Chocolate Hazelnut Tart

Hazelnut and chocolate are stellar together (millions of Nutella lovers can't be wrong!). And you can check dessert off your holiday to-do list by making this ahead. To balance the richness of the filling, add a dollop of lightly sweetened whipped cream or crème fraîche when serving.

Chocolate Hazelnut Tart
Photo: Leigh Beisch
Active Time:
25 mins
Total Time:
1 hr 50 mins
Servings:
14
Nutrition Profile:

Ingredients

Crust

  • ¾ cup hazelnuts, toasted

  • ¾ cup whole-wheat pastry flour

  • ¼ cup granulated sugar

  • ¼ teaspoon salt

  • 1 large egg, lightly beaten

  • 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted

Filling & Decoration

  • 8 ounces dark chocolate (70% cacao), chopped, or bittersweet chocolate chips

  • 6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature

  • 2 tablespoons heavy cream

  • 3 large eggs, at room temperature

  • ½ cup packed light brown sugar

  • ¼ teaspoon hazelnut extract or vanilla extract

  • Caramel-Dipped Hazelnut Spikes (see Associated Recipe), optional

Directions

  1. To prepare crust: Lightly coat a 9-inch removable-bottom tart pan with cooking spray. Line the bottom with parchment paper. Coat the paper with cooking spray.

  2. Pulse hazelnuts in a food processor until finely ground. Add flour, granulated sugar and salt and pulse for a few seconds to combine. Mix egg and melted butter in a small bowl and then add to the food processor. Pulse until combined and a smooth dough forms. Transfer the dough to the prepared pan. Using floured fingertips, press it firmly over the bottom and up the sides. Prick a few times with a fork. Freeze the crust for 15 minutes.

  3. Preheat oven to 375°F.

  4. Place the tart pan on a baking sheet. Line the crust with parchment paper or foil with a 1-inch overhang. Fill with pie weights (or dried beans). Bake until the edges start to turn slightly golden brown, about 15 minutes. Lift out the paper (or foil) and pie weights. Bake the crust for 5 minutes more. Transfer to a wire rack.

  5. Reduce oven temperature to 325°.

  6. To prepare filling: Set a metal bowl over a saucepan of barely simmering water; the bowl should not touch the water. Add chocolate, butter and cream to the bowl and stir with a silicone spatula until smooth. Remove the bowl and set aside to cool slightly.

  7. Combine eggs, brown sugar and hazelnut (or vanilla) extract in the bowl of a stand mixer. Beat with the whisk attachment on medium-low speed until the mixture turns pale yellow and the eggs have tripled in volume, about 5 minutes.

  8. Carefully drizzle and fold the warm chocolate mixture into the eggs with the spatula using a circular motion. The mixture will deflate slightly, but be careful not to lose all the air. Pour the filling into the crust and smooth the surface.

  9. Bake the tart until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 30 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack for 30 minutes. Release the pan sides and transfer the tart to a serving plate. Decorate with hazelnut spikes, if desired.

Associated recipe

Caramel-Dipped Hazelnut Spikes

To make ahead

Freeze crust (Steps 1-2) for up to 1 week. Refrigerate tart for up to 3 days.

Equipment

9-inch removable-bottom tart pan, parchment paper, pie weights (or dried beans)

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

315 Calories
21g Fat
28g Carbs
5g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 14
Serving Size 1 slice
Calories 315
% Daily Value *
Total Carbohydrate 28g 10%
Dietary Fiber 4g 14%
Total Sugars 16g
Protein 5g 10%
Total Fat 21g 27%
Saturated Fat 10g 50%
Cholesterol 77mg 26%
Vitamin A 364IU 7%
Sodium 64mg 3%
Potassium 109mg 2%

Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate.

* Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.

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