If you’re like me, you like a little sweet treat every now and again but you don’t want something huge that will fill you with the guilts. These caramel tarts are the solution.
There’s a story behind these tarts. I confess I’ve never made homemade caramel by heating a can of sweetened condensed milk. I’ve done the mixing and stirring and sometimes even bought it already made but filled with preservatives. I’d never faced THE CAN. Until the other day.
What I was most worried about was putting it on and letting the pan go dry and then BOOM – goop all over the ceiling and everything else. When I’m working on the computer, all else fades from my mind. It’s like I’m in another world and I know this happens to me so I’m pretty careful if something has to be watched.
I put the can on its side in the water and set it at a very low simmer and set the kitchen timer for an hour and went back to work. I cooked it for nearly 3 hours and every 45 minutes, my timer told me to check and I added boiling water a time or two. Then I left it to cool. Apparently from what I’ve read, the sweetened condensed milk begins to caramelize anytime after 2 hours so if you like your caramel light, you don’t need to cook it as long as I did.
OMG it was so good! It was dark and creamy and had the perfect caramel taste. I will never make it any other way.
When I moved to Australia I had a friend named Julie. She also worked for me but we were best mates. One day she brought these caramel tarts in her lunch and offered me one. They were crunchy, creamy and sweet and I asked her who made them. Julie didn’t cook – not when we first met. Her idea of a fancy meal was sausages, mashed potatoes and peas.
She swore that she’d made them herself and I raised one eyebrow and asked how. Julie’s cooking came from the frozen food aisle.
“You put a biscuit (cookie) in a tart pan and heat it in the oven and then when they’re warm you mash them into shape and then put the caramel (that she’d purchased, Nestlé Top ‘n Fill) in the tarts and top with whipped cream.”
It seemed too easy, almost like fake cooking and I never made them myself. Until the other day.
I went into the stacks in my laundry room where I keep heaps of kitchen gear I don’t use often and fished out my tart pans. Then went into the pantry and stole Rob’s Ginger Nut Biscuits and headed back to the kitchen. Sure enough, if you place one of these cookies into the tart pan and put it in the oven at 120C/250F for about ten minutes you can press on the cookie with the back of a spoon and get that little tart shape. They have just enough room for a tablespoon of caramel.
You can make the caramel and the tarts ahead of time, just keep the caramel in the fridge and the tart shells in an airtight container. If you can last that long.
Once I had the caramel in the tarts I thought they needed something a little more orgasmic so I dribbled some chocolate ganache on top of the caramel and added some chopped toasted macadamia nuts.
I headed to the photography table and while I had my camera in my hand, I heard John laugh and say, “Charlie! Don’t jump up on Gramps!!” He’d never done that before and I think they were both surprised. Rob likes his friend Charlie.
Disregard the totally messed up kitchen in the background. I hadn’t shut the dish drawer and my flipflops are still on the floor which meant I was barefoot too. The shock of it all.
I gave Rob one of the tarts to try and he gave them his stamp of approval and may he have another. He got whipped cream with his but I thought you couldn’t see the tart if I put it on the ones in the photos.
Have you ever made tarts from cookies?
- 1 package Ginger Nut biscuits (or ginger snaps or other hard cookie)
- 1 can sweetened condensed milk (or Top n Fill caramel)
- Whipped cream
- ⅓ cup chocolate chips
- 1 tablespoon cream
- ½ cup toasted macadamia nuts, chopped
- This is a no brainer, seriously.
- Place unopened can of sweetened condensed milk in a pot of water and bring to a very slow boil
- boil for 2 to 2½ hours depending upon how dark you want your caramel
- remove from heat and let cool before opening the can.
- Place each cookie in a tart pan or cupcake pan and place in oven for 10 minutes.
- Remove from oven and immediately press the cookies in the pan to form a shell. Place on rack to cool.
- Fill shells with a tablespoon of caramel and top with chocolate ganache, chopped nuts and whipped cream.
I’ve told you about our dog’s obsession with his toys and he has one favorite that I started calling baby back when he was just a little puppy. It’s got feet – it’s small – so it’s a baby, right? We’ve lost lots of “babys” in the canal. About 20 so far and these things cost $9.95 each.
I was clearing out room in the garage today so we can clear out the guest room to fit a bed for the folks coming for Thanksgiving dinner (always wait until the last minute to get things done) and while I was in there, Charlie found a green baby that still has the squeaker! Usually they’re chewed out on day one so this had to have been lost soon after buying it.
We haven’t taken too many photos of Charlie and his baby so I put the toy down while I plopped myself on the deck and said, “Wait!” Talk about intense! Then I tossed and he brought it back until I was bored.
Once we’re done, off he trots to the pool where he takes baby to cool off. This one floated but when there’s no squeaker, baby drowns. Charlie swims in circles over the toy.
Wouldn’t it be nice to have so few cares that chasing a ball is the highlight of your day? 🙂
No I have not made tarts from cookies nor have I made caramel from condensed milk – sure sounds like I am missing out big time! Thanks for sharing these – awesome idea!
I thought my puppy was the only dog that located the squeaker and tore it out! Charlie is too cute – Happy Thanksgiving!
Happy Thanksgiving to you too! Yeah, the squeaker goes first. He bangs the toy on the floor as he races through the house to make it squeak and then he sits down and gnaws it to a point John removes it so he doesn’t choke. 🙂 THEN it drowns in the pool and I have to fish it out.
I mostly like little treats because I can eat more of them 😉 So, I love the look of these!
why oh why did I open your page at 10.30pm? I have a major craving now for these tarts and nothing but nutella in the pantry. Oh well, better grab a spoon…
I have to say though, have never made caramel using the ‘boil the condensed milk for a hours and cross your fingers it doesn’t explode’ technique. I too should get over my fear and just do it. Problem is the temptation to open the sucker and eat the condensed milk straight out of the tine as-is is usually too strong…
I’ve never been a fan of eating condensed milk out of the can or tube. My stepson loves it. I have no idea what’s in the pantry tonight. I’ve been trying to keep it emptyish so I can fill it up for Thanksgiving. 🙂 Better go look.
Fun and inventive recipe. Just the way I like it. They look great and who doesn’t like a ganache on anything. 🙂 Love the family photos. 🙂
PS: Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving. 🙂
Happy Thanksgiving to you too!
LOL life’s busy around here 🙂
Ah, the look on Charlie’s face is priceless! I am naughty! I jumped on Grandpa’s lap…
great post, Maureen! I must say that I grew up in Brazil with my Mom cooking condensed milk in the pressure cooker all the time, so I was a bit surprised by how most non-Brazilians are afraid of the can 😉
I never heard of any exploding cans, and the resulting caramel was part of my childhood – I would eat it by the spoonful sometimes with a little sliced banana, but often just pure. I did not have a sweet tooth, but that was a treat I enjoyed very much
sweet memories, literally!
In the pressure cooker??? OMG From everything I’ve read, if you let the pan boil all the water off, the inny bits get all furious and explode with rage. 🙂
I’ve never made tarts from cookies, but they look so cute, in fact I’m pretty sure I can even smell caramel in my kitchen now (or maybe it’s just sugar deprivation…)!
With you, it’s probably that you need a bowl of caramel and a spoon. You have much better self control. 🙂
Happy Thanksgiving!
Same to you. We’ve all got so much to be thankful for.
Julie is genius ! who would have taught making a tart is so simple. and you’re not alone, I’ve not made caramel from canned condensed milk, not a fan of boiling a can.
I had no idea I wasn’t the only one who hadn’t done this!
What?! Chasing a ball isn’t the highlight of your day?! I’m sure Charlie thinks it is. 😉 He has such a great expression on his face in the photo of him on Rob’s lap. Nice and easy dessert – me likee.
I’d LIKE it to be the highlight of my day. Imagine if you had a life like his and someone would toss the ball for you anytime you looked needful. 🙂
These are really clever, great idea to use cookies as the base. I haven’t made the condensed milk caramel from scratch before for exactly the same reasons as you. I just have visions of exploding cans. But it certainly sounds like its worth it. GG
I’m definitely going to do it again!
Caramel nibbles? They sound like a perfect dessert to me! And Charlie is such a cutie…so glad you keep him well supplied with toys ;
John rolls his eyes when I take Charlie ‘shopping’. He’s been so often that he goes directly to the toy aisle and sits in front of the line of “babys” and looks at them and looks at me and looks at them and looks at me. Then I hand him one and he takes it to the checkout (complete with dog slobber) and we pay for it. He can almost get it on the counter but he’s not quite tall enough even on his toes.
Maureen, how do you ever come inside? If I was living by the water like that, I think I’d spend every moment of my life on the deck. 🙂 Clever clever biscuit tart (the dessert, I wasn’t being rude :)), and like you, I’m never game to heat the can in the pot for hours, although I have made caramel from condensed milk OUT of the can.. 🙂
This dessert definitely caught my eye, I am so pinning this delicious morsel 😀
Cheers
CCU
Thank you! You must try this with some sort of biscuit and fill it with all sorts of wacky things. It’s what you do. 🙂
Dear Maureen,
Charlie is very cute and Gramps seems to be enjoying himself. As I don’t have a sweet tooth these little tarts might just be for me, sweetness in very small doses.
Charlie and Gramps were made for each other. John’s dad had never had a dog because his mum didn’t want ‘the mess’ that a dog can do with muddy paws or slobbery water. He adores the dog and that love is returned in spades.
It always surprises me when I hear people don’t know about making cookie tarts. I grew up with them. My mum is definitely not a very good cook so every birthday party, play date, morning tea, mother-in-law visit etc she’d quickly do a batch of mini tarts. So easy and always well received!
That’s what my friend Julie said. “Doesn’t everyone make these?” They’re delicious and everyone loves them.
Your boys have a nice life. Someone to make them wonderful little treats like these tarts, throw squeaky rubber toys for them and then take them for walks to the pool to cool off.
I’ve made dulce de leche (your caramel) by boiling the can of condensed milk in a big pot of water. I made caramel from the condensed milk when I tried to do the cooking in the microwave and overcooked it. I ended up making chocolate covered caramels out of the latter and alfajores out of the former.
http://a-boleyn.livejournal.com/118921.html … making dulce de leche
http://a-boleyn.livejournal.com/139723.html … comparing 2 hr versus 3 hr of boiling and alfajores
You are WAY ahead of me then. I’ve been afraid of ‘the can’ for a long time. 🙂
I was afraid too but now I consider myself an old hand. And the alfajores (shortbread cookie sandwiches) were great. I also poached some apple slices in the dulce de leche and put them into pastry cups make of baked wonton squares.
I’m not sure if I can be an old hand after one try but I’m quietly confident that I’ll be successful next time too.
This is one of my favourite posts of yours, Maureen, and that’s something, because I love your work! What a great (and so simple) recipe… who’da thunk it! Love the gramps bit too… the puppy and Rob are besties by the sounds xoxo
Sometimes you don’t want to go to the store and buy something and spend an hour making something ‘worthy’. Sometimes you just want something sweet. 🙂
Looks delicious! I love macadamias and chocolate.
I’ve never attempted a ganache before, not exactly sure why.. I think the time has come to finally give it a go!
{ Teffys Perks Blog } X
oh yeah, chocolate ganache is good on anything – like a spoon headed for my mouth.
Oh lord. The reason I have never done the caramel trick is because I know I won’t be able to stop eating it straight with a spoon. But seeing how dark yours got… I have to do it. Caramel for dinner this weeked!
I read somewhere that if I cooked it for 2 1/2 to 3 hours it would get very dark but not bitter. It worked. 🙂
Divine…..you had me at caramel. With chocolate in the mix I am on the next plane to Australia. I am already trying to figure out how to make this simple recipe even easier than it is. Check my blog in a few months. I will be spending the cold, snowy, stormy winter season test tasting each new tweak to this fantastic recipe.
Charlie and his toy is just too cute! 🙂
I can’t wait to see what you come up with!
Lovely personal pics…And the tarts are to devour all at once! Happy Thanksgiving, Maureen!
All at once? That removes the reason for making them tiny, doesn’t it? 🙂
Charlie is such a cutie!
I’ve never made caramel like this for the same reason Maureen. I really should give it a go.
Yep I’ve done this before but with chocolate ripple biscuits. Oh so good!
I didn’t know you could do this with ANY cookie! Brilliant! 🙂
Isn’t dolce de leche great? Such an easy way to turn something like condensed milk into something magical. If you have more time you can also make it by cooking the unopened cans in simmering water for a couple of hours. It takes longer but there is no risk of burning it.
It’s just like magic for sure!
I’ve never tried the caramel in a can either for the very same reason – I FORGET! 🙂 But setting the timer is brilliant and I’m going to go try it right now. 🙂 I have some pears I want to roast that will go beautifully with it. 🙂
I hope you come back and tell me how easy and delicious it was!
The way you cooked your caramel is the way my MIL makes it – it’s the one thing in the kitchen she can do although I think others supervised it for her so it didn’t explode. Your friend sounds like a great gal and this recipe is hilarious – who would have ever come up with the idea of cheating on a tart base with softened biscuits! I love gingernuts and these would go so well with caramel and I like how you finished them off with the nuts. And Rob had cream on his? Where does he put all this food? And Happy Thanksgiving xx
We had Thanksgiving last night with 10 at the table and I kept Rob at my left so I could look after him. He ate until we all thought he was going to pop. He said he needed to try everything. and he did. 🙂 Thank you!
As a post script, I have just received a lecture on physics from my Peter, an ex military man, regarding sealed cans and explosions. So had no choice but to remove the item from the stove top and make custard in another way. Methinks he might get less of the pudding tonight! Grrrr. http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Caramel-from-Sweetened-Condensed-Milk
And needless to say that I assured Peter that it would alright. I will wait till he goes to the gym and try it then!
LOL too funny.
That’s exactly the site I used! LOL
These sounds great, Maureen. Not so big that I’d be eating it for the week but just big enough to satisfy that craving for something sweet. They certainly have everything I like: caramel, chocolate, nuts, a cookie, and whipped cream. If this isn’t perfect, I don’t know what is.
Love the photos of Charlie with Ron and then again with his baby. How cute are they?
LOL Charlie does love Baby. He has them in all colors but he can’t tell the difference in the colors so they are all black and white. 🙂
Oh my gosh, I’ve made caramel the traditional way but I don’t know whether I would have the nerves to boil a can of condensed milk. I’m glad it turned out for you! Your treats look divine, I have a secret weakness for gingersnaps and I love macadamia nuts too!
You’re just like I was – afraid to have to clean the entire kitchen. Fear not. As long as you make sure the pot doesn’t go dry. The timer was a big help.
My grandmother taught me these tricks. They were her emergency stand by. Sometimes she’d fill with her wonderful lemon curd, which worked wonderful with the ginger 🙂
I was wondering what else I could stuff these beauties with. 🙂
What a great idea! I didn’t know that you could bake and reshape cookies to become tart shells! The things that you learn every day! 😮
You’re supposed to know this because you’re a dinky di Aussie 🙂
I’ve never done the can thing either – it always sounds too dangerous but maybe it’s time…..you made me laugh with the cookies. Who ever thought of that? And there you were being a disbeliever too!
That’s what I thought. I’m REALLY short so the prospect of cleaning caramel off the ceiling would be a daunting job. Thankfully, it’s that easy to do as long as you have a timer to remind you. 🙂
I love little bite size desserts and your tarts sound delicious…with or without whipped cream.
Oh always with whipped cream. 🙂
To live a life of gratitude is to catch a glimpse of heaven. Many Blessings to you on this Thanksgiving Day.
How beautiful! Thanks so much for this.
My colleague made caramel tarts for a morning tea once and when she told me that she made them herself, I also raised my eyebrow because she’s not known for being a great cook. She told me how to make them though and even though, I’m still amazed at how easy they are!
We all know someone who has no confidence in the kitchen. Julie made these all the time and thought she was really cooking.
This is such a brilliant idea. Simple and brilliant! I love little treats like these, sometimes people get all food snobby and miss out on brilliant things like this. Its so funny when the non baker / cook in your life give you a brilliant idea. Hope you had a great thanks giving 🙂
Our Thanksgiving was wonderful, thank you!
You’ve always impressed me with a fancy photograph!
unfortunately macadamian nuts it’s not that easy to find here in Indonesia, i guess i’m gonna replace it with peanuts or csahew……
You could use anything or nothing but a dab of whipped cream. You’ll thank me. 🙂
I’d quite forgotten about this speedy route to a delicious sweet treat – my aunt used to make them when I was a kid. Thanks for the reminder!
and here I thought all Aussies made these tarts. 🙂
You are now a true Australian now that you have boiled condensed milk in a can. These little tarts look really great perfect for a mouthfull of sweet goodness.
I didn’t know that was the test, Lizzie! You should have told me. 🙂
What a great recipe! And me, being an absolute FREAK for caramel, well this is right up my alley. I love seeing all your photos, too!
Thank you – I loved making the caramel in the can 🙂
What adorable tarts, each layer looks scrumptious!
They were great and I just heard you can do this with just about any cookie.
Now you are definitely an Aussie Maureen! These were a staple where I grew up in the country. You were always guaranteed you’d get these tarts, scones and fruit cake at any and every get together that ever occurred in our little town!
Hi there! Hope you are doing well! Who cares about the look of the house, that pic of Charlie and your Father is priceless! I love love that pan, and need to find one now. I have never heard of making cookies into tarts, but I love it! Your tarts look delicious, Hugs, Terra
Hi Terra, it’s great to see you. Sometimes I care that I look like I live in a dump but most of the time I don’t care. 🙂
OMG these looks good! Bobby and I always like a bite of something sweet after dinner and sometimes lunch. These are perfect! A little something and something with caramel! We’d both love this. I’ve always wated to make caramel this way, but like you, was afraid of the ending up with caramel sprayed all over the kitchen. Glad to see that’s not the case. Thanks for this! Love the picture of Charlie and your FIL!
I know! I was scared to death but I was determined to give it a try. I won’t make it any other way again. 🙂 AND you can make tarts out of any cookie this way.
Wanna grab those tarts out of my screen, looks so delicious!
You’d better hurry 🙂
I love the Charlie pictures! Making tarts from cookies is genius. When I first made caramel from the can of condensed milk, I was so worried about the can exploding all over the kitchen. Chocolate, caramel, and macadamia nuts, yes, please! 🙂
GAH!!! I want to make caramel by boiling a can!! This was so edumicational…
I’m always going to make it this way. It was SO easy. Just keep the timer handy so you can check on it every 45 minutes or so.
Swoon. Need one now. #please
My pleasure 🙂
Gosh I have never even thought of making caramel that way. Smart!
How does it come that they don’t teach that in college?! Can’t wait to try it out and I will keep a timer because I am just like you. I get lost in my laptop.
LOL I’ve seen this on the net for a very long time but I was afraid to try 🙂
Perfect little bite! We have made dulce de leche before using the same method with the condensed milk and it is truly delicious.
hhhmmmmm, look’s so divine and deliciousness creamy and crunchy, love those crispy tarts with that chocolate on top 😀