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Bourbon & Butterscotch Nut Tart -Assorted nuts are coated in a smooth, creamy butterscotch sauce with just a hint of bourbon then baked in a delicious pecan shortbread crust.
I glanced at the calendar and suddenly realized today is my 5-year blog anniversary (a/k/a blog-iversary). I can’t believe it’s been five years and I’m still consumed with a desire to do more. It started out as a hobby, a way to document my favorite recipes, and to learn how to use a camera. Don’t look too far back – I’m embarrassed at some of the stuff I posted in the early years, but it’s a history and that’s something we cannot change. At this point blogging is more than a hobby, it’s a passion. So … since it’s a special day here at SRFD, do I get to make a wish? Maybe I shouldn’t tell you what I wished for or it won’t come true – but if it does you’ll be the first to know!
Make this tart with a combination of your favorite nuts.
Do you have a favorite nut? Do you crave butterscotch and enjoy a little bourbon on the side? Look no further, this is the dessert for you! This has been in my head for months … I could see it, smell it, and taste it, and couldn’t rest until I put it on the table.
What kind of nuts are best to use in this tart?
Walnuts, pecans, hazelnuts, cashews and pistachios are our nuts of choice for this tart. These are my favorites but you can mix it up with as many or as few as you like. This tart would be great with just walnuts or pecans. There’s no wrong way to eat nuts! We love the assortment because each bite is a little different but all are covered in a smooth, creamy butterscotch sauce that takes just minutes to make.
Make our nut tart ahead to serve for the holidays.
This simple tart made the day before serving. The crust comes together easily in a food processor then pressed into a tart pan. Serve this nut tart at room temperature for the best texture and consistency.
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Bourbon & Butterscotch Nut Tart
Ingredients
For the crust:
- 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons light brown sugar packed
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- ¼ cup ground toasted pecans
- 8 tablespoons unsalted butter room temperature
For the tart:
- 4 cups assorted unsalted nuts pistachios, walnuts, pecans, hazelnuts, cashews
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- ⅓ cup dark brown sugar firmly packed
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
- 2 tablespoons water
- ⅓ cup light corn syrup
- ⅓ cup heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon bourbon or 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Instructions
To make the crust:
- Add the flour, salt, sugars and pecans to the bowl of a food processor. Pulse to blend. Add the butter and process until a soft dough starts to form. Do not over mix.
- Spray the bottom and sides of a 14” x 5” tart pan with a removable bottom. Press the dough evenly into the sides and bottom of the pan. Freeze the tart crust for 30 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- Prick the bottom of the tart with a fork. Line the tart with a piece of parchment paper and lightly fill with dried beans or pie weights. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until the crust starts to set. Remove the parchment and beans and bake for an additional 10 minutes. Set aside to cool.
To make the tart:
- Reduce the oven temperature to 350°F.
- Melt the butter in a large heavy-bottom saucepan. Add the sugars, salt, water and corn syrup. Heat over medium-high stirring constantly until the sugars dissolve. Bring the mixture to a boil, reduce the heat to medium and and cook for 5 minutes, stirring constantly.
- Once the mixture thickens and creates slow thick bubbles, remove from the heat. Whisk in the cream, (bourbon if using) and vanilla, taking care as the mixture may sputter.
- Gently stir in the nuts and pour the mixture into the prepared tart pan.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes or until the filling bubbles. Cool completely on a rack. Serve at room temperature.
Recipe Notes
- Double the sauce recipe and refrigerate half for other uses. Great drizzled on ice cream, apple pie or brownies.
- Top with a sprinkle of fine sea salt if desired.
- Serve with a dollop of lightly sweet whipped cream or a scoop of ice cream
- Butterscotch sauce recipe inspired by a recipe on Fine Cooking
Nutrition
Thank you so much for stopping by! Tricia
Barb
I found it was too high a heat for this tart. The second bake was ten minutes I I took it out of the oven after five. To late to salvage. Burnt. Birds got it tho’.
I tried a second time. Covered the edges in tinfoil. I put it on a cookie sheet and baked it @350° after 20minutes. 2nd bake: took the weights off but left tinfoil on and baked for 6 minutes. Made filling but cooked the Carmel for aprox. 7 min.
Last cook I left tinfoil over the edges. Made in Convection oven.
Was a hit with my family. Thank you.
Tricia Buice
Thanks for the feedback Barb. Glad it was a hit!
Courtney
Delicious!! Made this tart as a New Years Day dessert and it was a huge hit!! Beautiful & delicious
Thank you!
Tricia Buice
Thank you so much Courtney! I love this nutty tart and so happy you gave it a try. Thank for taking the time to comment and for trying our recipe. Happy New Year!