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Chocolate Pecan Tart

For an easy yet elegant dessert, you can’t beat this Chocolate Pecan Tart. Made simply with a chocolate crust, chocolate ganache, and plenty of pecans, this show-stopping dessert is perfect for your holiday table.

overhead view of slices of Chocolate Pecan Tart on a long white tray

Rich Chocolate Ganache Pecan Tart

This Chocolate Pecan Tart combines two of my favorite things – chocolate and pecans – into an amazingly simple tart that is beautiful, elegant, decadent, delicious, and a whole host of other adjectives.

It starts with a simple chocolate crust made with cocoa powder. That is then filled with a chocolate ganache and toasted pecans. I also like to add a splash of coffee liqueur in the ganache for a little extra flavor. And, that’s all there is to it!

It’s just the kind of dessert that will wow your guests while only you know how little effort was involved. Seriously, you’ll be amazed at how simple this tart is to make!

You and your guests will happily devour this rich, decadent tart. I recommend small slices because it is seriously rich.

slice of Chocolate Pecan Tart on white plates

What You’ll Need

For such a gorgeous and decadent dessert, this is quite a short ingredient list!

For the crust:

  • All-purpose flour – Measure by weight if possible. Otherwise, spoon and sweep.
  • Unsweetened cocoa powder – I usually use natural cocoa powder, but Dutch process would also work for a little different flavor.
  • Salt
  • Unsalted butter – Set out the butter about half an hour before baking to allow it to soften.
  • Granulated sugar
  • Eggs – Set these out before baking as well so that they can come to room temperature. They’re easier to separate when they’re cold, so I like to do that step when I first get them out of the refrigerator. (Need a use for those egg whites? Try Cinnamon Pecan Puffs or Peanut Butter Meringue Cookies.)

For the filling:

  • Pecans – You’ll be toasting the pecans before roughly chopping them.
  • Semisweet chocolate – Use a good quality chocolate that you enjoy. While chocolate chips can work, you’re likely to have better luck with bar or block chocolate. Chop it roughly so it will melt more quickly and easily.
  • Salt
  • Heavy cream
  • Coffee-flavored liqueur – Kahlua is the most commonly found brand. You can use a different liqueur if you like. Or if you want to skip the alcohol, you can omit it or use 1 or 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract.
sliced Chocolate Pecan Tart on a white tray

How to Make Chocolate Pecan Tart

This beautiful tart is wonderfully easy to make. I like to use a rectangular tart pan because it’s just so pretty that way, but a 9-inch round tart pan will work, too. Using a tart pan with removable sides makes the tart much easier to serve.

Make the crust:

Prepare for baking. Heat the oven to 350°F. Gather all the crust ingredients.

Mix the dry ingredients. Whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, and salt.

Mix the wet ingredients. Beat the butter and sugar with an electric mixer on medium speed until the mixture is light and fluffy. Mix in the egg yolks.

Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. With the mixer on low speed, gradually add the flour mixture and mix just until combined. The mixture should be a bit crumbly.

Press the crust mixture into the pan. Be sure to cover the bottom and the sides evenly. Line the crust with parchment paper so that it overhangs on each side. Use pie weights (or dried beans or your favorite method) to fill the pan, and place the pan on a rimmed baking sheet.

Bake the crust. First, bake the crust for 20 to 22 minutes. The edges of the crust should appear dry. Next, carefully remove the parchment paper and weights. Finally, bake for 10 to 12 more minutes or until set. Cool the crust completely.

Make the filling:

Toast the pecans. For a big batch like this, it usually works best to toast them in the oven instead of on the stovetop. Spread the pecans in a single layer on a baking sheet, and bake at 350°F until toasted and fragrant (about 10 minutes). After the pecans have cooled, roughly chop them. Set aside 1/4 cup for topping the tart.

Make the ganache. Place the chopped chocolate and salt in a large bowl. Bring the cream to a simmer in a small saucepan. Pour the heated cream over the chocolate. Allow it to sit for 1 minute; then stir until smooth.

Add the pecans and liqueur. Stir in 1 & 1/2 cups of the pecans and the liqueur.

Fill the cooled tart shell. Pour the ganache into the crust. Sprinkle the reserved pecans on top of the ganache.

Refrigerate. Place the tart in the refrigerator until set (about an hour).

Chocolate-Pecan Tart on a long white serving tray

How to Store Chocolate Pecan Tart

Loosely cover the tart and keep refrigerated for up to 2 days. Bring it to room temperature before serving. (This is a great make-ahead dessert!)

Can This Chocolate Ganache Tart Be Frozen?

This tart can be frozen, although it will be best when it’s fresh. Wrap the chilled and set tart or individual slices in a couple of layers of plastic wrap. Then wrap again in aluminum foil or place in a freezer-safe bag or container. Properly stored, it should keep about 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator.

Chocolate Pecan Tart

Yield 8 to 10 servings
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 42 minutes
Additional Time 1 hour
Total Time 2 hours 2 minutes

This decadent and delicious Chocolate Pecan Tart is wonderfully easy to make yet has such an elegant look.

overhead view of slices of Chocolate Pecan Tart on a long white tray

Ingredients

For the crust:

  • 1 & 1/4 cups (150g) all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 cup (21g) unsweetened cocoa powder*
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup (113g) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1/4 cup (50g) granulated sugar
  • 2 large egg yolks

For the filling:

  • 1 & 3/4 cups pecan halves
  • 8 ounces (226g, or about 1 & 1/3 cups) semisweet chocolate*, chopped
  • pinch salt
  • 3/4 cup (177ml) heavy cream
  • 2 tablespoons (30ml) coffee-flavored liqueur (such as Kahlua)

Instructions

To make the crust:

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
  2. Whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, and salt. Set aside.
  3. Using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the egg yolks and mix well.
  4. Reduce mixer speed to low. Gradually add the flour mixture, mixing just until combined but still a bit crumbly.
  5. Press the crust mixture into the bottom and up the sides of a 4"x 14" rectangular tart pan or a 9-inch round tart pan with a removable bottom.
  6. Line the crust with parchment paper so that the paper overhangs on all sides. Fill the pan with pie weights (or dried beans). Place the pan on a rimmed baking sheet.
  7. Bake 20 to 22 minutes, or until the edges of the crust are dry. Then, carefully remove the parchment paper and pie weights. Continue baking the crust for 10 to 12 minutes, or until dry and set.
  8. Cool the crust completely.

To make the filling:

  1. Spread the pecans in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake at 350°F for 10 minutes, or until toasted and fragrant.
  2. Allow the pecans to cool. Then, chop them roughly. Set aside 1/4 cup of the pecans for garnish.
  3. Combine the chocolate and a pinch of salt in a large bowl.
  4. Place the cream in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer. Remove the pan from the heat and pour the cream over the chocolate. Allow to sit for 1 minute. Then, stir gently until the mixture is smooth.
  5. Stir in 1 & 1/2 cups of the pecans and the liqueur.
  6. Pour the filling into the cooled tart shell. Sprinkle with the reserved pecans.
  7. Refrigerate for 1 hour, or until set. The tart may be loosely covered and refrigerated for up to 2 days before serving.

Notes

Recipe adapted from Real Simple.

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    29 Comments on “Chocolate Pecan Tart”

  1. Holy crow, woman! That’s a killah tart! What a wonderful finish to a meal it would make – paired with coffee? Oh boy…

  2. I love that we both did takes on chocolate pecan pie but they are completely different. Yours looks fudgy and chocolaty and SO good. Love this!

  3. *swooning* These looks like something I must make…immediately!

  4. This is absolutely beautiful Jen! I love how easy it is but it looks so fancy and festive at the same time! Thanks for joining Pie Week!

  5. This looks AMAZING. I love that it’s easy to make, too — the best kind of dessert! 🙂

  6. This tart looks so chocolatey and delicious, and it sounds just divine with all of those pecans!

  7. I made this a few weeks ago and was surprised by how crazy people went for it!…love when the easy recipes turn out to be the super popular ones!

  8. Mmmmm this pie looks SO decadent! I’m gonna dream about it, so yummy!

  9. Your photos are beautiful! Why wait for Thanksgiving? This tart needs to be made now!

  10. What a decadent dessert! Love how easy it is!

  11. I love how you cut these up into bar size pieces, swooning at the pictures!

  12. I love that this tart is really chocolate ganache with pecans in it rather than the other way around! It looks luscious.

  13. I will take a tart over a pie any day.
    Don’t you think the crust on a tart is much more crisp than a pie?
    I love pie don’t get me wrong, I just love a really crisp crust.

  14. Ooh I’ve never had the combination of chocolate and pecans before but this looks like a winner!

  15. Wonderful dessert!!! Easy and festive, thanks.

  16. Tart looks yummy!!

  17. Woah. Just, woah. I don’t even know what to say about this tart. It’s my dream pie. You’re amazing Jennifer!

  18. Can I make this and freeze for Christmas? Made for Thanksgiving and everyone wants for Christmas.

  19. Wow! I love this tart! It’s so decadent, chocolatey and gorgeous! The pecans just set it off!

  20. Wondering if there is a substitute for the Liqueur?

  21. could you do this in a regular pie dish ir an 8by 8 square?
    I don’t have a tart pan.
    Looks so good I would love to make!

  22. Do you think this could be made for Passover using Matzo cake Meal instead of flour?

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