Monday 27 August 2007

August Daring Baker Challenge


Milk Chocolate and Caramel Tart

This months Daring Baker challenge hails from Eric Kayser’s Sweet and Savory Tarts - Milk Chocolate and Caramel Tart. I often have a little debate with myself which I like better caramel or chocolate, and I’m still not sure, but hey what does it matter they are both present in this tart!

I was pretty sure that this would be our kind of pudding, and it was. It’s made in either a 9" round or 10" square tart tin. I didn’t have a square tin, although I’ve found one online, and although I’d expected it to take weeks to arrive, it came with the postman just as I put this tart in the fridge!


I thought this was a fun tart to make, nothing difficult, just a few stages. The tart comprises a chocolate pastry, caramel layer, then chocolate cream on top, which is finally scattered with fragments of caramel.

I made the pastry one day, lined the tin the next, than baked it the third day. It was a shortbread-y pastry flavoured with hazelnuts and cinnamon, and a good amount of icing sugar as well. It was a very soft dough, and I wondered if it would roll out ok, but it did, so I needn’t have worried. I love cinnamon and chocolate so thought the dough tasted gorgeous!


After baking and cooling the pastry in the tin it was time to do the caramel layer which is a normal sugar caramel with cream and butter, then eggs and flour are added and baked in the cooled chocolate case. The flour and egg mixture turned a fabulous amber caramel into something a bit more murky, but it looked ok when it came out of the oven.


The chocolate layer is added when the caramel is cold. Just a simple melting of milk chocolate and folding it through whipped cream.


The final topping is a caramel decoration, which was a quick job. It’s just a sugar caramel that you pour onto a baking sheet and let it harden and go cold then break up into little crispy sugar shards.



We really liked this pudding, but if you make it be warned a small slice is all you need, as it’s really rich as a whole - absolutely yummy rich =) This would be a lovely special occasion tart to round of a party in small slices. I had a bit leftover, and kept it in the fridge for a couple of days, and although the texture of the mousse and caramel changed into something a lot firmer and fridge cold, it was still good.

I should really confess that I had to buy the book that this tart came from, an a lovely book it is too. Now which recipe will I make to use the other half of the chocolate pastry, hmm…

Thanks to Veronica and Patricia for this months delicious challenge you will find the recipe by clicking their names, and if you'd like to see some more entries please click the Daring Bakers Blogroll and read away.

53 comments:

Anne said...

I love the perfect layers of your tart. Beautiful!

KJ said...

Your tart is perfect. What a fantastic job.

Pille said...

Nice and neat layers - beautiful!!

Alpineberry Mary said...

You did a great job on your tart. I'm looking forward to seeing what else you'll be making with your new tart pan and new book.

Amanda at Little Foodies said...

Lovely looking tart Kelly-Jane.
I'm beginning to realise I still have so much to learn about baking. Cooking I can do standing on my head but baking... well....

Anne said...

That's beautiful - the layers are so perfect, and the caramel shards are really pretty.

Anna's kitchen table said...

Absolutely beautiful KJ!

http://atannaskitchentable.blogspot.com/

Meeta K. Wolff said...

Lovely layers and such a brilliant job! Well done!

Peabody said...

Beautiful job. It was hard to pick out which was better, the caramel or the chocolate!

Anonymous said...

Your tart looks marvelous! Perfect layers. You are right that it is so rich and a small piece is all you need.

Susan said...

Very pretty and professional, Kelly-Jane. Chocolate and caramel are a perfect combo - most of the candy bars here are all variations on it.

vonsachsen said...

Your tart looks great! Not too much flour either, hmm, potential dessert at my place too :)

kellypea said...

Whoa. Your tart is quite lovely. The layers are soooo perfect. And I agree with the skinny slice. It's pretty rich. I'm tempted to purchase the book as well...

leslie @ definitely not martha said...

Your tart looks so perfect! Great job!

Deborah said...

Wonderful layering!! Your layers firmed up perfectly.

Patricia Scarpin said...

Kelly-Jane, what a lovely tart, it looks terrific!
I'm so glad you enjoyed making it and also to find out that you didn't have problems with the dough. :)

Belinda said...

Your tart looks picture perfect...and the sparkling caramel jewels on the top are really a beautiful finishing touch. :-)

Brilynn said...

Your layers are so defined, well done!

Lis said...

Aww Kelly-Jane your tart looks bakery perfect! I love it. =)

You did such a nice job!

xoxo

Paola Westbeek said...

KJ, I've said it before and I'll say it again...your pictures make me want to lick the screen!! This looks absolutely yum!

paola

Anonymous said...

Your tart is simply beautiful! I love the layers--so distinct! (Unlike mine!) :)

Anonymous said...

Lovely! Your tart looks perfect and delicious. Way to go, Daring Baker!

Elle said...

Such a pretty tart...your caramel decorations look like jewels! Might have to buy the book, too. Your caramel looks perfect and so does your mousse. Mmmmm.

Anita said...

What a gorgeous tart - it looks like a sparkly ornament in the first picture!

Shaun said...

Kelly-Jane - Look at you! What a gorgeous tart (I mean the pudding - not you)! Your caramel is exactly what I would expect in terms of colour and texture, and your mousse looks divine, so airy and smooth. I'm really impressed by the overall presentation and the textures of each layer. I also have a weakness for spices in tart crusts...

Sara said...

I agree with everyone else - you piece of tart does look absolutely perfect. Yay you!

Andrea said...

Wow, this turned out perfect! Nicely done!

Anh said...

Your layers are so perfectly done! I love it.

Lydia (The Perfect Pantry) said...

Your caramel pieces look like little jewels shining on the top of the tart. Beautiful!

Lady M said...

Wow wow wow. So beautiful! I am recently starting to love caramel, and you KNOW how much I do love milk chocolate. ;)

xoxo
Ilana

Anonymous said...

Kelly-Jane, your tart looks perfect! Well done!

Helene said...

Gorgeous job! Now, you have to get going with the new oan and book. I can't wait! I loved the mousse folding pic...I could dive in it!

Aoife said...

What a beautiful, bejeweled tart! Let us know how the rest of the book is.

Dharm said...

Kelly Jane! Love how your tart turned out. The layers are just great!

Kate said...

Wow that looks amazing! You take such wonderful photos of your food and it always looks so neat - michelin star presentation!
I must say I'm tempted to buy the book also. I've got Dorie Greenspan on my wish list at Amazon after reading your blog, I'm going to order it when I get paid (only two weeks to go!).

Unknown said...

Your crust is probably the best one I've seen - beautifully done.

Inne said...

it looks absolutely perfect, Kelly-Jane. Indeed, great excuse to buy the book, I hadn't thought of that yet.

sunita said...

T tart looks absolutely gorgeous... perfect layers!

Jenny said...

What lovely layers! Great job!

MyKitchenInHalfCups said...

Wow what a great mousse - so thick, a perfect pillow! I have more more shell to try, maybe some darker chocolate and an egg white mousse.
Beautiful Kelly-Jane!

Amy said...

Your mousse looks positively divine! I love the photo with the billowing mounds of lovely mousse. Great job!

Katie said...

Your tart looks perfect. Really professional. I too love the cinnamon and chocolate combo.

Mara said...

Looks beautiful, Kelly-Jane!I love anything caramel flavoured :P

Cynthia said...

That slice is perfection!

Maggie said...

The tart looks amazing.

Jerry said...

I love the cracked caramel!

Chris said...

Wow! Your tart is stunning! Great job on the challenge.

Kelly-Jane said...

Thank you all for your wonderful comments, I really enjoyed doing this one =)

KJxx

Wendy said...

Your layers are outstanding. I liked the cinnamon in the dough, too. It was very complimentary to all the flavors. This is a special occasion tart able to wow a crowd. Wendy

Dolores said...

Your layers turned out perfectly! Can't wait to see what you find in the book for the leftover pastry!

Anonymous said...

Your tart looks so well made! Luscious! :)

breadchick said...

What perfect layers you have!! Just like looking at a tart on a pastry cart. Great job!!

Anonymous said...

There is only one word for this; Stunning!!

George x