Chocolate Caramel Tart With Pretzel Crust

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9'' tart pan with unsalted butter.
2. Place the pretzels in a food processor.* Pulse the pretzels until you have fine crumbs. You should have 1 1/2 cups of crumbs total.
3. Add the melted butter and brown sugar. Pulse until the mixture clumps and sticks together.**
4. Using your fingers, press the crumb mixture evenly into the bottom and sides of the pan. Bake for 9-10 minutes, until golden brown. Let cool while you make the caramel.
5. Combine the sugar and water in a heavy-bottomed saucepan. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring just until the sugar dissolves. Clip a candy thermometer to the side of the pan, ensuring that the bottom of the thermometer is hitting the sugar-water mixture but not touching the bottom of the pan.
6. Let the sugar-water mixture cook over medium-low heat, swirling the pan often until the mixture turns a dark amber color and the temperature reaches 350-360°F. Resist cranking the heat or stirring the mixture or it could crystallize!***
7. Remove the pan from the heat, and quickly stir in the vanilla extract (the mixture will bubble and splatter). Add the butter one chunk at a time until combined. Next, add the Kosher salt and heavy cream, quickly stirring to combine everything. Let the caramel cool for about 5 minutes.
8. Sprinkle the chopped peanuts evenly over the top of the tart crust. Immediately pour in the caramel, using a rubber spatula to spread it evenly if necessary. Pop the tart in the fridge to set, at least 30 minutes but preferably at least 1 hour.
9. Place the chopped chocolate in a medium heat-proof bowl.
10. Heat the heavy cream in a small saucepan just until it comes to a simmer. Don't let it boil! Pour the hot cream over the chocolate and let it sit for 2-3 minutes.
11. Stir the mixture until you have a thick, glossy ganache. Quickly spread the chocolate ganache over the tart with a rubber spatula or offset spatula.
12. Decorate the tart with chopped peanuts, pretzels, and/or flaky salt, as desired. Let the ganache set for 15-20 minutes. Slice and serve immediately, or pop the tart in the fridge until you're ready to serve. Let it warm up for 15-20 minutes at room temperature to allow the caramel and chocolate to soften before slicing. Enjoy!