How To make Pecan Tarts

TART SHELLS:

3 c Pastry flour
1 c Unsalted butter; very cold,
- cut into 1/2-inch pieces 3 tb Sugar
1 ds Salt
2 Egg yolks
1 tb Whipping cream (or dbl amt.)
- very cold

CARAMEL SAUCE:

1/2 c Sugar, pref. vanilla sugar
2/3 c Whipping cream,
- room temperature 2 tb Unsalted butter,
- room temperature

FILLING:

1 1/2 c Light corn syrup
3/4 c Sugar
3/4 c Light brown sugar, packed
4 Eggs
2 Egg yolks
3 tb Unsalted butter
1 1/2 c Pecan halves (or more)
To make tart shells place flour, cold butter, 3 tablespoons sugar and salt in food processor. Process, using quick on and off motion, until mixture resembles coarse meal. Combine 2 egg yolks and 1 tablespoon cream in small bowl. With motor running, add egg mixture to flour mixture. Process just until dough begins to form. Add enough remaining cream to form dough that holds together. Scrape dough onto piece of foil. Wrap airtight and refrigerate until well chilled, at least 1 hour. Divide dough into 6 or 8 equal portions, depending on whether pan size is 3 or 4 inches. Roll each portion out onto lightly floured pastry cloth. Carefully transfer pastry to tart pans. Press against bottoms and sides of pans, then trim excess around rims. If pastry tears, patch with small bits of pastry trimmings. Reserve any remaining pastry, wrapped airtight, for another use. Refrigerate pastry-lined tart pans until ready to use. To make sauce, heat 1/2 cup sugar in small, heavy skillet or saucepan over medium heat until melted and medium amber in color. Carefully pour in 2/3 cup cream all at once, being careful to avoid splatters. Stir in 2 tablespoons butter. Cook, stirring constantly, over medium heat until caramel dissolves and sauce is smooth. Remove from heat. Store at room temperature if not using immediately, as sauce will harden if refrigerated. To make filling, combine corn syrup, 3/4 cup each sugar and brown sugar, 4 eggs and 2 egg yolks in medium bowl. Stir until blended. Heat 3 tablespoons butter in small skillet over medium heat until butter is foamy and light brown in color. Remove from heat and whisk into corn syrup mixture. To assemble tarts, set pastry-lined tart pans on large baking sheet. Divide pecans among tart pans and pour filling over them or pour in filling and arrange pecans on top in symmetrical pattern. Bake at 375F 35 to 40 minutes. Remove to wire rack to cool. Serve tarts at room temperature topped with caramel sauce. Makes 6 to 8 tarts