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A fork cuts into a piece of caramel tart on a plate.
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4.86 from 7 votes

Salted Chocolate Caramel Tart

This chocolate caramel tart has a brown sugar pretzel crust, gets filled with a fudgy brownie, thick caramel, and chocolate ganache, and gets topped with flaky sea salt. The perfect dessert for chocolate and caramel lovers, with a sweet and salty twist.
Prep Time1 hour
Cook Time30 minutes
Chill time1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time3 hours
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Servings: 12
Calories: 476kcal

Equipment

  • 8-or 9-inch pie dish or tart pan
  • Food processor or high speed blender
  • Rubber spatula
  • Mixing bowls

Ingredients

Crust

  • 1 ½ cups ground mini pretzels (150g) or ~3 cups whole mini pretzels
  • ½ cup pecan halves 50g
  • 2 tablespoons light brown sugar 25g
  • ½ cup unsalted butter melted (113g)

Brownie Layer

  • ¼ cup semi-sweet chocolate chopped (1.5 oz)
  • ¼ cup unsalted butter melted (57g)
  • 3 tablespoons dutch processed cocoa powder 18g
  • cup + 2 tablespoons granulated sugar 92g
  • 1 large egg whisked
  • ¼ cup all-purpose flour 30g
  • teaspoon kosher salt

Caramel layer

  • 1 cup granulated sugar 200g
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter room temperature (85g)
  • ½ cup heavy whipping cream 120ml
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla paste or extract
  • ¼ teaspoon sea salt

Ganache layer

  • ¾ cup semi-sweet chocolate chopped (4oz)
  • ½ cup heavy whipping cream 120ml
  • Flaky sea salt for garnish

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350℉/177℃.

Pretzel base

  • Grind up the pretzels in a food processor until finely ground. Add the pecans and pulse until similarly broken down. Then, add the sugar and melted butter and pulse until the crumbs are completely moistened.
    1 ½ cups ground mini pretzels, ½ cup pecan halves, ½ cup unsalted butter, 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
  • Press the mixture into the base and sides of the tart pan or pie dish using the bottom of a measuring cup. This should be very compact.
  • Bake the crust for 8 minutes, then remove to a wire rack to cool.

Brownie layer

  • Add the chocolate and butter to a bowl and heat in the microwave in 20 second increments, stirring in between, until melted.
    ¼ cup semi-sweet chocolate, ¼ cup unsalted butter
  • Add the cocoa powder to the butter and chocolate and mix. Then add the sugar and whisked egg and mix. Fold in the flour and salt until just combined. Pour the brownie batter over the cooled pretzel crust and gently help it along to meet the edges of the crust.
    3 tablespoons dutch processed cocoa powder, ⅓ cup + 2 tablespoons granulated sugar, 1 large egg, ¼ cup all-purpose flour, ⅛ teaspoon kosher salt
  • Bake for 15-18 minutes. It will look underdone and fudgy in the middle, but the edges will look set.
  • Allow to cool completely on a wire rack.

Caramel Layer

  • While the pie is cooling, make the caramel. Add the sugar to a medium saucepan over medium-low to medium heat and stir about every 30 seconds until melted and turning amber. It will start to get wet, will then clump up and crystallize, then will begin to melt and change to an amber color.
    1 cup granulated sugar
  • Add the softened butter 1 tablespoon at a time, stirring to combine before adding the next tablespoon.
    6 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • Add the heavy cream and continue mixing. The caramel will bubble up at this point, but don’t be alarmed. Once combined, turn off the heat, add the vanilla and salt, and carefully pour into a heat proof bowl to cool slightly.
    ½ cup heavy whipping cream, 2 teaspoons vanilla paste or extract, ¼ teaspoon sea salt
  • Once the caramel has started to cool and get a bit thicker, pour the caramel over the brownie layer, then transfer the pie to the fridge to cool completely. About 30 minutes.

Ganache Layer

  • Add the chocolate chips to a heatproof bowl. Heat the heavy cream over medium heat until it just hits a simmer. Add the hot cream to the chocolate and allow it to sit for 1 minute.
    ¾ cup semi-sweet chocolate, ½ cup heavy whipping cream
  • Using a spatula or spoon, continuously stir from the center until the mixture is combined. Pour over the cooled caramel layer and gently spread to reach all parts of the crust.
  • Once the ganache is set, sprinkle the top with flaky finishing salt.
    Flaky sea salt

Notes

Store the tart uncovered in the fridge for up to one week. Add strips of parchment paper or plastic wrap directly on any cut pieces to seal in the fillings. Otherwise, the caramel will ooze out.
The caramel tart or slices can be wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and frozen for two months. Allow the tart to thaw in the fridge (unwrapped), then enjoy.
Tips:
  • Allow each layer to cool completely before adding the next. Place the tart in the fridge to make this happen more quickly.
  • Watch the how to make caramel video prior to making the caramel if you are unfamiliar with the process.
  • Don't skip the flaky sea salt! It brings all of the flavors together.
  • Cut the tart cold straight from the fridge for the cleanest slices.
  • Caramel will slowly start to ooze out of the tart once cut. Add plastic wrap or strips of parchment paper directly against the cut edges to seal the tart for storage.
  • Enjoy the tart cold, or allow it to come to room temperature for about 30 minutes if you'd prefer to take the chill off.

Nutrition

Calories: 476kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 34g | Saturated Fat: 19g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 87mg | Sodium: 196mg | Potassium: 161mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 30g | Vitamin A: 850IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 37mg | Iron: 2mg