How to Make Decadent Chocolate Hazelnut Tarts

This post was sponsored by AMERICAN HERITAGE® Chocolate as part of an Influencer Campaign for Influence Central and all opinions expressed in my post are my own.

In this post, you will learn how to recreate these decadent chocolate hazelnut tortes. Keep scrolling for some ingredient tips and the printable recipe.

Calling all chocolate lovers! We are sharing this stunning chocolate hazelnut tart recipe today that is sure to WOW your holiday guests. We were thrilled to incorporate AMERICAN HERITAGE® Chocolate, a finely grated dark chocolate that replaces semi-sweet chocolate at a 1:1 ratio in any recipe, which was a fantastic time-saver during our prep process. Keep scrolling for more stunning photos, some ingredient tips, and the complete chocolate hazelnut tart recipe.

Grated Chocolate Versus Semi-Sweet Chocolate

If you are a baker, then you are likely very familiar with chocolate! In my house, we are fans of just about any recipe that calls for chocolate, particularly dark chocolate. Some recipes call for “baking chips” which are ideal for semi-sweet chocolates. Others, like smooth ganache toppings, chocolate crusts and other refined techniques or recipes, call for chopped or grated chocolate. If you have ever attempted to grate a chocolate bar, you know it is no small feat. AMERICAN HERITAGE® Chocolate Finely Grated Chocolate is already grated, offering the same result as a grated chocolate bar, but in less time. And, as the chocolate is grated as-is, it lends itself to a smoother texture when melting it into something like the ganache used in our chocolate hazelnut tarte recipe.

Hazelnuts: Roasted or Plain?

Many nuts, including hazelnuts, are roasted to enhance their natural flavor. Raw hazelnuts are often described as slightly chewy, with a mild to bland flavor. However, roasted hazelnuts offer a nuttier flavor, an added crunch and an enhanced flavor profile to virtually any recipe. To roast hazelnuts, simply add them into a pan on medium heat for 10-15 minutes, or until a darkened color appears. Allow the nuts to cool completely before chopping or adding into your recipe.

Chocolate Hazelnut Tarts

Ingredients

• 1 ½ cups graham crackers; crushed
• ¼ + ½ cup AMERICAN HERITAGE® Chocolate Finely Grated Dark Chocolate
• 3 tbsp brown sugar
• 11 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ cup hazelnuts; chopped & roasted
• 1/3 cup heavy cream

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Place 6 mini tart shells on a baking sheet and set aside.
2. In a large bowl, combine graham cracker crumbles, ¼ cup AMERICAN HERITAGE Chocolate, 3 tbsp brown sugar and 8 tbsp melted unsalted butter. Press the mixture into the tart shells.
3. Bake the tart shells for 10-12 minutes, then set aside to cool completely.
4. To create the salted caramel, place ½ cup granulated sugar in a small saucepan and cook until the sugar melts completely; approximately 8-10 minutes.
5. Once the sugar has melted, remove it from the heat and add 3 tbsp melted unsalted butter. Whisk until combined, then add ½ tsp salt and 3 tbsp heavy cream.
6. Spoon the salted caramel into the cooled tart shells, until they are just shy of full.
7. Sprinkle 2 tbsp chopped hazelnuts across the 6 tart shells.
8. Place the tarts into the freezer for 10 minutes to set.
9. To make the chocolate ganache, heat 1/3 cup heavy cream in a small saucepan until scalding, being careful not to burn. Remove it from the heat and add ½ cup of AMERICAN HERITAGE Chocolate, whisking until the mixture is smooth.
10. Remove the tarts from the freezer, and top with the chocolate ganache.
11. Garnish with chopped hazelnuts and enjoy!

To purchase your own AMERICAN HERITAGE® Chocolate Finely Grated Dark Chocolate, head over to Amazon.

For more sweet treat recipes, don’t miss the following posts:

Brownie Fruit Pizza

Mini Churro Bundt Cakes