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Chocolate, Praline, and Cocoa Nib Tart

Servings: 1 (8- or 9-inch) tart
Author: Shawn

Ingredients

Praline

  • 144 g almond-hazelnut praline paste (about 2/3 cup; see note)
  • 27 g dark chocolate 70% cacao
  • 60 g feuilletine (2/3 cup; see note)

Crust

  • 1 pâte sucrée, chilled and ready to roll (see note)
  • Unsalted butter for greasing

Chocolate dentelle

  • 37 g skinned toasted hazelnuts (1/4 cup)
  • 75 g granulated sugar (6 Tbs)
  • 62 g unsalted butter (4 Tbs)
  • 25 g light corn syrup (4 tsp)
  • 21 g milk (4 tsp)
  • 37 g cocoa nibs (5 Tbs)
  • 7 g Dutch-processed cocoa (4 tsp)

Chocolate ganache

  • 200 g dark chocolate 70% cacao, coarsely chopped
  • 170 g heavy cream (3/4 cup)
  • 25 g light corn syrup (4 tsp)
  • 14 g unsalted butter, room temperature (1 Tbs)

Instructions

For the praline

  • Scoop the praline paste into a medium bowl.
  • Melt the chocolate in a small bowl, using a microwave at 30-second intervals, stirring between each. Stir into praline paste.
  • Stir in feuilletine.
  • Place a piece of parchment on a work surface and scrape the praline mixture into the center. Place another piece of parchment to cover and roll to under 1/8 inch thick. Place praline, still between parchment sheets, on a baking sheet and freeze for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight.

For the crust

  • Preheat oven to 325°F. Butter an 8- or 9-inch tart pan.
  • Roll out crust and fit it into the tart pan. Place a piece of parchment over the crust and fill with pie weights (or uncooked rice, or beans).
  • Bake 20 minutes, then rotate the crust and bake 20 minutes more. Remove pie weights and parchment and bake until golden brown, about another 20 minutes.
  • Let cool completely.
  • Measure the inside of the crust, and, if possible, find a bowl or pan lid to use as a template for cutting the praline.
  • Use the template to cut the praline into a circle the same size as the bottom of the crust, then return to the freezer until it's time to assemble the tart.

For the chocolate dentelle

  • Chop the hazelnuts into pieces about the same size as the cocoa nibs. Set aside.
  • In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine sugar, butter, corn syrup, and milk. Bring to a boil and cook to 230°F. Remove from heat, stir in hazelnuts, cocoa nibs, and cocoa.
  • Pour the mixture unto a piece of parchment and place another piece of parchment on top. Roll as thin as possible. Remove the top piece of parchment and transfer dentelle on the parchment to a baking sheet.
  • Bake for 12 minutes, or until the bubbles forming on top become small and you can smell the cocoa nibs and hazelnuts.
  • Let cool for 2-3 minutes, then use an inverted bowl and a chef's knife to cut out a circle about 5 inches in diameter. Let cool completely and set aside.

For the chocolate ganache

  • Melt the chocolate in a medium bowl and allow to cool to room temperature (either use a double boiler or microwave in 30-second increments, stirring in between, until chocolate is completely melted.
  • In a medium saucepan, mix heavy cream and corn syrup over medium heat, and bring to a simmer, stirring to combine.
  • Add 1/3 the heavy cream mixture to the melted chocolate and stir until smooth. Repeat two more times to incorporate the remaining cream mixture.
  • Stir in butter.

For assembly

  • Peel the praline from the parchment and place on the bottom of the tart crust. Pour ganache over and smooth the top. Let cool at room temperature for at least 4 hours before placing dentelle on top, offset to one side.

Notes

You can make your own almond-hazelnut praline paste.
Here's how you can make feuilletine.
Use 1/2 of this pâte sucrée recipe for this tart.