Chocolate and Nuts

German Chocolate Tart
1 cup whole wheat pastry flour
3 tablespoons butter
3/4 teaspoon salt, divided
4 to 6 tablespoons cold water (approx.)
1 cup chocolate chips
3 eggs
2/3 cup half and half
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup white sugar plus 2 teaspoons
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup chopped pecans
1 cup flaked coconut
1/2 cup whipping cream
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Make a pastry crust by cutting butter into flour and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Add water a tablespoon at a time until mixture forms a ball. Roll out on a floured board and place in a 9 or 10 inch tart pan with removable bottom. Press lightly into side flutes. Cover bottom of crust evenly with chocolate chips. Beat eggs, half and half with a hand mixer. Add brown sugar, 1/2 cup white sugar, vanilla, 1/4 teaspoon salt and beat again until well blended. Stir in pecans and coconut. Pour mixture over chocolate chips. Place tart pan on a baking sheet and bake tart for 35 minutes, or just until filling is lightly golden and center is set. Remove from oven and cool at least one hour. Remove side of tart pan to serve. Whip cream until soft peaks form then stir in almond extract and 2 teaspoons sugar. Top each slice of tart with whipped cream and serve. 

Hints: I like milk chocolate chips best but I have made this with semi-sweet and some people prefer it that way. It is a very rich dessert. The best way to trim the crust is by using your rolling pin to run across the top once. When pouring the filling in the crust, you may need to spread the coconut and nuts out a bit to avoid a pile up in the middle. You can use white flour in place of the whole wheat and you can also use only white sugar rather than part white part brown.

German chocolate cake was one of my favorites growing up. My mom made a great coconut pecan frosting--I'll put that recipe on this blog sometime soon. I made this recipe up when I was in charge of a teacher luncheon for the PTA and it was a big hit. If your guests like coconut and nuts, this one will be a home run.