Cranberry And Almond Bakewell Tart English Classic With A Twist Food

CRANBERRY & AMARETTO BAKEWELL TART

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Tip the flour, salt and icing sugar into a food processor and blitz to combine. Add the butter and pulse until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Drizzle in the beaten egg yolks, then quickly pulse to combine. Add 1-2 tbsp of ice-cold water and pulse again until it comes together. Tip out onto a lightly floured surface, then form into a disc, cover and chill for 30 mins.
• Roll the pastry out on a lightly floured surface to a roughly 25cm circle that's the thickness of a £1 coin. Use it to line a 20cm fluted tart tin, leaving the excess overhanging the side. Line with baking parchment and baking beans and bake for 15 mins. Remove the beans and parchment and bake for 7-10 mins more until the base is evenly cooked. Trim away any excess pastry with a serrated knife.
• For the jam, tip the cranberries, sugar and liqueur into a saucepan set over a medium heat. Simmer for 10-15 mins until the mixture has thickened and is reduced, then remove from the heat. Set aside.
• For the frangipane, beat the butter and caster sugar together with an electric whisk until combined. Add half the orange zest, the ground almonds, crushed amaretti biscuits, the almond extract and eggs, and beat for a further minute. Spread the cranberry jam over the base of the pastry case, then spoon over the frangipane. Scatter over the flaked almonds and bake for 35-40 mins until the frangipane is golden and firm - check after 35 mins and cover if it's starting to brown too quickly. Leave to cool completely in the tin.
• Beat the icing sugar with 1 tbsp orange juice and the remaining orange zest to create a thick but drizzly icing. Drizzle this over the cooled tart before serving. Will keep in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days.

CRANBERRY AND ALMOND BAKEWELL TART: ENGLISH CLASSIC WITH A TWIST

Steps:

• Shortcrust Pastry:.
• Sieve the flour into a large bowl and add a pinch of salt. Mix.
• Cut the butter or margarine into the flour, and then with your fingertips, rub the fat into the flour, until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.
• Add cold water gradually, until the pastry JUST comes together, it should NOT be sticky.
• Roll the pastry out and line a 10" to 11" greased and lined round, deep flan tin.
• Place a circle of baking parchment on top of the pastry and fill with baking beans.
• Bake blind in a pre-heated oven 200C/400F/Gas mark 6 for 10 minutes.
• Take out and carefully remove the baking beans and parchment.
• Return to the oven for a further 5 minutes.
• Remove and allow to cool slightly.
• Bakewell Topping:.
• Beat the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.
• Gradually add the beaten eggs and then fold in the flour and ground almonds. Add the almond essence to taste and mix well.
• Mix the raspberry jam and cranberry sauce together and spread over the base of the pastry case.
• Spoon the almond mixture over the top, making sure it reaches the edges and it is even and smooth.
• Sprinkle the cranberries over the top and then the flaked almonds.
• Bake for 35 to 45 minutes or until golden and firm to the touch.
• Cool for 5 to 10 minutes in the flan tin, then carefully turn out and just before serving, dust with icing sugar.
• Cut into wedges and serve warm or at room temperature with cream, creme fraiche or custard.
• Cooking time includes pre-baking pastry.

TRADITIONAL BAKEWELL TART

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease an 8 inch pie plate. Whisk together the flour, ground almonds, and baking powder; set aside.
• Roll the pie crust pastry into a round shape a little larger than the pie plate. Cut off a 1/2-inch wide strip from the edge of the pastry circle, and line the lower sides of the pie plate with the strip, placing the cut side upwards (the pastry will not reach the rim of the pie plate). Dampen the strip with water, then place the remaining pie pastry circle into the pie plate, pressing to seal the edges of the circle onto the strip where the pastry overlaps. This will create a crust that is slightly thicker around the lower edges. Spread the strawberry jam evenly over the center of the pastry shell.
• Beat the butter and sugar with an electric mixer in a bowl until light and fluffy. Whisk the egg together with the lemon zest, and add gradually to the butter mixture, beating well after each addition. Gently fold the flour mixture, a spoonful at a time, into the egg mixture, folding until just incorporated. Spread the batter over the jam in the pie shell.
• Bake the tart in the preheated oven until the filling is firmly set and browned, about 30 minutes. Sprinkle with confectioner's sugar.

CRANBERRY ALMOND TART

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350.
• Cranberries: bring orange juice and sugar to a boil.
• Add cranberries, remove from heat and let cool.
• Filling: Beat almond paste and sugar until smooth.
• Add remaining ingredients and beat until blended.
• Assembly: Spread filling in tart shell.
• Drain cranberries and place on top of filling.
• Sprinkle with almonds to cover.
• Bake until puffed, crust is done and almonds are golden, then cool.
• Tart dough, cranberries and almond filling can all be made a couple of days ahead. Filling should be brought to room temperature or beat in a mixer to facilitate spreading.

BAKEWELL TART WITH CRANBERRY SAUCE

Steps:

• Prepare the Shortcut Pie Crust through Step 3.
• Prepare the almond frangipane: In a food processor, cream together the butter, granulated sugar and orange zest until pale and fluffy, about 30 seconds. With the machine running, add eggs one at a time, emulsifying each one fully before adding the next, and scraping down the sides of the work bowl as needed. Fold in the almond meal and chill until firm, about 1 hour.
• Working over an 11-inch fluted tart shell, prepare the Shortcut Pie Crust through Step 4, then chill, at least 30 minutes or up to 2 days. (This can be done ahead.)
• Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Bake the chilled crust until just cooked but not browned, about 15 minutes. (The crust will continue to cook while the tart bakes, so expect it to darken in color when it bakes the second time.) Set aside to cool completely, about 1 hour, while you make the filling.
• If you are making your own cranberry sauce, combine cranberries, granulated sugar and 2 tablespoons water in a small saucepan, and cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, until the berries fully break down, 20 to 25 minutes. Add orange juice near the end of cooking. Set aside. (You should have about 3/4 cup sauce.)
• Spread the cranberry sauce in an even layer over the base of the cooled crust. It is easiest to do this when the cranberry sauce is slightly warm. (If you are using chilled sauce from the refrigerator, warm it slightly first before spreading.) Scoop the almond frangipane on top of the cranberry sauce. (Don't try to spread it; it will distribute itself evenly as it cooks.)
• Bake the tart on a baking sheet at 350 degrees until it's golden brown and fully set in the center, 60 to 75 minutes. Cool completely, then remove from the pan and serve with crème fraîche.