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Vertical picture of French Chocolate Tart with Brown Butter Crust topped with fresh raspberries on a white cake stand

French Chocolate Tart with Brown Butter Crust

French Chocolate Tart with Brown Butter Crust - the real deal! It's super simple, super decadent, authentically French and probably the best chocolate dessert you"ll ever meet!
Course Dessert
Cuisine French
Keyword French Chocolate Tart with Brown Butter Crust
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Servings 10 servings
Calories 346 kcal
Author Paule Caillet

Ingredients

  • For the crust:
  • 3 ounces butter
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil any mild flavored oil is fine. I use canola.
  • 3 tablespoons water
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour slightly round cup
  • For the ganache filling
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 8 ½ ounces good quality chocolate**
  • 1 ounce butter

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 410º F (210º C).
  2. Cut butter into small pieces and place in a medium-sized ovenproof bowl (I use Pyrex). Add the oil, water, sugar, and salt.
  3. Place the bowl in the oven until mixture is bubbling and just starting to brown, about 15 minutes.
  4. Remove bowl from the oven and reduce temperature to 375˚F.. The bowl will be very hot so handle with a hot pad till it cools down. Immediately add the flour (stand back a bit as the mixture may sputter as flour is added). With a heat-proof spatula stir until the mixture forms a ball.
  5. Transfer the dough to a 8 or 9-inch* (23 cm) tart mold with a removable bottom. When it's cooled down a bit, press dough to an even layer with your fingers. I like to start with the sides and then press the remaining dough on the bottom. (David Lebovitz suggests reserving a small ball of dough to patch up any cracks once the crust is baked. I do this if the filling is a runny egg mixture but with this thick chocolate ganache, I don't worry about it.)
  6. Pierce the bottom with a fork all over. Also press the sides of the crust with a fork to reinforce.
  7. Bake for 15 minutes or until crust is golden brown.
  8. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely before filling.
  9. For the ganache filling, break the chocolate into small pieces and place in a medium size bowl.
  10. Heat the cream. When it reaches the boiling point, remove. You can heat the cream on the stovetop or in the microwave. Remove it from the heat just as it starts to boil.
  11. Pour the hot cream over the chocolate. Stir with a heat-proof spatula till creamy and all chocolate has melted. Add the butter and stir well to incorporate.
  12. Pour chocolate mixture into cooled crust and refrigerate for at least one hour. Can be made up to 24 hours in advance. Top with raspberries, strawberries, caramel, whipped cream or whatever strikes your fancy!

Recipe Notes

* I used a 9-inch pan. If you like the crust a little thicker, use an 8-inch pan. ** Use the best chocolate you can afford. Paula used Valrhona but there are lots of other good choices.

Nutrition Facts
French Chocolate Tart with Brown Butter Crust
Amount Per Serving
Calories 346 Calories from Fat 225
% Daily Value*
Fat 25g38%
Saturated Fat 15g94%
Cholesterol 60mg20%
Sodium 135mg6%
Potassium 31mg1%
Carbohydrates 27g9%
Sugar 16g18%
Protein 3g6%
Vitamin A 685IU14%
Vitamin C 0.2mg0%
Calcium 47mg5%
Iron 0.9mg5%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.