Salted Caramel Chocolate Tart - Birthday Fun

So...it's been a little while. Sorry 'bout that. I was on the East Coast for two weeks! My sister-in-law ran the Boston Marathon and Todd and I went down to surprise her! If you don't follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and/or Instagram you may have been wondering what I could be possibly doing that would warrant abandoning you for two weeks. While I may not have managed to whip out a full-blown blog post, I did do a lot of posting to social media. If you don't follow Produce On Parade on social media already, you definitely should! I think of myself as highly entertaining...maybe.

Anyways, we left on my birthday! Also, the 25th was Todd and my veganniversary and Produce On Parade's one year blogiversary! That's a lot to celebrate and I can't think of a more amazing way, gastronomically speaking, than with this Salted Caramel Chocolate Tart! I've missed you all so much and I'm so excited to be back.

Produce On Parade - Salted Caramel Chocolate TartHere's my gift to you, a creamy coconut caramel poured into a rich, chocolate crust all topped with a luxurious dark chocolate ganache and sprinkled with flake salt. A decadent dessert sure to impress anyone, vegan or not! 

Produce On Parade - Salted Caramel Chocolate TartSalted Caramel Chocolate Tart

Makes 1 9" Tart

  • Crust:
  • 2 Tbsp. ground flax seed
  • 2 Tbsp. water
  • 10 Tbsp. vegan butter, chopped
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar
  • 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 1/4 heaping cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1/4 tsp. kosher salt
  • Caramel:
  • 1 1/2 cups vegan sugar
  • 3 Tbsp. light corn syrup
  • 5 Tbsp. water
  • 1/4 tsp. kosher salt
  • 1/4 tsp. coconut extract
  • 1/4 tsp. rum extract
  • 6 Tbsp. vegan butter, chopped
  • 1/2 cup canned full-fat coconut milk (give the can a good shake first)
  • Ganache:
  • 3/4 cup canned full-fat coconut milk
  • 8 oz. semi-sweet vegan baking chocolate, chopped
  • flake salt (to garnish)

Crust:

In a food processor, using the dough hook attachment, combine all the dough ingredients. Process, pulsing and scraping down the sides occasionally until well combined and collects on one side of the bowl. 

Produce On Parade - Salted Caramel Chocolate TartProduce On Parade - Salted Caramel Chocolate Tart

Press evenly into a 9" tart pan, ensuring to bring the dough all the way to the top edge of the pan. Poke with a fork several times and place in the refrigerator to cool for one hour. 

Produce On Parade - Salted Caramel Chocolate Tart

Meanwhile, place all the caramel ingredients except for the butter and coconut milk in a small bowl. No need to combine. Set aside until ready to use. 

Produce On Parade - Salted Caramel Chocolate Tart

When the tart has 10 minutes left for chilling, preheat the oven to 350 F. Remove from fridge and place pie weights or a sheet of aluminum covered with a thick layer of dried beans on top of the crust to keep it from ballooning while baking. Bake at 350 F for 20 minutes, then remove the weights and bake for an additional 8-10 minutes. Remove from oven, and chill until ready to use. 

Caramel: 

Now, in a heavy bottomed soup pot add the bowl of caramel ingredients and bring to heat over medium. Continuously stir until combined, then allow to cook until it's reached 350 F and do not stir. It should boil, without stirring, until it's reached a dark amber color.

Produce On Parade - Salted Caramel Chocolate Tart

Remove from heat, and stir in the coconut milk and butter until smooth.

Produce On Parade - Salted Caramel Chocolate Tart

Pour into the chilled tart crust and place in the fridge.

Produce On Parade - Salted Caramel Chocolate Tart Produce On Parade - Salted Caramel Chocolate Tart

Ganache: 

In a pyrex measuring cup or microwave safe bowl, heat the coconut milk for 1-2 minutes until very hot. Add the chopped chocolate and whisk until smooth.

Produce On Parade - Salted Caramel Chocolate TartPour the ganache over the caramel (careful it doesn't overflow!) and place on a level surface in the fridge to chill, at least 1-3 hours depending on if it was pre-chilled or not.

Produce On Parade - Salted Caramel Chocolate Tart

Remove once chilled and finish with a sprinkling of flake salt. Slice and serve chilled. Store in the fridge as the tart will become oozy if let out of the fridge for too long, but will stay very firm if chilled.

Produce On Parade - Salted Caramel Chocolate TartProduce On Parade - Salted Caramel Chocolate Tart

Freeze any leftovers for extended consumption and just place in the fridge to thaw before consuming. 

Produce On Parade - Salted Caramel Chocolate Tart One human birthday, one blog birthday and two veganniversaries?! Let the celebrating begin! 

Produce On Parade - Salted Caramel Chocolate Tart Produce On Parade - Salted Caramel Chocolate TartOh...and Easter happened too!

Produce On Parade - Salted Caramel Chocolate Tart Produce On Parade - Salted Caramel Chocolate TartWe found a beer in our basket! Produce On Parade - Salted Caramel Chocolate TartSo here's to being back!

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German Word of The Day: Birthday --> Geburtstag (pronounced: geh-boort-stag)

Good Deed of The Day: Sign this petition to stop gas chamber deaths for dogs and cats in the United States.

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1 Year of Married Bliss

Todd and my one year anniversary was on June 30th. I absolutely refuse to believe that we've been married one year! What brand of craziness is this?It really has just flown by. I'm pretty sure we were married just a few weeks ago. Yes, I am certain of it. No? Well, it certainly feels that way. To celebrate we went on a hike near Sheep Mountain, where we got married. It's a little over an hour drive from our house and the road winds through the most breathtaking, Alaskan scenery. We took along some snackies of course (though the Primal Strips I reviewed a couple weeks ago didn't make it into the picture because we ate them beforehand!) and our beloved Bob.

Bailey got a little hot on the hike. We've been having somewhat of a heatwave up here, along with the rest of the states. Hey, Alaska can keep up with the times (or global warming)! I think his tongue almost fell out. It's a little ridiculous. I laughed and laughed when I saw these photos, especially the one on the right...

I really love this picture of my boys.  That's quite the stance Bob's got, and look at the mountains! We never did get a picture of the Matanuska Glacier. Doh!

And for you, Dear Reader. Wish you were here!

It's hard to believe that this was only one year ago...

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So, here's to a wonderful first year of marriage. I'm so thankful to spend the rest of my life with a true friend and love. I can't wait for year two!