Caramel pecan tart with cream cheese pastry

Method

1. To make the pastry, sift the flour into a food processor with a pinch of salt. Add the butter and pulse until it resembles breadcrumbs. Dollop in the cream cheese, add the egg yolk and pulse again until it starts to come together. Bring the dough together with your hands and knead briefly on a dusted work surface until you have a smooth pastry. Shape into a disk, wrap in cling film and chill for at least 30 minutes.
2. Preheat the oven to 200°C/fan180°C/gas 6 and put in a baking sheet to heat up. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the pastry to the thickness of a pound coin and use to line a 23cm fluted shallow tart tin. Chill for 15 minutes.
3. Prick the base all over with a fork, then line with baking paper and add baking beans or rice. Blind-bake (see our how-to video below) on the preheated sheet for 12-15 minutes, then remove the paper and baking beans/rice and return to the oven for a further 6-8 minutes until golden and cooked through. Brush with egg white and pop back in the oven for a minute to seal the tart case and keep the pastry crisp.
Recipe continues after advertising
Advertisement
4. Meanwhile, melt the butter, sugar, syrup and cream in a pan over a gentle heat until the sugar has dissolved. Increase the heat and bubble for 10-12 minutes, running a fork through occasionally if it needs evening out, until thick.
5. Lightly toast the pecan halves in a dry pan over a low heat, then roughly chop one third, leaving the rest whole. Once the caramel is thick and glossy, stir in the crumbs and chopped pecans. Pour into the tart case, then decorate with the pecan halves. Leave in the fridge for 2 hours or so before removing from the tin and serving