What happens when a coconut-and chocolate-laden classic becomes a tart? This Frozen German Chocolate Tart! Magic in the making. Toasted pecans and flaked coconut are studded throughout a lightened dulce de leche no-bake filling. Melted chocolate gives this rendition its characteristic richness.
Looking for more inspiration? Find this recipe and more in our ultimate ode to delicious pies and tarts, featuring over 170 recipes every home baker should have in their collection. Preorder your copy of The Pie & Tart Collection today!
Frozen German Chocolate Tart
Makes 1 (10-inch) tart
Ingredients
- Vanilla Shortcrust (recipe follows)
- 2 (13.4-ounce) cans (746 grams) dulce de leche
- 1½ cups (126 grams) sweetened flaked coconut, toasted
- 1 cup (113 grams) finely chopped toasted pecans
- 1¾ teaspoons (5.25 grams) kosher salt, divided
- 1 teaspoon (6 grams) vanilla bean paste, divided
- 1¼ cups (300 grams) cold heavy whipping cream
- 1 (8-ounce) package (226 grams) cream cheese, cubed and room temperature
- 1 (14-ounce) can (380 grams) sweetened condensed milk
- 8 ounces (226 grams) 70% cacao bittersweet chocolate baking bars, melted (see Notes)
- Garnish: finely chopped toasted pecans , toasted sweetened flaked coconut
Instructions
- Let Vanilla Shortcrust stand at room temperature until slightly softened, 10 to 15 minutes. (See Notes.)
- Spray a tall-sided 10-inch fluted round removable-bottom tart pan with baking spray with flour.
- On a lightly floured surface, roll Vanilla Shortcrust into a 14-inch circle (about ⅛ to ¼ inch thick), flouring rolling pin and work surface as needed. Gently transfer dough to prepared pan, pressing into bottom and up sides. (It’s OK if dough tears in spots; press back together using a fingertip dipped in water to thoroughly seal any seams.) Using a small sharp knife, trim dough flush with sides of pan; pinch sides lightly so dough sits about ⅛- to 1/16 inch above top edge of pan, and use any excess dough to patch thinner spots in crust. Freeze until firm, 15 to 25 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C).
- Place tart pan on a rimmed baking sheet. Top with parchment paper, letting ends extend over edges of pan; add pie weights.
- Bake until edges are dry, just set, and lightly golden, 18 to 22 minutes, rotating pan halfway through baking. Carefully remove parchment and weights. Using the tines of a fork, dock bottom of crust. Bake until inside and bottom of crust is lightly golden, dry, and set, 20 to 27 minutes more, lightly covering edges with foil to prevent excess browning, if necessary. (It’s OK if crust shrinks slightly; if bottom puffs, gently push down with a heatproof spoon.) Let cool completely in pan on a wire rack.
- In a large bowl, stir together dulce de leche, coconut, pecans, 1 teaspoon (3 grams) salt, and ½ teaspoon (3 grams) vanilla bean paste until well combined. Set aside.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat cold cream at medium-high speed until medium-stiff peaks form. Transfer to a medium bowl.
- Clean bowl of stand mixer and whisk attachment. Using the whisk attachment, beat cream cheese at medium speed until smooth and creamy, 1 to 2 minutes, stopping to scrape sides of bowl. Add condensed milk, melted chocolate, remaining ¾ teaspoon (2.25 grams) salt, and remaining ½ teaspoon (3 grams) vanilla bean paste; beat until well combined, stopping to scrape sides of bowl. Fold in whipped cream in three additions. Place 1½ cups (273 grams) cream cheese mixture in a pastry bag fitted with a medium open star piping tip (Wilton 1M); set aside. Spoon half of remaining cream cheese mixture into cooled prepared crust, smoothing top with a small offset spatula. Freeze for 15 minutes.
- Place half of dulce de leche mixture into another large pastry bag; cut a ¾-inch opening in tip. Pipe dulce de leche mixture evenly over cream cheese mixture in crust, gently smoothing with a small offset spatula. Top with remaining cream cheese mixture, smoothing with a small offset spatula. Freeze for 15 minutes.
- Spoon remaining dulce de leche mixture into pastry bag; pipe on top of cream cheese mixture, leaving a ½- to ¾-inch border, piling high and smoothing or texturing with a small offset spatula as necessary.
- Pipe reserved cream cheese mixture around edge of tart; garnish with pecans and coconut, if desired. Freeze until firm, at least 4 hours. (Alternatively, refrigerate overnight.) Let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes to 1 hour. Remove from pan, and serve.
Notes
To melt our chocolate, we used the double boiler method. In the top of a double boiler, place chopped chocolate. (Do not attempt to melt chocolate bars whole.) Cook over simmering water, stirring frequently, until melted and smooth.
Dough refrigerated overnight may need to stand at room temperature until slightly softened, 30 to 45 minutes, before rolling.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Vanilla Shortcrust
Makes 1 (10-inch) crust
Ingredients
- 1 cup (227 grams) cold unsalted butter
- 2⅔ cups (333 grams) all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons (24 grams) granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons (6 grams) kosher salt
- 3 tablespoons (45 grams) cold whole milk
- 2 large egg yolks (37 grams)
- 1 teaspoon (6 grams) vanilla bean paste
Instructions
- Cut butter into ½- to ¾-inch cubes. Freeze until firm, about 10 minutes.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer, whisk together flour, sugar, and salt by hand. Add frozen butter; using the paddle attachment, beat at low speed until butter is broken into small pieces, 2 to 3 minutes. (If any large pieces of butter remain, squeeze between fingers to break up.)
- In a 1-cup liquid-measuring cup, whisk together milk, egg yolks, and vanilla bean paste. With mixer on very low speed, add milk mixture to flour mixture in a slow, steady stream, beating just until moist clumps form. Transfer mixture to a large piece of plastic wrap. Using your hands, bring mixture together to form a cohesive dough. Shape dough into a 7-inch disk, and wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour or up to overnight.
The vanilla short crust didn’t come together for me. It’s like there’s not enough liquid in the recipe. I had to add another 2 T milk and then assemble/press the crust into the tart pan vs rolling out anything. Curious to know if this problem is unique to me or not. Otherwise delicious recipe and very easy to make.
Hi Dani,
Thank you for your note!
In testing, the Vanilla Shortcrust came together and was rollable. If you don’t already, we always recommend measuring out your ingredients by weight. That being said, you definitely had the right idea adding a little more milk to bring the dough together. If you continue to have issues, even using the weight measurements, please let us know.
Happy Baking!
Can I vanilla be used in place of vanilla paste? I use very good vanilla.
For most vanilla paste, you can substitute vanilla extract with a 1:1 ratio. For example, 1 tsp of vanilla paste would be 1 tsp of vanilla bean extract. Let us know if you have any other questions. Happy baking!
Thanks Stephanie for responding