a chilled vanilla liqueur alongside the tart, creating a creamy, smooth accompaniment that highlights the dessert's complex flavor profile.

Ways to Reimagine Chocolate Salted Caramel Tarts

• Gluten-Free Chocolate Caramel Tarts: Replace wheat flour with almond or gluten-free flour blend for a celiac-friendly version. Use gluten-free cookie crumbs for the crust base to maintain texture and flavor.
• Vegan Chocolate Salted Caramel Tarts: Substitute butter with coconut oil or vegan margarine. Use coconut cream for caramel and dairy-free dark chocolate for ganache. Replace egg yolk with ground flaxseed or aquafaba for binding.
• Low-Sugar Chocolate Caramel Tarts: Use monk fruit sweetener or stevia instead of regular sugar. Choose sugar-free dark chocolate and reduce caramel sweetness. Add extra sea salt to enhance flavor profile without additional sugar.
• Nut-Free Chocolate Caramel Tarts: Swap almond flour with oat flour or rice flour. Use seed-based butter like sunflower seed butter for crust if needed. Ensure all ingredients are processed in a nut-free facility for allergy safety.

FAQs That Help with Chocolate Salted Caramel Tarts

• Can I make the tart crust ahead of time?

Yes, you can prepare the tart crust dough up to 2 days in advance. Wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator. When ready to use, let it sit at room temperature for 10 minutes before rolling out.

• How do I prevent the caramel from burning?

Stir the sugar constantly and watch it closely. Remove from heat as soon as it reaches a deep amber color. Use a light-colored pan to help you see the color change more easily.

• What type of chocolate works best for the ganache?

Use high-quality dark or semi-sweet chocolate with at least 60% cocoa content. Chocolate chips or chopped chocolate bars both work well for creating a smooth, rich ganache.

• How can I tell if the caramel is the right consistency?

The caramel should coat the back of a spoon and have a golden-amber color. When you drag a spatula through it, it should leave a clear path that slowly fills back in.

Chocolate Salted Caramel Tarts Recipe

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4.8 from 8 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour
• Yield: 8 1x

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Description

Rich chocolate salted caramel tarts blend indulgent French pastry techniques with irresistible sweet-salty notes. Silky ganache and golden caramel create a luxurious dessert experience that will delight your senses and elevate any gathering.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 1 ¼ cups (160 g) all-purpose flour
• 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
• 200 g (7 oz) semi-sweet or dark chocolate, chopped

Butter and Dairy:

• ½ cup (115 g) unsalted butter, cold and cubed
• 6 tablespoons (85 g) unsalted butter, room temperature, cut into pieces
• ½ cup (120 ml) heavy cream, room temperature
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, room temperature
• ½ cup (120 ml) heavy cream

Seasoning and Other:

• ¼ cup (50 g) granulated sugar
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 large egg yolk
• 12 tablespoons cold water
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ teaspoon sea salt
• Flaky sea salt
• Chocolate shavings or cocoa powder (optional)

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Instructions

1. Craft a buttery foundation by pulsing flour and powdered sugar with chilled butter in a food processor until it resembles sandy texture.
2. Incorporate egg yolk and minimal cold water, continuing to pulse until the dough coheres into a uniform mass.
3. Shape the mixture into a compact disc, encase in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 30 minutes to stabilize the fat and relax the gluten.
4. Preheat the oven to 350F (175C) and gently roll out the chilled dough, carefully pressing it into tart molds with delicate, even pressure.
5. Perforate the base with fork marks to prevent rising, then line with parchment paper and weight with ceramic beads or dried legumes.
6. Bake the crust for 15 minutes, remove the weights, and continue baking until achieving a golden, crisp appearance.
7. Create caramel by melting sugar in a heavy-bottomed saucepan, stirring continuously until it transforms into a rich amber hue.
8. Introduce butter and whisk vigorously, then stream in heavy cream with caution, as the mixture will dramatically bubble and expand.
9. Incorporate sea salt into the caramel, allowing it to cool momentarily before generously filling the pre-baked tart shells.
10. Chill the caramel-filled shells to set the layer firmly.
11. Prepare ganache by gently heating cream until it reaches a soft simmer, then pouring over high-quality chocolate chips.
12. Allow the hot cream to melt the chocolate, then stir until achieving a silky, uniform consistency.
13. Cascade the glossy ganache over the set caramel, using a spatula to create a smooth surface.
14. Refrigerate the tarts to solidify the ganache completely.
15. Elevate the presentation by sprinkling flaky sea salt and optional chocolate shavings just before serving.
16. Serve at a cool temperature to maintain the structural integrity of the layers.

Notes

• Chill the dough thoroughly to prevent shrinkage and ensure a crisp, flaky crust during baking.
• Use a candy thermometer when making caramel to achieve the perfect amber color without burning the sugar.
• Create a gluten-free version by substituting almond flour or gluten-free flour blend for traditional wheat flour.
• Control the salt level by using less sea salt for a milder flavor or adding extra for a more pronounced salted caramel taste.

• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: French

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 8
• Calories: 400
• Sugar: 30 g
• Sodium: 150 mg
• Fat: 25 g
• Saturated Fat: 15 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 40 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 4 g
• Cholesterol: 70 mg