Maple Pecan Tart

You may have seen this recipe on Yahoo. It certainly is a great alternative to the corn syrup recipes we have used in the past.

Maple Pecan Tart

Makes: 10 servings Active time: 40 minutes | Total: 2 1/4 hours To make ahead: Cover and refrigerate for up to 1 day. Serve at room temperature. | Equipment: 9-inch tart pan with removable bottom

This pecan tart gets added tang from dried cherries. Instead of corn syrup, which is found in most pecan pie recipes, we've opted for maple syrup. If you can find it, choose dark amber or grade B, because it has the richest maple flavor. The crust, made with heart-healthy pecans and canola oil, couldn't be easier to whip together. Just blend it in the food processor and pat it into your tart pan.

Ingredients

1 large egg yolk

3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, divided

2 tablespoons canola oil

1 tablespoon water

2 cups pecan halves, divided

1 tablespoon granulated sugar

1 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon salt, divided

2 large eggs

1/2 cup pure maple syrup

1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar

2 teaspoons dark rum (optional)

1/3 cup dried cherries, chopped

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Generously coat a 9-inch tart pan with removable bottom with cooking spray.

2. Combine egg yolk, 2 tablespoons melted butter, oil and water in a small bowl. Process 1/2 cup pecans and sugar in a food processor to the consistency of coarse meal. Add flour and 1/4 teaspoon salt and pulse until combined. Drizzle the yolk mixture through the feed tube while pulsing and pulse just until the mixture is combined.

3. Spread the mixture evenly into the prepared pan, pressing it firmly into the bottom and all the way up the sides to form a crust. Place on a baking sheet. Bake until dry and just beginning to brown on the edges, 12 to 14 minutes.

4. Meanwhile, whisk eggs, maple syrup, brown sugar, rum (if using), the remaining 1 tablespoon butter and the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl. Transfer 1/4 cup of the mixture to a small bowl. Chop 1/2 cup pecans and add to the medium bowl. Stir in cherries. Mix the remaining 1 cup pecans with the reserved maple mixture.

5. Remove the tart crust from the oven. Reduce the oven temperature to 350°.

6. If there are any cracks in the crust, sprinkle with a little flour and use a dry pastry brush to "seal" the flour into the cracks. Evenly spread the filling in the crust. Arrange the maple syrup-coated pecans decoratively on top and drizzle with any remaining maple mixture.

7. Bake the tart until it no longer jiggles in the center when gently shaken, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack for about 20 minutes. Remove the sides of the pan (use a butter knife to gently loosen the tart from the pan sides if it sticks in spots). Let cool completely, about 40 minutes more.