Hazelnut Chocolate Mini Tart Recipes

HAZELNUT-CHOCOLATE MINI TART

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400ºF.
• Process flour, butter and cream cheese in food processor 30 sec. or until mixture is well blended and starts to form ball. Shape dough into 24 small balls; press onto bottoms and up sides of 24 mini muffin pan cups.
• Bake 10 to 12 min. or until lightly browned. Run knife around sides of cups to loosen crusts; cool completely.
• Meanwhile, microwave COOL WHIP, chocolates and chocolate-hazelnut spread in microwaveable bowl on HIGH 1 to 1-1/2 min. or until chocolates are completely melted and mixture is well blended, stirring every 30 sec. Spoon into pastry bag fitted with star tip. Refrigerate 1 hour.
• Remove crusts from pan; fill with chocolate mixture. Top with nuts.

CARAMEL-HAZELNUT MINI TARTLETS

Steps:

• For crusts:
• Butter 30 metal or silicone mini muffin cups (1- to 1 1/2- tablespoon capacity). Blend flour, sugar, and salt in processor. Add butter and blend, using on/off turns, until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add 5 tablespoons cream and vanilla and blend, using on/off turns, just until mixture begins to clump together, adding more cream by teaspoonfuls if dough is dry. Press 2 teaspoonfuls dough evenly onto bottom and up sides of each prepared mini muffin cup. Pierce tartlet crusts all over with fork. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Freeze crusts 30 minutes before baking. Bake frozen crusts until golden and baked through, about 25 minutes. Transfer to rack and cool crusts in muffin cups 10 minutes. Carefully loosen crusts from muffin cups. Transfer crusts to rimmed baking sheet and cool completely. Place 2 to 3 hazelnuts in each crust.
• For caramel filling:
• Combine brown sugar, butter, corn syrup, 2 tablespoons water, and salt in heavy medium saucepan. Stir over medium heat until sugar dissolves. Bring mixture to boil, then boil 2 minutes without stirring (mixture will bubble up and thicken slightly). Remove pan from heat. Add cream (mixture will bubble vigorously); stir until smooth. Pour caramel into 2-cup measuring cup; cool 10 minutes. Spoon caramel over hazelnuts in crusts, filling crusts almost to top. Refrigerate until caramel begins to firm up slightly, about 1 hour.
• Stir chocolate in top of double boiler set over simmering water until melted and smooth. Drizzle melted chocolate over top of tartlets. Chill until chocolate is set, about 30 minutes. DO AHEAD: Mini tartlets can be made 1 day ahead. Keep refrigerated. Let tartlets stand at room temperature 1 hour before serving.
• GOOD TO KNOW:
• Freezing the tartlet crusts before baking reduces buckling and helps them hold their shape while they bake.

CHOCOLATE & HAZELNUT PRALINE TART

Steps:

• Make the pastry. Cream together the butter and sugar, then add flour and almonds. Bring everything together with the egg. If the pastry is very soft, chill for 20 mins. If not, roll out to fit a deepish 23cm fluted flan tin; if the pastry breaks, press scraps of pastry into the gaps, leaving a slight overhang. Chill for 20 mins.
• Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Line the case with baking parchment and baking beans, then bake for 10 mins. Remove beans and cook for another 10 mins until golden.
• Meanwhile, toast the nuts in a dry pan until starting to brown. Scatter over 4 tbsp of sugar, cook until it caramelises, then tip nuts onto a baking tray lined with parchment. Leave to cool, then roughly chop. Over a pan of barely simmering water, melt the chocolate, butter and alcohol together, then set aside to cool slightly. Over the same pan, beat the egg, yolks and remaining sugar until pale and fluffy. Take off the heat, then fold in the chocolate mix.
• When case is cooked, remove from oven and turn the heat down to 160C/fan 140C/gas 3. Scatter most of the hazelnuts over the base, then tip in the chocolate mix, pressing it down slightly. Cook the tart for 15-20 mins until the chocolate has almost set. Leave to cool, then serve scattered with the remaining nuts. Can be made up to 1 day ahead.

CHOCOLATE TART WITH HAZELNUT SHORTBREAD CRUST

Steps:

• A sublime silky chocolate custard fills this simple hazelnut shortbread crust. Serve garnished with whipped cream and toasted hazelnuts for a special touch.;
• Preheat oven to 400F. 2. To prepare crust: Coat a 9-inch tart pan with cooking spray. Combine whole-wheat pastry flour, 1/4 cup all-purpose flour, hazelnuts, 1/4 cup sugar and salt in a food processor; process until the nuts are finely ground. Add butter one piece at a time, pulsing once or twice after each addition, until incorporated. Add oil and ice water and pulse just until incorporated. Turn the dough out into the prepared pan (it will be crumbly), spread evenly and press firmly into the bottom and all the way up the sides to form a crust. 3. Bake the crust until set and the edges are beginning to brown, about 15 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack. 4. To prepare filling: Sprinkle gelatin over water in a small bowl; let stand, stirring once or twice, while you prepare the rest of the filling. 5. Heat milk in a medium saucepan over medium heat until steaming (but not boiling); remove from the heat to cool slightly. 6. Whisk egg yolks, 2 1/2 tablespoons sugar and 1 tablespoon flour in a medium bowl until combined. Gradually whisk in 1/2 cup of the hot milk. Whisk the egg yolk mixture into the pan with the remaining hot milk. Return to the heat and cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon (do not boil), about 1 minute. Remove from the heat; whisk in chocolate until completely melted. Whisk in the softened gelatin and coffee liqueur (if using) until smooth. 7. Beat reconstituted egg whites and cream of tartar in a large bowl with an electric mixer on low speed until frothy. Increase speed to high and beat until soft peaks form. Gradually add the remaining 1/4 cup sugar and beat until stiff peaks form, 3 to 5 minutes. Gently fold the chocolate custard into the egg whites until blended. Spoon the filling into the crust; smooth the top with the back of a spoon and chill, uncovered, until set, about 1 hour.
• NUTRITION INFORMATION: Per serving: 268 calories; 16 g fat (6 g sat, 7 g mono); 55 mg cholesterol; 29 g carbohydrate; 6 g protein; 3 g fiber; 141 mg sodium; 117 mg potassium. 2 Carbohydrate Servings Exchanges: 2 carbohydrates (other), 3 fat
• TIP: Ingredient Note: Dried egg whites are pasteurized-a wise choice when making uncooked fillings. You'll find them in the baking or natural-foods section of most supermarkets. Reconstitute according to package directions.
• MAKE AHEAD TIP: Loosely cover and refrigerate the tart for up to 1 day. | Equipment: 9-inch tart pan (with or without removable bottom)
• From www.eatingwell.com with permission. 2009 Eating Well Inc. Photo by Ken Burris

HAZELNUT CARAMEL MINI TARTS

Steps:

• Butter 30 metal mini muffin cups.
• Blend flour, sugar, and salt in processor. Add butter and blend, using on/off turns, until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
• Add 5 tablespoons cream and vanilla and blend, using on/off turns, just until mixture begins to clump together, adding more cream by teaspoonfuls if dough is dry.
• Press 2 teaspoonfuls dough evenly onto bottom and up sides of each prepared mini muffin cup. Pierce tart crusts all over with fork. Freeze crusts 30 minutes before baking.
• Preheat oven to 350°F
• Bake frozen crusts until golden and baked through, about 25 minutes.
• Transfer to rack and cool crusts in muffin cups 10 minutes. Carefully loosen crusts from muffin cups. Transfer crusts to rimmed baking sheet and cool completely.
• Place 2 to 3 hazelnuts (or equivalent of chopped hazelnuts) in each crust.
• For caramel filling:
• Combine brown sugar, butter, corn syrup, 2 tablespoons water, and salt in heavy medium saucepan. Stir over medium heat until sugar dissolves.
• Bring mixture to boil, then boil 2 minutes without stirring (mixture will bubble up and thicken slightly).
• Remove pan from heat.
• Add cream (mixture will bubble vigorously); stir until smooth.
• Pour caramel into 2-cup measuring cup; cool 10 minutes. Spoon caramel over hazelnuts in crusts, filling crusts almost to top. Refrigerate until caramel begins to firm up slightly, about 1 hour.
• Stir chocolate in top of double boiler set over simmering water until melted and smooth. Drizzle melted chocolate over top of tartlets. Chill until chocolate is set, about 30 minutes.