Chocolate Hazelnut Tart Recipe

The Best Chocolate Hazelnut Tart Recipe for Sweet-Tooth Cravings

Rich chocolate hazelnut tart promises a decadent dessert experience that tantalizes taste buds with its luxurious blend of flavors.

This elegant treat combines smooth, velvety textures with deep, nutty undertones that melt gracefully on your palate.

Sophisticated yet approachable, the dessert converts simple ingredients into a culinary masterpiece that speaks volumes about refined indulgence.

Its crisp, buttery crust provides a perfect foundation for the creamy chocolate filling, creating a harmonious balance of crunch and silkiness.

Delicate hazelnut notes weave through each bite, offering a subtle complexity that elevates the entire dessert.

Nutty undertones complement the intense chocolate, creating a sensory journey that feels both familiar and exotic.

This impressive tart works wonderfully for intimate gatherings or as a show-stopping finale to a memorable meal.

Chocolate Hazelnut Tart With Crunch and Cream

  • Luxurious Texture Delight: Indulge in the silky-smooth chocolate hazelnut ganache that melts effortlessly on your tongue, creating a decadent experience with every single bite.
  • Quick and Easy Creation: Whip up this impressive dessert without complex baking skills, using just a few simple ingredients and minimal kitchen equipment like a food processor or rolling pin.
  • No-Bake Chocolate Bliss: Enjoy a stunning dessert that requires zero oven time, making it perfect for hot summers or when you want a stress-free sweet treat that looks professionally made.
  • Nutty Flavor Explosion: Savor the rich combination of roasted hazelnuts and chocolate, delivering a sophisticated taste profile that balances sweet and slightly toasted nutty undertones in one incredible dessert.

What Goes Into a Perfect Hazelnut Tart

Base and Crust:
  • Digestive Biscuits, Hazelnuts: Crunchy base that provides a nutty and sweet foundation for the tart, with hazelnuts adding rich texture and depth of flavor.
  • Unsalted Butter: Binds the crust ingredients together and adds richness, best when melted and slightly cooled.
  • Salt: Enhances the overall flavor of the crust, balancing the sweetness.
Chocolate Ganache Filling:
  • Dark Chocolate: High-quality chocolate creates a smooth, intense flavor base for the ganache, preferably with 70% cocoa content.
  • Hazelnut Butter: Adds creamy nuttiness and depth to the chocolate filling, choose a smooth, natural variety.
  • Heavy Cream: Creates a silky, luxurious texture in the ganache, full-fat cream works best.
Garnish:
  • Roasted Hazelnuts: Provides a crunchy topping and extra nutty flavor, best when freshly roasted and roughly chopped.

How to Craft a Smooth, Chocolate Tart Base

Step 1: Craft the Crumbly Crust

Melt butter in microwave and let it cool slightly.

Create hazelnut and biscuit crumbs using:
  • Food processor
  • Zip bag
  • Rolling pin
Combine crumbs with:
  • Warm melted butter
  • Pinch of salt

Press mixture firmly into 8-inch pie tin, covering base and sides evenly.

Smooth and compact the crust using fingertips.

Freeze crust while preparing filling.

Step 2: Whip Up Decadent Chocolate Filling

Warm heavy cream until gently simmering.

Pour hot cream over:
  • Chocolate
  • Hazelnut butter
Blend ingredients using:
  • Continuous stirring
  • Hand blender

Ensure mixture becomes silky and uniform.

Pour ganache into prepared frozen crust.

Smooth top with offset spatula.

Refrigerate for minimum 4 hours until completely set.

Step 3: Garnish and Unveil

Carefully remove tart from tin.

Sprinkle roasted hazelnuts across surface.

Slice and serve chilled.

Tips for Cutting Without Cracking the Tart

  • Crush Cookies Perfectly: Use a food processor or rolling pin to create fine, even crumbs for a uniform and crisp tart base.
  • Prevent Butter Separation: Allow melted butter to cool slightly before mixing with crumbs to ensure proper binding and texture.
  • Chill for Stability: Freeze the crust for 10-15 minutes before adding filling to help it maintain shape and prevent crumbling.
  • Smooth Ganache Technique: Stir chocolate and cream continuously or use a hand blender to create a silky, lump-free filling.
  • Set for Success: Refrigerate the tart for minimum 4 hours to achieve a firm, sliceable consistency that holds its shape when cut.

Store This Tart the Smart Way

  • Refrigeration: Store the chocolate hazelnut tart in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Cover the tart gently with plastic wrap to prevent absorption of other flavors.
  • Freezing: Wrap the tart tightly in plastic wrap and aluminum foil, then freeze for up to 1 month. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving.
  • Reheating: Let the tart sit at room temperature for 10-15 minutes before serving to soften the ganache and enhance its creamy texture. Avoid microwaving, as this can compromise the smooth consistency of the chocolate filling.

Toppings and Pairings That Elevate the Tart

  • Pair with Nutty Liqueur Finale: Serve a small glass of Frangelico hazelnut liqueur alongside the tart, complementing the rich chocolate and hazelnut flavors with a smooth, warming spirit.
  • Enhance with Creamy Coffee Companion: Enjoy a hot espresso or cappuccino to cut through the tart's richness, creating a classic Italian-style dessert experience that balances sweetness and bitter notes.
  • Elevate with Fresh Berry Contrast: Add a small side of fresh raspberries or strawberries to provide a tart, bright counterpoint to the dense chocolate ganache, adding a refreshing element to each rich bite.
  • Match with Smooth Dessert Wine: Select a late-harvest Moscato or Pedro Ximénez sherry, which offers sweet, intense flavors that harmonize beautifully with the chocolate and hazelnut profile of the tart.

Ways to Add Flair to Your Hazelnut Tart

  • Salted Caramel Chocolate Hazelnut Tart: Drizzle a layer of homemade salted caramel sauce over the ganache before chilling, adding a luxurious sweet-salty contrast to the rich chocolate base.
  • No-Bake Vegan Version: Swap butter with coconut oil, use dairy-free chocolate and hazelnut spread, and replace heavy cream with coconut cream for a plant-based alternative that's equally indulgent.
  • Nutty Crunch Variation: Mix chopped toasted almonds and pecans into the crust for extra texture, and sprinkle additional crushed nuts on top of the ganache for a crunchy finish.
  • Espresso Chocolate Hazelnut Tart: Stir a shot of freshly brewed espresso into the ganache mixture to enhance the chocolate's depth and add a subtle coffee undertone to the dessert.
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Chocolate Hazelnut Tart Recipe

Chocolate Hazelnut Tart Recipe


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4.7 from 31 reviews

  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 8 1x

Description

Indulgent chocolate hazelnut tart brings Italian dessert elegance to home kitchens. Rich ganache and toasted hazelnuts create a luxurious experience that melts in your mouth with sophisticated chocolate complexity.


Ingredients

Scale

Ingredients:

Main Ingredients:

  • 250 g (1½ cups) dark chocolate callets
  • 300 g (1⅓ cups) heavy cream (36% fat), very cold
  • 120 g (1 cup) hazelnut butter

Crust Ingredients:

  • 200 g (¾ cup) biscuit crumbs (e.g., Digestive, Graham cracker)
  • 60 g (½ cup) ground hazelnuts
  • 60 g (¼ cup) unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 pinch of salt

Decoration:

  • Roasted hazelnuts

Instructions

  1. Meticulously craft the base by pulverizing biscuits and hazelnuts into fine crumbs using a food processor or manual crushing technique.
  2. Gently fold melted butter and a delicate pinch of salt into the crumb mixture, ensuring a cohesive texture that will form a sturdy foundation.
  3. Carefully press the crumb blend into a loose-base pie tin, creating an even layer across the bottom and sides, using fingertips to compact the mixture uniformly.
  4. Temporarily chill the prepared crust in the freezer to stabilize its structure while preparing the luxurious filling.
  5. Warm heavy cream until it reaches a gentle simmer, then cascade it over a waiting blend of premium chocolate and hazelnut butter.
  6. Emulsify the ganache thoroughly using continuous stirring or a hand blender, transforming the ingredients into a silky, glossy mixture.
  7. Elegantly pour the chocolate hazelnut ganache into the chilled crust, using an offset spatula to create a perfectly smooth surface.
  8. Allow the tart to set in the refrigerator for a minimum of four hours, enabling the ganache to develop a sublime, firm consistency.
  9. Delicately extract the tart from its tin, showcasing the pristine edges of the crust.
  10. Embellish the surface with a scattering of toasted hazelnuts, adding a crunchy textural contrast before presenting this decadent dessert.

Notes

  • Chill the crust thoroughly before adding the ganache to ensure a crisp, clean base that won’t become soggy.
  • Use high-quality chocolate and hazelnut butter for the most luxurious and rich flavor profile.
  • Patience is key – allow the tart to set completely for at least 4 hours to achieve the perfect smooth, sliceable texture.
  • Roast hazelnuts briefly before decorating to enhance their nutty aroma and bring out deeper, more complex flavors.
  • Create a clean slice by wiping your knife with hot water between cuts, ensuring each piece looks professionally presented.
  • Store the tart in the refrigerator and consume within 3-4 days for optimal taste and texture.
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes
  • Category: Desserts
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: French

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 8
  • Calories: 499
  • Sugar: 25 g
  • Sodium: 40 mg
  • Fat: 35 g
  • Saturated Fat: 19 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 16 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 41 g
  • Fiber: 3 g
  • Protein: 7 g
  • Cholesterol: 95 mg
Liam O'Brien

Liam O’Brien

Founder & Recipe Developer

Expertise

  • Traditional Irish Dishes
  • Farm-to-Table Cooking
  • Recipe Creation
  • Teaching Cooking Skills
  • Sustainable Food Practices

Education

Dublin Institute of Technology (now Technological University Dublin)

  • Program: Bachelor of Arts in Culinary Arts
  • Focus: Hands-on training in cooking techniques, kitchen management, and exploring both Irish and international cuisines.

Ballymaloe Cookery School, County Cork, Ireland

  • Program: 12-Week Certificate Course
  • Focus: Farm-to-table cooking, emphasizing the use of fresh, local ingredients and traditional cooking methods.

Liam O’Brien is the co-founder and kitchen soul behind Good Tasting Meals, a chef who believes that cooking shouldn’t feel stressful or complicated.

He earned his culinary stripes at Technological University Dublin and polished his farm-to-table skills at Ballymaloe Cookery School. With over 15 years flipping pans and stirring up stories, Liam has worked in family cafés, bustling bistros, and everything in between.

At Good Tasting Meals, Liam brings you recipes that feel like home: cozy, simple, and full of flavor.

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