Wednesday, November 24, 2010

White Pumpkin Ganache and Caramel Tart

I don't know about you, but I am ready for a few days off.  We are in full swing over here planning the menu for a special meal at home, as well as figuring out what to take for dinner invites we've received.  At one particular dinner party we are in charge of dessert, so last night spent the evening whipping up a couple "samples" to make sure they would pass expectations.  Upon completion I announced, "I think we might be coming down with something and unable to attend" aka do we have to share? I mean dessert is a well-balanced meal as far as I'm concerned.  (Diet respite for Thanksgiving, although overeating is not in the plans...then again you can never tell!)

White Pumpkin Ganache and Caramel Tart
Ingredients: Makes (4) 3.5 inch Mini Tarts

*Crust
1/2C  flour (gluten-free blend here)
1/4C  butter
1/4t    salt
1t       cold water

Method

Crust:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
You can use a bought pie crust if you'd like, but you won't need all of it.  I quickly whipped up some homemade crust using my gluten-free flour blend and it was easy and awesome.  For the sake of ease, we just stuck to regular flour for the recipe.

 Begin by combining flour and salt. 
 Using a pastry cutter or fork to mash it until you get a crumbly texture
and then mix the remainder by hand...
to form it into a ball. *You may need to add a bit of water 
to form a ball, but I didn't.

Place the dough into the refrigerator to chill for 20 minutes.  Once chilled roll and press into tart pans. 

 Bake shell in 350 degree oven for 12-15 minutes until golden brown.

*Caramel 
1/2C sugar
1/2C water
3T butter
3T heavy cream
1t salt

Method:
Mix sugar and water bring to a boil and let boil until sugar begins to brown (do not touch or stir as this will cause it to recrystalize). Once sugar is a light brown remove from heat and add the cream (be careful it is very hot and will splatter).  When you add the cream it will start to harden - just whisk it until incorporated.  Then stir in the butter and salt. Let rest in pot.

*White Chocolate and Pumpkin Ganache
1/3C canned pumpkin(plain)
2/3C white chocolate chips
1/3C heavy cream

Method:
Place chocolate in a bowl.  Bring cream to a boil.  Once boiling pour all the cream over the chocolate and stir slowly until smooth.  Then fold in the pumpkin, and hold in a warm place.

To finish:
Pour caramel into each tart shell to completely coat the bottom.


Let chill in fridge until firm about - about 10 minutes.  Next pour ganache over to fill the shell.  Let chill again until firm - about 30 minutes.  Top with whip cream and serve. 


Don't let the shadows from making these by the light of the silvery moon 
fool you...they are good.  We have one left and I'm seriously 
contemplating tossing the diet to eat it for breakfast!

What are you guys making for Thanksgiving dessert?  I'd love to hear your family traditions and favorite recipes.  I'm wishing now that I would have done a recipe swap with all of you prior to Thanksgiving...maybe we can figure something out for December.  What do you think?

56 comments:

fashion clocked said...

wow this sounds phenomenal, and i have never come cross that mix before! caramel pumpkin ganache.....droool. May have to get making those as a suprise over christmas!Katie.xx

fashion clocked

FarmGirl said...

OMW! Looks SO good!
xxx

Anonymous said...

You just make me crave sugar!

Diana Mieczan said...

OMG...I need to make those for my Balazs. He is crazy about caramel:)...Yummy
I am making pumpkin pie and apple pie as well:)
Wish you a wonderful day,darling

Ps: I am hosting a beautiful pillows GIVEAWAY later today, just in time for Christmas.

Anonymous said...

This looks and sounds AMAZING! I will have to try it out! xo

p.s. I am having a Pottery Barn $50 e-card giveaway if you would like to join in!

Anonymous said...

Oh god, Carrie, you evil! I want to eat that one right now!

little luxury list said...

Gorgeous! I've made pumpkin cheesecake but no other set dessert really. This though looks like something I should save!

Closet Fashionista said...

MMmmm that looks pretty tasty!!! I hate when things look good but I know I won't like them :/
http://aclosetfashionista.blogspot.com/

Danielle (elleinadspir) said...

Yum!! And you know I'm always up for recipe swaps ;)
My fav that I made for thanksgiving was pomegranate cranberry sauce from pioneer woman. I posted it a few days ago...easy!!! 12 oz fresh cranberries, 1 cup pom juice and 1 cup sugar. Boil gently for 10 min and then chill. It's yummy!! Happy thanksgiving carrie!

Lisa Griffin said...

these don't only look delicious but are so freaking cute! my family goes wayyy over on the turkey day desserts, one pumpkin pie or pumpkin cheesecake, a pecan pie, and a wildcard! yummmm
www.indramaticfashion.com

Unknown said...

my brother orders pies from this bakery that's INSANE - but i don't get the hype b/c i'm not into them at all - i plan on makeing every single person on Christmas their own individual pies for desseert - 1 apple and 1 berry pie ..

Happy beinging to the holidays!

*kiss kiss*
Erika
~Tiptoe Butterfly~

erica said...

wow these are absolutely gorgeous! You did a wonderful job, and I might just have to make these soon. Or if I get ambitious maybe i`ll make this tonight to bring to a party tomorrow. Have a Happy Thanksgiving gorgeous!

xo

Courtney Erin said...

I celebrated Canadian thanksgiving when I was back in Edmonton last month so I will probably be celebrating American thanksgiving with a tofurkey from Whole Foods and a day on the couch watching TV. And I'm looking forward to it!

xoxo ~ Courtney
http://sartorialsidelines.blogspot.com

Marie a la Mode said...

Oh my God, they look so yummy! No dessert for me because I'm in Canada but that won't stop me from going to DQ and treating myself to a Crispy Crunch Blizzard any way. In -25 degree weather too. I'm hard oore.

Chiara said...

This sounds amazing!!!
You think you can send some to Peru?!
Happy Thanksgiving
xoxo
and yes, Deserts sound like a perfect Thanksgiving diet.

Taylor said...

GIRL EAT IT!!!!!!! My mom volunteered to do dessert, bc I am the cook she thought she could manage ONE item....let me tell you I just found out we are having homemade FROZEN pie! (She was a boxed mac N cheese kinda mom - she can barely microwave a hot dog!)

I may need to go make this!

merciblahblah said...

Homina homina - that sounds DEEEE-lish. I am so making that sometime soon. I always make a Banoffee Pie for Thanksgiving (banana toffee pie in graham cracker crust). Tis my favorite pie that I was introduced to on a trip to England/Ireland, where you can find it on the menu at any pub, and believe me, I ordered it at EVERY pub we visited.

YUM.

Merci!
Shan

Emily Jane said...

This sounds BEYOND fantastic!!

Natalie said...

This sounds amazing! Can't wait to try it.

Nikki said...

Amazing, this is just what I needed today!
Have a happy Thanksgiving Carrie!

xx
Nikki

Unknown said...

um, gimme. i need that. happy thanksgiving, carrie!

Editor said...

Wow, that look great!

TheChambrayCountess said...

A.M.A.Z.I.N.G!! I am so hungry now! Love the combo :)

Summer Athena said...

tomorrow, i am thinking i need to try this recipe instead of the peanut butter bacon pie. this looks and sound delish, darlin!

Marcie said...

Yum! This looks amazing. I may have to do it for my Chrisgiving meal. (A meal Jimmy and I do between Christmas and Thanksgiving since we are out of town for both).

xo M

Anonymous said...

Yum!
I dont do the holiday but my mom is making a pecan/walnut pie. She likes to bake. I plan to sample it on Friday.
My family likes for me to make chocolate covered pretzels. The easiest thing in the world to make but I am ok with that. I went to get pretzels last night but it looked like someone deliberately crushed the remaining bags. :(

Valerie said...

Stop it! This looks so gourmet and amazing, Carrie! I'm so impressed. Can I come over? hehe. I'm definitely ready for a few days off and I haven't decided what to make for dessert yet! I usually make some type of pumpkin cheesecake or pumpkin chiffon pie, so I might just stick with that this year too. About the toffee not melting in the fudge. I melt all the chocolate first and stir it up, then at the end while it's still hot, I sprinkle the toffee on top and press it in a bit. So it's not actually mixed in, just pressed into the top. It's a good one.

I hope you have a fantastic Thanksgiving, Carrie! And I hope you have some time to relax over the long weekend!

xo
Valerie

Claire Kiefer said...

Um, WOW. This is especially impressive. I can't decide whether I am more amazed by them or the fact that you are on a diet since you are such a skinny minnie! Also, everything tastes better with butter. It's so good. I wish there would be breaking news that butter isn't actually horrible for you at all!

FRANKIE HEARTS FASHION said...

Um...I'm just gonna start calling you Betty Crocker! Holy shizz that looks amazing, I wouldn't share if I were you either! Wishing you and your family a very Happy Thanksgiving! xo

THE ALTERNATIVE WIFE said...

That looks heavenly!!! I'm debating what to cook tomorrow. I already cooked so much this past weekend when J's family came over for TG that I'm almost all cooked out :) I am considering bringing an apple pie though. If I don't squeeze that in today I can always fall back on the zucchini bread I made a few days ago. Ah screw it, I'm going with the zucchini bread. I have too much to do before vacay :)

Enjoy your days off, sweetie!!! xoxo

Ren- Lady Of The Arts said...

Such a show off- I am so jealous- I don't want to know how to make it I want to know how to get someone to make it for me!

this free bird said...

Ren - you get over here and I'll have the Chef make one for you...I just ate the last one for breakfast or I'd have mailed it to you. AHAHAHA!!
xo,
c

Rachel @ The Haute Notes said...

Oh my gosh... That looks sooooo yummy! I gotta try this!

I hope you have a fantastic Thanksgiving, darling!

Amber said...

this sounds yummy and overeating is in my plans :) I am making a tiramisu cake, delicious.

Laura said...

You actually make me want to cook! And I don't just mean bake cakes, I mean properly cook meals. Which could de very dangerous!! These looks so yummy

L x
Half Dressed

A Crimson Kiss said...

This sounds beyond delicious. I'm in foodie heaven!

John has requested three miniature pies-classic pumpkin, bourbon pecan and apple-gruyere: I'm all too happy to oblige him!

Laura said...

ohmygosh.. this just looks way too delish! I can't stand it!! .... we have been making too many tasty things lately! It's not helping my figure! haha

Nadia said...

Gah! That looks DELICIOUS!

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

xo Nadia

Anonymous said...

Oh jeez you are one committed baker! My boyfriend asked me what was for dessert the other night and I pulled out a liter of root beer and a pint of vanilla ice cream. Haha. whoopsies. Have a wonderful turkey day!
Bisous,
Rachel
lovealamode.wordpress.com

Alison Kinsey said...

these look insanely good :) i wish i was more talented in the kitchen. have fun at your dinner parties!!

Unknown said...

Hells to the yeah! Love it! We are going to "the club" for T'giving, all the skinny rich ladies make me not want to eat dessert. But I will, damn it, I will! XX!

OneCraftyFox said...

GET IN MY BELLY!! Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving. I don't cook much, but I eat much, lol. I love a good apple crumble for dessert as well as pie :)

Anonymous said...

Ok, amazing desert! I'm going to need one!

Gorgeous Glam said...

I never say no to pumpkin! I hope you have a great turkey day! Gobble gobble!

LyddieGal said...

Those look seriously Delicious! I must make them!
and i know i've said it before, but i want your mixing bowls!!

Chic on the Cheap

Poppies and Sunshine said...

Sign me up for anything with caramel in it! This sounds great! I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving! And a great long weekend off! :)

Lila said...

They look wonderful. Wishing you a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Lisa Lisa Lisa said...

This. Looks. AMAZING.

How are you doing? Are you super excited for the holiday??? I bet having your Chef means you have incredibly Thanksgivings =)

Lila said...

PS Phoenix is doing well and the snow smear the queer is probably not going to happen again this winter. Game is all out tackle football. Anyways enjoying a regular mojito right now and it is definitely helping- haha

Thanks

Chas said...

That looks incredible! I'm drooling. Hope you have a great Thanksgiving!

Meghan said...

wow, looks amazing! Happy Thanksgiving!

Josie said...

Ooooh, these look so good! And I totally agree; it was definitely time for a break!
xo Josie
http://winksmilestyle.blogspot.com

20 YORK STREET said...

What can't you do my darling? I'm not a follower of you and your blog, I am a FAN!

=)

p.s. So you get the best of both worlds, two Thanksgiving celebrations!
Smart girl!

xox,

From the Motherland

Alleen said...

This looks amazing...will save for later!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!! xoxo

heather said...

These are SOO cute! I just baked the last cheesecake in Patagonia yesterday, and made two heart-shaped cheesecake cupcakes with a little fig surprise in the center. I wasn't sure how they would work out, but they were perfect and held together when I took them out of the heart-shaped silicon cupcake holders. I love silicon baking supplies!

But I'm not allowed to bring the cheesecake to our Thanksgiving plans, because it's so special. So I'm doing something simple to use up our bounty of oats: apple crisp :) Not near as cool as your caramel pumpkin ganache.

I also wanted to say, reading your comment last night choked me up too! I love how you say best wedding you've ever attended. Sniffle sniffle. I'm so emotional these days.

Lots of love to you my friend! And Happy (stateside) Thanksgiving!

pancakestacker said...

This looks sooo delicious! I am a big fan of anything pumpkin! I'll be sad when the season is over and I'll have to wait to overload on pumpkins again, haha. Happy Thanksgiving!!

Stop by sometime soon!
http://pancakestacker.blogspot.com

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