Ingredients

 

Crust:

1 cup all purpose flour
1 Tbsp white granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup chilled butter (4 ounces, 1 stick), cut into cubes
1 Tbsp ice water

Filling:

1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 cups dark brown sugar
1 large egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Pinch of salt
2 cups of whole pecans

Equipment needed:

One 9-inch by 1-inch tart pan with a removable bottom
Food processor to make the tart dough

Directions

 

1. Make the dough. Combine in a food processor the flour, sugar, and salt. Pulse to blend. Add the cubed butter and pulse until you have pea-sized pieces of butter. Add 1 Tbsp ice water and pulse until the dough starts to come together into a ball. Turn the dough out onto a clean surface and form into a ball with your hands. Flatten into a disc form, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

2. Form the crust. Press the dough into the center of the tart pan and work it with your fingers and the palm of your hand so that it spreads to the edges and up the sides of the tart pan. Lay a large piece of aluminum foil into the pan on top of the dough and press it into the dough so that it helps the dough keep its shape in the pan. Then place the pan into the freezer for 30 minutes.

3. Blind bake the crust. Preheat oven to 400°F. After 30 minutes, remove the pan from the freezer and gently remove the foil from the dough. Place the pan on top of a sheet of foil (to catch drippings) on top of a baking sheet. Prick the bottom of the tart dough with the tines of a fork in several places and place the tart pan in the oven. Bake for 15 -20 minutes, or until the dough is lightly browned. Remove from oven and let sit at room temperature to cool.

4. Make the filling. Put the butter, brown sugar, egg, and salt in a large bowl. Stir until well combined. Then gently stir in the pecans. Pour the filling into the pre-baked, cooled tart shell.

5. Bake the tart. Preheat oven to 350°F. Place the tart on a foil lined pan and bake for about 25 minutes until lightly browned and slightly puffy all over. Remove from oven and let cool to touch. Then while the tart is still slightly warm, gently remove the outer ring of the tart pan, leaving the tart on the metal tart pan bottom. Let cool all the way before cutting to serve.
Serve with whipped cream. Use a sharp chef's knife to cut the tart. You have to cut through pecans, so make strong, swift cuts.

 

Formulation courtesy of Elise Bauer