Monday, September 28, 2009

TWD: Caramel Crunch Tart with Nougat Ice Cream

Hello, Snickers bar disguised as a fancy tart! I mean, that's what this was, right? A crispy tart shell encased a fabulously dark caramel sauce studded with salty peanuts, topped by a rich chocolate ganache. Caramel + peanuts + chocolate = Snickery goodness. Of course, this tart was waaaay better than your common candy bar.
I decided to dress this tart up a bit by sprinkling crushed peanuts in a ring on top, and making some sugar corkscrew curls. The stars aligned and I was a sugar spinnin' rockstar, making dozens in no time flat. Usually I decide to play with sugar on the one day a year we get rain in LA, and the humidity wreaks havoc, so this was a welcome break from pattern.

I kind of couldn't stop taking pictures of the corkscrews and making "booooiiiing" noises in my head. They were mesmerizing:

You'll poke your eye out, kid!

I loved this tart because, although the flavors were familiar, almost common, it tasted very sophisticated, I think because it really wasn't very sweet. I cooked my caramel very dark so it had that smoky-verging-on-burnt taste, and I used salted peanuts instead of honey roasted to keep it sort of savory. I used a fairly dark chocolate, too, and the combination of these fillings meant that this was a very "adult" dessert.

Of course, I had to go ahead and ruin the sophistication with some ice cream! I couldn't get the Snickers comparison out of my head, so I made some nougat ice cream to complete the similarity. The real Snickers candy bars have a peanut-flavored nougat, while this one is more of a traditional Torrone-style nougat flavor. However, the sweet honey and almond flavors, and the creamy texture, were the perfect complement to the tart. Even if you've already devoured your tart, bookmark this nougat ice cream recipe--it's one of my favorites (and no ice cream maker required!)

Also, I've put together a tutorial showing how to make sugar corkscrews!

I taught myself how to make them by reading other recipes, and had some frustrations in the beginning, because I didn't realize how the sugar should look and behave when it was ready to be spun. Once I got my sugar to the right stage/temperature, it became really, really easy. So hopefully this tutorial will help by showing exactly what texture and appearance the sugar should have. I put it up on my candy site, check it out here: How to Make Sugar Corkscrews. Let me know if you guys try it out!

30 comments:

  1. That tart looks so sinful and very boing indeed - can't wait for the tutorial!The last time I tried playing with caramel (for the Dobos Torte), most of it ended up as puddles on the kitchen floor :)

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  2. I can't WAIT To see that tutorial! At first, I thought those corkscrews were ribbon because they look so perfect! I loved this tart - and yours looks delicious!

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  3. Yup! You'Re right... a snickers ready for Halloween! LOL

    Beautiful Liz!

    Now, if you really made the spun sugar swirls... come and explain to me, how! I wanna knoooooow! LOL

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  4. Anonymous7:17 AM

    Um, that nougat ice cream recipe kind of sounds ridicuously good. I have never heard of that flavor of ice cream before. I think my ice cream maker will be coming out of its month long hibernation this weekend.

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  5. i can't wait for your sugar spiral tutorial. they are so impressive.

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  6. Your tart looks so fancy and so yummy. Im glad you enjoyed this recipe too!

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  7. Those sugar spirals are jaw dropping. I can't wait for the tutorial.

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  8. Anonymous7:51 AM

    Wow. Those corkscrews are amazing. I will be back for the tutorial.

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  9. Nougat ice cream.

    You are my hero!

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  10. Gorgeous. I love the sugar corkscrews. I'm jealous.

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  11. Wow! Yes tart is gone (made it two weeks ago) but will definitely try nougat ice cream!

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  12. awesome sugar work! That tart looks amazing

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  13. Wow the tart looks soo good! As I was reading your post, I was already thinking to comment with a request for a tutorial, and there you go saying just what I wanted!! Thanks! Cant wait for it :P

    P.S - I've given you an award, which you can see here
    http://yumsiliciousbakes.blogspot.com/2009/09/chocolate-chip-cookies-baked-from-baked.html

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  14. So you'll have my room ready when I move in next week, right?

    I mean, anyone that tops the tart with nougat ice cream is a hero in my book.

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  15. Anonymous11:14 AM

    Am I the only one who didn't get the Snickers comparison? I love the sugar curls. They look fantastic. And the ice sounds delicious. I'll have to try it one day...

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  16. I prefer a Snickers to my tart, but yours with ice cream sounds amazing. Love the sugar spirals!

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  17. Anonymous6:32 PM

    Your tart looks gorgeous.

    The corkscrews are great - can't wait for the tutorial!

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  18. Your tart looks amazing and I will be looking for the tutorial. The corkscrews are gorgeous!

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  19. You win the most dazzling tart award this week! LOVE the corkscrews. Can't wait to make this one up--I had to miss it. Having a little giveaway on my blog.

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  20. I was thinking "Those sugar corkscrews rock. Too bade mere mortals like me can't make them" but you posted a tutorial! Aren't you the best?! And I'm so glad to see your candy site. Your tart is a thing of beauty. I'm always so inspired by your desserts to make mine look less like truck stop rejects.

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  21. LOL Thanks a million Liz... but please tell me this tutorial was not up there when I commented yesterday!!!??? I would feel so old... not having seen it! LOL

    THanks so much for sharing, now I have a new kind of challenge to fulfill!

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  22. Wow, those corkscrews are impressive!

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  23. Anonymous1:03 PM

    booooiiiing! I love that comment because it goes perfectly with your sugar corkscrews! I'm soo amazed with them, I'm barely noticing your yummy tart because those corkscrews look absolutely perfect! Gorgeous!

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  24. What stunning caramel corkscrews! Double bonus points for taking on a sugar project on a rainy day. This tart was so good, and your garnishing really pushes it over the top.

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  25. OH!!! WOW!!! That is AMAZING!!

    Nuff Said!!!

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  26. what a work of art! great job. and nougat ice cream? wish I was in LA :)

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  27. Does anybody know where the tutorial is?

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  28. Anonymous11:45 AM

    asdsad

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  29. I would be better if you would review my blog as well...flat stomach exercises

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  30. I like it so much. I think this is something that I find perfect.

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