Cranberry Ricotta Tarts In A Toasted Almond Crust Food

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.

CRANBERRY CURD TART

Steps:

• To make the crust, preheat the oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Spread almonds onto a rimmed baking sheet.
• Toast almonds in the preheated oven until fragrant and skins have cracked, about 15 minutes. Let cool, about 5 minutes.
• Combine almonds, flour, brown sugar, salt, ginger, and cloves in a food processor; pulse until mixture resembles coarse cornmeal, about 12 (1-second) pulses. Add softened butter and pulse until combined, about 5 (1-second) pulses.
• Press dough into a 10-inch tart pan, using about two thirds for the sides and one third for the bottom. Prick the bottom with a fork and freeze for at least 30 minutes, or up to 1 week.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Bake chilled crust in the preheated oven until lightly golden, about 15 minutes. Let cool completely, about 30 minutes.
• To make curd, combine cranberries, brown sugar, orange liqueur, and salt in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium-low to maintain a simmer. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until cranberries have burst and are very soft, about 10 minutes.
• Transfer to a blender and blend until smooth, about 30 seconds. Strain back into saucepan through a fine mesh strainer, pressing on solids in strainer. Whisk softened butter into cranberry liquid.
• Whisk eggs and egg yolks in a separate small bowl until lightened. Slowly whisk about 1 cup of the warm cranberry mixture into the eggs. Add egg-cranberry mixture to remaining cranberry mixture in saucepan, whisking constantly. Place saucepan back over medium-low and cook, whisking constantly, until bubbly and thickened, 5 to 10 minutes. Stir in orange zest. If using immediately, pour into a shallow dish and let cool slightly, about 10 minutes. If making ahead, cool to room temperature and then cover with plastic wrap pressed tightly to the curd's surface before refrigerating.
• Pour cooled cranberry curd into prebaked crust and smooth top with an offset spatula. Refrigerate until set, about 3 hours. Store at room temperature for up to 2 days.

CRANBERRY-ALMOND TARTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Place one disk of dough on a floured work surface, sprinkle dough with flour, and roll out to 1/4 inch thick. Cut out 25 to 30 circles using a 2 1/4-inch round cutter, re-rolling dough once if necessary. Place each circle in a 1 3/4-inch nonstick petit four brioche mold, gently pressing down on the bottom and sides. Place filled molds on a baking sheet; transfer to a freezer for 20 minutes.
• Transfer baking sheet to oven and bake tart shells until golden brown, 12 to 15 minutes. Transfer tart shells, in their molds, to a wire rack to cool completely.
• Place frangipane in pastry bag fitted with a small, plain round tip. Fill each tart shell with 1/4 teaspoon frangipane. Place tart shells, in their molds, on a baking sheet and transfer to oven. Bake until frangipane springs back when touched with your fingertip, 15 to 17 minutes. Transfer tart shells to a cooling rack; let cool completely.
• In a large bowl, mix together cranberries, almonds, and enough caramel to hold cranberries and almonds together, about 1 cup. Remove almond tarts from their molds and place on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Spoon cranberry mixture on top of frangipane; transfer to oven and bake until cranberries just begin to pop, 6 to 8 minutes. Drizzle with caramel and serve.

ALMOND CRANBERRY TART

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine 1/4 cup sugar, almonds and flour; cut in the butter until crumbly. Beat egg and vanilla; add to flour mixture and stir until moistened. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes. , Coat fingers with flour and press pastry mixture into the bottom and 1-1/2 in. up the sides of a greased 9-in. springform pan. P;lace on a baking sheet. Bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack. , Meanwhile, soften gelatin over cold water; let stand for 1 minute. Set aside. In a saucepan, combine the cranberries, jelly and remaining sugar. Cook over medium heat until berries pop. Remove from the heat; stir in gelatin until dissolved and cool. Pour into crust. Refrigerate at least 4 hours. Garnish with whipped cream and almonds if desired. Refrigerate leftovers.