Decadent Chocolate Coffee Walnut Tart
Elevate your dessert game with this Decadent Chocolate Coffee Walnut Tart, an exquisite holiday treat that looks as impressive as it tastes. The rich, earthy notes of dark chocolate beautifully blend with coffee-infused Kahlua, and the crunchy texture of toasted walnuts adds a delightful contrast. Encased in a buttery shortbread cookie crust, this tart is surprisingly simple to prepare, making it a perfect addition to your holiday table or any special occasion. Serve it warm, at room temperature, or even chilled for a sophisticated dessert experience that will leave your guests asking for seconds.
N/A
Servings
N/A
Calories
12
Ingredients
Ingredients
all-purpose flour
1 1/4 cups (plain)
granulated sugar
1/4 cup (plain)
salt
1/4 teaspoon (plain)
cold unsalted butter
1/2 cup (cut into small pieces)
heavy cream
3-4 tablespoons (whisked with egg yolk)
egg yolk
1 (whisked with cream)
toasted walnuts
2 cups (coarsely chopped)
dark chocolate chips
1/2 cup (plain)
light brown sugar
3/4 cup (packed)
dark corn syrup
1/4 cup (plain)
unsalted butter
1/4 cup (plain)
coffee liqueur
3 tablespoons (plain)
Instructions
1
Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
2
To prepare the crust, combine the flour, sugar, and salt in a food processor. Pulse until mixed thoroughly.
3
Add the cold unsalted butter and pulse until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
4
In a separate bowl, whisk together the heavy cream and egg yolk. Gradually add the cream mixture to the food processor, pulsing until the dough comes together. Shape the dough into a disk.
5
On a lightly floured surface, press the dough evenly into an 11-inch tart pan with a removable bottom, ensuring it covers the base and sides evenly up to the rim.
6
Bake the crust in the preheated oven for about 12 minutes, or until it turns lightly golden. Remove from the oven and let cool on a wire rack.
7
Once the crust is cool, sprinkle the coarsely chopped toasted walnuts and dark chocolate chips evenly across the bottom of the crust.
8
For the filling, combine the light brown sugar, dark corn syrup, unsalted butter, and heavy cream in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir continuously until the mixture comes to a boil and the sugar is fully dissolved, about 1 minute.
9
Remove the saucepan from heat and stir in the coffee liqueur until well combined.
10
Carefully pour the filling over the layered walnuts and chocolate in the tart crust, ensuring even coverage.
11
Return the tart to the oven and bake for an additional 15 minutes, or until the filling is bubbly around the edges.
12
Let the tart cool on a wire rack for at least 30 minutes before slicing. Serve warm or at room temperature. Enjoy the delightful combination of flavors!
Nutrition Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Decadent Chocolate Coffee Walnut Tart?
It is an exquisite holiday dessert featuring a buttery shortbread crust filled with toasted walnuts, dark chocolate chips, and a coffee-infused filling made with Kahlua.
How many ingredients are required for this recipe?
There are 12 specific ingredients required to make this tart.
What type of crust is used for the tart?
The recipe uses a buttery shortbread cookie crust made from flour, sugar, salt, butter, heavy cream, and an egg yolk.
What is the recommended oven temperature?
Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for both the crust and the final bake.
Can I use salted butter for the crust?
The recipe calls for cold unsalted butter. If you use salted butter, you may want to reduce the additional salt in the crust.
How do I prepare the tart crust?
Pulse flour, sugar, and salt in a food processor, add cold butter until it reaches coarse crumbs, then mix in a cream and egg yolk mixture until dough forms.
What size tart pan should I use?
An 11-inch tart pan with a removable bottom is recommended for this recipe.
Do I need to blind bake the crust?
Yes, the crust should be baked alone for about 12 minutes until lightly golden before adding the filling.
What type of walnuts should I use?
The recipe calls for 2 cups of toasted walnuts that have been coarsely chopped.
What kind of chocolate is best for this tart?
Dark chocolate chips are used to provide a rich, earthy flavor that complements the coffee.
How do I give the tart a coffee flavor?
The coffee flavor comes from adding 3 tablespoons of coffee liqueur, such as Kahlua, to the filling.
How is the tart filling prepared?
Combine light brown sugar, dark corn syrup, butter, and heavy cream in a saucepan and bring to a boil for one minute before adding the liqueur.
What type of corn syrup is needed?
This recipe specifically requires 1/4 cup of dark corn syrup.
Should I use light or dark brown sugar?
The recipe specifies 3/4 cup of packed light brown sugar.
How do I assemble the tart layers?
Once the crust is cool, sprinkle the toasted walnuts and chocolate chips across the bottom before pouring the hot filling over them.
How long does the tart bake once filled?
The tart needs an additional 15 minutes of baking time once the filling is added.
How can I tell when the tart is done?
The tart is finished baking when the filling is bubbly around the edges.
Does the tart need to cool before serving?
Yes, it should cool on a wire rack for at least 30 minutes to allow the filling to set.
At what temperature should the tart be served?
You can serve it warm, at room temperature, or even chilled.
Is this tart difficult to make?
No, despite its sophisticated appearance, it is described as surprisingly simple to prepare.
How many eggs are in the recipe?
The recipe uses only one egg yolk, which is mixed into the crust dough.
Can I substitute the walnuts with other nuts?
While walnuts are traditional for this recipe, you could likely substitute pecans or hazelnuts for a different flavor profile.
Is this recipe suitable for the holidays?
Yes, it is specifically described as an exquisite holiday treat perfect for special occasions.
What should the dough consistency look like before shaping?
The dough should come together after pulsing the flour mixture with the butter and liquid ingredients.
Do I need to grease the tart pan?
The recipe does not specify greasing, as the buttery shortbread crust typically releases well from a tart pan with a removable bottom.
What is the purpose of the heavy cream in the filling?
The heavy cream adds richness and helps create a smooth, decadent texture in the boiled filling.
Can I make this tart without alcohol?
You can omit the coffee liqueur, though it will remove the signature coffee flavor profile.
How much flour is in the crust?
The crust requires 1 1/4 cups of all-purpose flour.
How should I chop the walnuts?
The walnuts should be coarsely chopped to provide a pleasant crunchy texture contrast.
What is the best way to slice the tart?
Allowing the tart to cool for at least 30 minutes ensures the filling is stable enough for clean slices.