It is almost Thanksgiving so it is time to make this rich and decadent tart again. It's everything a holiday dessert should be -- the perfect sweet and satisfying ending to the meal. For all you chocolate lovers out there, this will be a sure favorite, and, bonus, it is AMAZING for breakfast the next morning with a cup of coffee.
Ingredients
- For the pâte brisée:
- 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 3/4 stick (6 tablespoons) cold unsalted butter, cut into bits
- 2 tablespoons cold vegetable shortening
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 3 1/2 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
- 3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
- 3/4 cup light corn syrup
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into bits
- 4 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 2/3 cups pecan halves
Instructions
To make the pâte brisée:(you can do this in a large bowl with a pastry cutter, or, my preferred way, in a food processor)
Blend the flour, the butter, the vegetable shortening, and the salt until the mixture resembles meal. Add 2 tablespoons ice water, toss the mixture until the water is incorporated, adding more ice water if necessary to form a dough, and form the dough into a ball. Dust the dough with flour and chill it, wrapped in wax paper, for 1 hour.
Roll out the dough 1/8 inch thick on a lightly floured surface, fit into a 10-inch tart pan (or use a rectangular tart pan to change it up!) with a removable fluted rim, and trim the edge, leaving a 1/2-inch overhang. Fold the overhang inward onto the side of the shell, pressing it firmly, and chill the shell for 30 minutes.
Spread the chocolate, melted, on the bottom of the shell and chill the shell for 15 minutes.
In a heavy saucepan combine the brown sugar and the syrup, bring the mixture to a boil, stirring, and simmer it for 5 minutes. Let the mixture cool until it is no longer bubbling, add the butter, and stir the mixture until the butter is melted.
In a bowl whisk together the eggs, the vanilla, and a pinch of salt and add the syrup mixture in a slow stream, whisking.
Add the pecans to the shell, pour in the egg mixture, and if necessary tap down the pecans to coat them with the egg mixture.
Bake the tart in the middle of a preheated 350°F. oven for 40 to 45 minutes, or until the crust is pale golden, let it cool, and serve it warm with vanilla ice cream.
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