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Caramel-Pecan Tart and Pasta Frolla

Course Dessert
Cuisine + Season All Year
Servings 1 9-inch tart

Equipment

  • 9-inch tart pan with round parchment paper liner

Ingredients
  

Filling

  • 3 1/2 cups coarsely chopped pecans or tiny native pecans, toasted
  • 1/2 cups firmly packed brown sugar
  • 1/2 cups honey
  • 2/3 cups butter
  • 3 tablespoons whipping cream

Pastry

  • 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
  • 1/2 cups sugar
  • 1/8 teaspoons salt
  • 14 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
  • 1 large egg, lightly beaten
  • 1 large egg yolk, lightly beaten
  • 1 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 1 tablespoons freshly grated lemon zest

Instructions
 

  • Begin by toasting the pecans in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake at 350° for 5 to 7 minutes, or until lightly toasted. Cool on a wire rack 15 minutes or until completely cool.
  • To make the pasta frolla shell, pulse the flour, sugar and salt in a food processor until just combined.
  • Add the butter and pulse until the mixture resembles coarse meal—6 to 8 times.
  • Whisk together the egg, egg yolk, vanilla and lemon zest.
  • With the processor running, add the egg mixture and process just until the dough begins to come together.
  • Turn out the dough onto a floured work surface and lightly knead to form a ball.
  • Divide the dough into 2 pieces and gently press into flat disks. Wrap the discs tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or overnight.
  • When the dough is chilled, roll a disc into a large circle with a 1/8-inch thickness and transfer to the parchment paper-lined tart pan (if the dough breaks when you transfer it to the tart pan, just press the dough together and it should be fine).
  • Prick the bottom of the shell with a fork and bake at 350° for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the edges are lightly browned. Cool on a wire rack for 15 minutes, or until completely cool.
  • To make the filling, bring the brown sugar, honey, butter and whipping cream to a boil in a 3-quart saucepan over medium-high heat.
  • Stir in the toasted pecans and spoon the hot filling into the prepared shell.
  • Bake at 350° for 25 to 30 minutes, or until golden and bubbly all the way to the center. It will not be solid; it will shake. It may appear runny, but as long as you see it bubbling all across the tart it will be fine and set once it cools.
  • Cool on a wire rack for 30 minutes or until completely cool. The tart gets better as the days go by because the honey and sugars crystallize slightly and are more caramel-like.
  • I like it best about 3 days old (it can be left at room temperature unless it’s a warm environment).
  • Raw dough can be frozen for up to 1 month.
Keyword caramel, pecan, pie, tart