Dreamy Chocolate Salted Caramel Tarts Recipe for Sweet Lovers

Decadent desserts rarely come as tempting as these salted caramel chocolate tarts that will make your taste buds dance with pure delight.

Sweet and salty notes blend seamlessly in this irresistible treat perfect for any occasion.

Each bite promises a rich, velvety experience that melts in your mouth.

The combination of smooth chocolate and golden caramel creates a symphony of flavors that elevates every single moment.

Layers of intense chocolate intermingle with delicate, buttery caramel, creating a dessert that feels both luxurious and comforting.

Simple ingredients transform into an extraordinary culinary masterpiece that promises to impress even the most discerning dessert enthusiasts.

These tarts are your ticket to becoming the ultimate dessert hero at any gathering.

Storage Guide For Chocolate Salted Caramel Tarts

• Fridge-Friendly Storage: Wrap each tart individually in plastic wrap or store in an airtight container. These delectable treats will stay fresh for 3-4 days when refrigerated, maintaining their creamy texture and rich flavor.
• Quick Temperature Tip: Remove tarts from the refrigerator 10-15 minutes before serving to soften slightly and enhance the caramel and chocolate layers' silky smoothness.
• Freezing Magic: Freeze unbaked tart shells for up to 1 month, wrapped tightly in plastic and placed in a freezer bag. Freeze completed tarts for up to 2 weeks, separating layers with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
• Make-Ahead Brilliance: Prepare individual components up to 2 days in advance. Keep the tart shells in a sealed container, store caramel separately in the refrigerator, and assemble just before serving to maintain the perfect texture and presentation.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 2 hours 30 minutes

Calories: 367 kcal

Servings: 9

What You’ll Need For Chocolate Salted Caramel Tarts

• All-Purpose Flour: Provides structure and texture for the crisp pastry base, choose unbleached for best flavor.
• Granulated Sugar: Adds subtle sweetness and helps with golden browning of the crust.
• Salt: Enhances overall flavor and balances the sweetness in the pastry.
• Unsalted Butter: Creates flaky texture, use cold European-style butter for superior richness.
• Egg Yolk: Binds ingredients and adds luxurious tender quality to the crust.
• Cold Water: Helps bring the dough together without overworking the gluten.

• Granulated Sugar: Core ingredient for creating smooth, rich caramel with deep amber color.
• Butter: Adds incredible depth and silky smooth texture to the caramel.
• Heavy Cream: Creates luxurious, creamy consistency in the caramel sauce.
• Vanilla Extract: Enhances and rounds out the caramel's complex flavor profile.
• Sea Salt: Provides unexpected depth and balances the sweetness perfectly.

• Dark Chocolate: Delivers intense, rich chocolate flavor, choose high-quality chocolate for best results.
• Heavy Cream: Creates smooth, glossy ganache with perfect pouring consistency.
• Butter: Adds silky shine and richness to the chocolate layer.
• Flaky Sea Salt: Provides beautiful finishing touch and flavor enhancement.
• Cocoa Powder: Optional garnish for elegant chocolate dusting.

Tools To Make Chocolate Salted Caramel Tarts

• Food Processor: Essential for quickly mixing tart dough with precise, even texture.
• Tart Pans: 6 small or 1 large pan for creating perfect tart shells with crisp edges.
• Rolling Pin: Helps roll out dough evenly and smoothly for consistent tart base.
• Fork: Used for pricking tart base to prevent air bubbles during baking.
• Parchment Paper: Prevents sticking and helps with weight distribution during blind baking.
• Pie Weights or Dried Beans: Keeps tart shell flat and prevents rising during initial baking.
• Medium Saucepan: For creating rich, golden caramel and heating cream.
• Whisk: Crucial for smooth mixing of caramel and preventing sugar crystallization.
• Small Saucepan: Heats cream for chocolate ganache perfectly.
• Mixing Bowl: Combines chocolate and cream for silky ganache.
• Spatula: Helps smooth ganache and spread caramel evenly in tart shells.

Steps To Prepare Chocolate Salted Caramel Tarts

• Create Buttery Crust

Whip up a delicate pastry base by blending flour with chilled butter until crumbly. Mix in an egg yolk and splash of cold water to form a smooth dough. Wrap and chill the mixture for half an hour to firm up perfectly.

• Shape and Bake Shells

Roll out the chilled dough and press gently into tart pans. Pierce the bottom with a fork to prevent bubbling. Line with parchment and weight down during initial baking. Bake until golden and crisp, then let cool completely.

• Craft Caramel Magic

Transform sugar into a rich amber liquid by carefully melting it in a pan. Introduce butter and cream with gentle whisking, creating a luxurious golden sauce. Stir in vanilla and sea salt for a complex flavor profile. Pour into cooled tart shells and refrigerate until set.

• Pour Decadent Chocolate Ganache

Warm cream until it barely simmers, then pour over chopped chocolate. Allow to rest briefly, then stir until silky smooth. Blend in butter for extra richness. Carefully cover the caramel layer with glossy ganache and chill until firm.

• Finish and Serve

Sprinkle flaky sea salt on top for a gourmet touch. Garnish with delicate chocolate shavings. Serve chilled or at room temperature alongside fresh berries or a scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream.

Tips And Tweaks For Chocolate Salted Caramel Tarts

• Perfect Texture Technique: Chill the tart dough for exactly 30 minutes to prevent shrinkage and ensure a crisp, flaky crust that holds its shape beautifully during baking.
• Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare the entire tart up to 2 days in advance and store covered in the refrigerator, which actually enhances the flavor melding between caramel and chocolate layers.
• Gluten-Free Adaptation: Swap regular flour with a gluten-free all-purpose blend and add 1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum to maintain the tart's structural integrity for those with wheat sensitivities.
• Dairy-Free Modification: Replace heavy cream with full-fat coconut milk in both caramel and ganache layers, and use dairy-free butter alternatives to create a luscious plant-based version of this decadent dessert.
• Low-Sugar Option: Substitute part of the sugar with monk fruit sweetener or stevia to reduce overall sugar content while maintaining the rich, indulgent flavor profile of the original recipe.

Ways To Present Chocolate Salted Caramel Tarts

• Sweet Dessert Companion: Pair these decadent chocolate salted caramel tarts with a scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream to balance the rich, intense flavors and add a delightful temperature contrast.
• Berry Bliss Topping: Scatter fresh raspberries or strawberries around the tart plate to introduce a bright, tangy element that cuts through the chocolate's deep sweetness and provides a beautiful color pop.
• Coffee Complement: Serve alongside a steaming espresso or cappuccino, whose robust coffee notes will enhance the chocolate's depth and create a sophisticated dessert experience perfect for after-dinner indulgence.
• Elegant Presentation Trick: Dust the tart edges with cocoa powder and place a small mint leaf for a professional touch that elevates the visual appeal and adds a subtle fresh undertone to the rich dessert.

Luscious Chocolate Salted Caramel Tarts Recipe

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• Total Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
• Yield: 9 1x

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Description

Rich chocolate salted caramel tarts blend velvety ganache with buttery caramel on a crisp shortbread crust. Dark chocolate and sea salt create a luxurious dessert experience for passionate bakers seeking elegant indulgence.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 1 ¼ cups (160 g) all-purpose flour
• 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
• 200 g (7 oz) semi-sweet or dark chocolate, chopped
• 1 cup (240 ml) heavy cream
• ¼ cup (50 g) granulated sugar
• ¼ tsp salt
• ½ cup (115 g) unsalted butter, cold and cubed
• 1 large egg yolk
• 12 tbsps cold water
• 6 tbsps (85 g) unsalted butter, room temperature, cut into pieces
• 1 tbsp unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• ½ tsp sea salt
• Flaky sea salt
• Chocolate shavings or cocoa powder (optional)

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Instructions

1. Pastry Preparation: Pulse flour, sugar, and salt in a food processor. Add cold butter until mixture resembles sandy texture. Incorporate egg yolk and minimal cold water, pulsing until dough forms. Shape into a disc, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
2. Tart Shell Formation: Roll out chilled dough and press into tart molds. Fork-pierce base to prevent bubbling. Line with parchment and weight with ceramic beads. Bake at 180C for 15 minutes. Remove weights and continue baking until shell turns golden. Cool completely.
3. Caramel Crafting: Melt sugar in a heavy pan, stirring periodically until amber-colored. Cautiously add butter, whisking thoroughly. Stream in heavy cream while stirring, causing vigorous bubbling. Blend in vanilla extract and sea salt until smooth.
4. Layering Process: Pour caramel into cooled tart shells, filling halfway. Refrigerate to set caramel layer. Simultaneously, create ganache by heating cream near simmering point. Pour over finely chopped chocolate. Rest briefly, then stir until glossy. Incorporate butter for richness.
5. Finishing Touches: Cover caramel with ganache, ensuring even distribution. Chill to set completely. Before serving, garnish with flaky sea salt and optional chocolate shavings. Serve chilled or at room temperature, potentially paired with fresh berries or vanilla ice cream.

Notes

• Optimize Butter Temperature: Keep butter cold and cut into small cubes for the pastry base. Chilled butter creates flakier, more tender crust by preventing gluten development and maintaining small fat pockets.
• Prevent Caramel Burning: Use a light-colored pan to monitor sugar’s color transformation accurately. Stir gently and consistently to ensure even heating and prevent sudden scorching or crystallization.
• Control Ganache Texture: Chop chocolate uniformly and use high-quality dark chocolate with 60-70% cocoa content. Allow hot cream to sit momentarily before stirring to create a smooth, glossy ganache without splitting.
• Enhance Flavor Balance: Sprinkle flaky sea salt strategically on top just before serving. The salt crystals provide textural contrast and intensify the chocolate and caramel’s deep, complex flavors, creating a sophisticated taste experience.

• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: French

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 9
• Calories: 367
• Sugar: 26 g
• Sodium: 85 mg
• Fat: 25 g
• Saturated Fat: 15 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 37 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 3 g
• Cholesterol: 73 mg