For the crust:
2 cups unbleached all purpose flour
1/3 cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) chilled unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
3 large egg yolks, beaten to blend
Mix first 4 ingredients in large bowl. Add butter; rub in with fingertips until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add yolks; mix with fork until dough begins to clump together. Shape dough into 6 balls for Walnut Tartlets, 2 balls for Apple Galette or 1 ball for Apricot Tart. Flatten ball(s) into disk(s); wrap in plastic. Chill 30 minutes. (Can be made 2 days ahead. Keep chilled. Let dough soften slightly at room temperature before rolling out.)
For the filling
400g shelled walnuts, halved
1 tbsp walnut oil
250g caster sugar
125ml water
6tbsp thick honey
4 tbsp crème fraiche, plus extra to serve
(Can use less of everything except the walnuts as always have leftover syrup)
Put the sugar and water in a heavy-based saucepan over medium heat to dissolve the sugar, then increase the heat and allow the sugar syrup to caramelise until amber coloured.
Remove from the heat, and add the honey and crème fraiche. Mix well with a wooden spoon and stir in the nuts. They should be evenly coated. If the syrup starts to set, just place the pan back over the heat and stir.
Spread the walnut filling in the pastry case and allow to cool at room temperature.
From Epicurious
