Almond Frangipane Pies Food

ALMOND-TOPPED MINCE PIES

Steps:

• Put the flour in a large bowl with 1/4 tsp salt. Add the butter and rub it in with your fingertips until the mix looks like fine crumbs.
• Stir in the sugar, then slowly pour in the egg, stirring with a cutlery knife as you go to avoid any overly wet or dry patches. Scrunch to a dough with your hands, then knead briefly until smooth. Alternatively, pulse together the butter, flour and salt in a processor, then add the sugar and egg. Shape into 2 discs, wrap in cling film and chill for 30 mins (if you have time).
• Heat oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5. Mix the prunes and Armagnac into the mincemeat and set aside. Roll out the pastry on a lightly floured work surface until 3mm thick, cut into circles with a 7.5cm or 8cm round plain cutter and gently press into 2 x 12-hole shallow, non-stick bun tins.
• For the topping, beat together the butter and sugar with a wooden spoon, then add the flour, ground almonds, eggs, almond extract and a pinch of salt, and beat until smooth.
• Spoon the mincemeat into the tin (about 1 dessertspoon into each). Spoon over the topping, then smooth it to the edges of the pastry with a palette knife. Scatter over the flaked almonds. Can now be frozen for up to 1 month.
• Bake for 25 mins from room temperature (or 30 mins from frozen) until the pies are golden, risen and the pastry feels firm at the sides. Leave to cool in the tin for 10 mins before transferring to a cooling rack. Dust with icing sugar to serve. Can be stored in an airtight tin for up to 3 days once cold.

RHUBARB FRANGIPANE PIE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C). On a lightly floured surface, roll out half of the dough into an 11-inch (28-cm) circle about 1/8 to 1/4 inch (3 to 6 mm) thick. Line a 9-inch (23-cm) pie plate with the dough, and trim the overhang to 1 inch (2.5 cm). Refrigerate the crust until ready to bake.
• Make the frangipane filling: In a food processor, grind the almonds and sugar until they are sandy. Add the butter, then the egg, flour, and vanilla and mix until smooth.
• Make the rhubarb filling: In a large bowl, mix together the sugar, cornstarch, and salt. Add the rhubarb and orange zest and toss to coat.
• Spread the frangipane over the bottom crust. Pile the rhubarb filling on top. Brush the pie shell edges with egg wash or milk.
• Roll out the other half of the pie crust into an 11-inch (28-cm) circle. Lay the dough over the surface of the pie. Trim the edges and tuck the dough inward or outward, pressing and rolling the bottom and top crust edges together. Crimp them into a decorative edge, brush with egg wash or milk, and sprinkle raw sugar over the top. Cut vents into the top crust to allow steam to escape.
• Put the pie on a baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes, rotating once halfway through. Lower the temperature to 350°F (175°C) and bake for 30 to 40 minutes more, until the crust is golden and the filling is set (you'll see thick juices bubbling out when it's ready). Remove the pie to cool completely on a wire rack, at least 1 hour.
• This pie can be refrigerated for up to 1 week, covered in plastic wrap. Let it come to room temperature before serving, or warm it in a low oven. It can be kept frozen for up to 2 months: Cover it in plastic wrap, then in foil, and let it come to room temperature before serving.

GRAPE AND ALMOND FRANGIPANE TART

Steps:

• Make tart shell:
• Preheat oven to 375°F with rack in middle. Roll out dough on a lightly floured surface with a lightly floured rolling pin into a 12-by 10-inch rectangle. Fit dough into tart pan, letting excess hang over edge. Fold overhang inward and press against side of pan to reinforce edge. Lightly prick bottom all over with a fork. Chill until firm, about 30 minutes (or freeze 10 minutes).
• Line shell with foil and fill with pie weights. Bake until sides are set and edges are pale golden, 20 to 25 minutes.
• Carefully remove foil and weights and bake shell until deep golden all over, 15 to 20 minutes more. Cool completely. Leave oven on.
• Make filling and bake tart:
• Pulse whole almonds with 1/4 cup sugar in a food processor until finely ground. Add flour and salt and pulse to combine.
• Beat together butter and remaining 1/4 cup sugar with an electric mixer until pale and fluffy. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition, then beat in extracts. With mixer at low speed, mix in almond mixture until just combined.
• Spread filling evenly in tart shell and scatter grapes over it, lightly pressing them in. Sprinkle sliced almonds around grapes. Bake until filling is puffed and golden-brown, 35 to 40 minutes. While still hot, dust tart with confectioners sugar, then cool completely.

FRANGIPANE: ALMOND CREAM

Steps:

• When you are ready to use it, fill your pastries, tart, or tartlets and bake.

APPLE FRANGIPANE PHYLLO TART

Steps:

• Place one sheet of phyllo dough on a work surface; coat with cooking spray. (Keep remaining phyllo covered with plastic wrap and a damp towel to prevent it from drying out.) Gently press phyllo into a 9-in. tart pan, allowing ends to extend over edges of pan., Layer with remaining phyllo, spraying after each layer; arrange in pan, rotating phyllo so corners do not overlap. Fold in overhanging phyllo, to form a pastry shell., Place almonds and sugar in a food processor; cover and process until finely ground. Add the flour, butter and salt; pulse until blended., Add the egg yolks, amaretto and almond extract; cover and pulse to blend well. Spread filling over the bottom of phyllo shell., Halve apples and thinly slice widthwise. Arrange apples in a pinwheel pattern over filling., Bake at 375° for 40-50 minutes or until apples are tender. Cover edges with foil during the last 15 minutes to prevent overbrowning if necessary. Remove to a wire rack and cool slightly. Brush warmed jelly over apples. Serve warm. Refrigerate leftovers.

FRANGIPANE FILLING

Steps:

• Place butter and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with paddle attachment. Beat until light and fluffy. Add egg, ground almonds, rum, almond extract, and flour; beat until smooth. Store in an airtight container, refrigerated, up to 4 days.