French Style Orange Custard Tart Food

FRENCH ORANGE TART

Steps:

• Place the very soft Butter in the bowl of your mixer with the Powdered Sugar and mix together with the leaf/paddle attachment until smooth and creamy.
• On low speed, stir in the Egg then the Almond Meal and Orange Zest (optional). Scrap the edges of the bowl with a spatula if needed.
• Add the Plain Flour and Salt and mix it in on low speed until the dough comes together.
• Bring the pastry together into a ball then thinly roll between two sheets of baking paper (1). Place over a flat tray and put in the fridge to rest for at least an hour.
• Once the pastry has chilled, line your Pastry Ring or Tart Pan and dock the pastry (2). If baking straight away, place it in the freezer for at least 30 minutes then bake for 25 to 30 minutes in an oven pre-heated on 160'C / 325'F. Otherwise, keep in the fridge until ready to bake (3).
• Leave to cool down completely before adding the cream filling.
• Zest and Juice the Oranges. Set aside the Zest, and place the Juice in a Small Pot (4). Heat up the juice on the stove on low heat until it simmers.
• While the juice is heating up, whisk together the Eggs, Sugar and Cornstarch in a separate heat-proof bowl until smooth.
• Once the Juice starts to simmer, slowly pour it over the Eggs/Sugar/Cornstarch while whisking. Mix well until combined and smooth, then pour it all back into the Pot.
• Place the pot back on the stove on low heat and keep whisking until the liquid starts to thicken (5). Remove from the stove and transfer into a clean Jug or bowl.
• Optional: re-hydrate the gelatine powder with a little bit of cold water and whisk it into the cream until fully dissolved.
• Leave the cream to cool down (6) then add the soft Butter and Orange Zest. Quickly mix it in with an immersion blender (or with a whisk) until fully combined (7).
• Pour the Orange Cream over the fully baked Tart Crust and smooth it out with a small offset spatula if needed. Place in the fridge to set for at least 2 to 3 hours, or up to 24 hours before serving.
• Optional: cut out small segments of fresh orange to garnish the tart before serving.

ORANGE TART

Steps:

• Place the flour, confectioners' sugar, almond flour, salt, orange zest and the cold butter into a food processor. Pulse the ingredients until a fine breadcrumb consistency has been formed.
• Add the egg yolk and cold water, pulse again until the mixture sticks together in clumps.
• Tip the contents of the food processor onto your work surface and bring together into a ball with your hands. Knead the pastry a few times until nice and smooth. (If your butter wasn't cold and was a bit too soft your pastry might be too. If so, wrap it in parchment paper and chill in the fridge for 15 minutes.) Set aside.
• Grease a 23cm/9in loose-bottomed tart tin.
• Lay a piece of parchment paper on the work surface. Remove the base of the tart tin and lay it on the paper. Using a pencil, draw a circle onto the paper 4cm/1½ins bigger than the base of the tin.
• Dust the base of the tin with flour. Place the pastry ball in the centre of the tin base and flatten out slightly. Roll out the pastry, still on the tin base, until it meets the circle marks. As you are rolling the pastry, turn the pastry by turning the paper.
• Gently fold the pastry into the centre of the tin base. Carefully lift the tin base off the work surface, drop it into the tin, ease the pastry into the corners and up the sides of the tin, pressing the overhang lightly over the rim. If the pastry has cracked at all, simply press it together to seal.
• Press the pastry into the curves of the tin then lightly prick the base with a fork, but not all the way through. Place the pastry-lined tin onto a baking tray, cover loosely with cling film or tea towel and chill in the fridge for 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 200°C/180°C Fan/390°F/gas mark 6.
• Remove the pastry from the fridge and uncover.
• Line the inside of the pastry with foil so it supports the sides, then fill with baking beans.
• Bake blind for 12-15 minutes, until the pastry is set, then lift out the foil and beans.
• Carefully trim the excess pastry from the sides using a potato peeler, lightly run the peeler over the top of the excess pastry until it falls away, leaving you a smooth top to your edges. Remove the trimmings from the sheet.
• Return the empty pastry case to the oven for another 10-12 minutes or until it is pale golden and completely dry.
• Set aside and allow to cool while you make your orange filling.
• [Optional] If you are using fresh oranges, zest the oranges and set aside the zest for later. Now juice the oranges and place the juice into a small pot.
• Heat the orange juice on the stove over low heat until it simmers.
• While the juice is heating up, whisk together the eggs, sugar and cornstarch in a bowl until smooth.
• Once the juice starts to simmer, slowly pour it over the egg mixture while whisking. Mix well until combined and smooth, then pour it back into the pot.
• Place the pot back over a low heat and keep mixing until the liquid starts to thicken. Remove from the heat and transfer into a mixing bowl. Add the gelatine powder and whisk until fully incorporated.
• Leave the filling to cool down slightly then add the soft butter, orange zest and Angostura orange bitters. Quickly mix it in with a whisk until fully combined.
• Pour the orange filling into the pastry case and lightly drop the case onto your counter, from about 2.5cm (1 inch) off of the counter, a few times until all bubbles have been released from the filling. Place in the fridge to set for at least 3 hours or, for best results, overnight.
• Remove the tart from the tin.
• Place the cream, confectioners' sugar and the Angostura orange bitters into a bowl and whisk together until firm.
• Now decorate as you see fit. Feel free to take inspiration from the photos or just go with your own ideas. Enjoy!

FRENCH ORANGE TART

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• In a small bowl, mix the flour, sugar, and salt.
• Using a pastry cutter , large-tined fork, or a food processor on pulse setting, cut the chilled butter into the flour until it resembles coarse sand with a few pea-sized pieces of butter still visible.
• Sprinkle the cold water onto the mixture and toss a few times gently, just until it forms a ball that holds together.
• Separate the dough into two balls, flatten slightly into thick disk shapes, wrap in plastic wrap, and chill for several hours before working with it.
• Preheat an oven to 375 F. Roll and trim the dough to make a circle large enough to fit a 10-inch fluted tart pan. Fit the circle into the bottom and up the sides of the pan.
• Line the dough with pie weights or dried beans and bake it for 15 minutes.
• Remove the pie weights and bake the shell for an additional 5 minutes. Set aside the pastry shell, still in the tart pan, to cool.
• Gather the ingredients.
• In a double boiler or a medium-size saucepan set a large pan of simmering water, stir together 8 tablespoons butter and the crème fraiche. Once this mixture is thoroughly combined, set it aside.
• In a separate pan set over the double boiler, whisk together the eggs, egg yolks , and sugar.
• Stir the orange juice into the mixture and cook, constantly stirring for 3 minutes.
• Add the orange zest and butter-crème fraiche mixture to the eggs and cook, constantly stirring for 3 minutes.
• Pour the orange filling into the prepared pastry and bake it for 25 to 30 minutes until it turns golden brown and the filling is set.
• Allow the tart to cool in the pan on a wire rack for 15 minutes.
• Serve at room temperature, or chill in the refrigerator before serving.

FLAN PâTISSIER (FRENCH CUSTARD TART)

Steps:

• Infuse milk: Place milk, vanilla seeds, used beans and 50g (1/4 cup) sugar in a large saucepan over medium high heat. Bring to just before boiling, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Remove from heat, place lid on and leave to steep for 10 minutes.
• Yolk mixture: Meanwhile, place egg yolks, egg and remaining sugar in a large bowl and whisk to combine. Add cornflour and whisk until smooth.
• Temper eggs: While whisking the eggs, slowly pour in about half the milk in a thin stream. Whisk until combined.
• Thicken custard: Pour the egg-milk mixture back into the saucepan then whisk to combine. Place over medium low heat, stirring constantly so the base doesn't catch, until it starts to thicken (you will feel it). It should happen within 3 to 5 minutes. If it gets lumpy, remove off heat, whisk vigorously - will become smooth.
• Stir 20 seconds after bubbles appear: When the custard is thickened and hot and you see the first big lazy bubbles appear on the base, whisk constantly on the stove for a further 20 seconds then remove from stove. (To check for bubbles, pause stirring for a few seconds)
• Butter: Whisk butter in until fully incorporated.
• Strain & cool: Immediately strain into a bowl through a fine mesh strainer. Discard vanilla bean. Cover with cling wrap touching the surface. Cool on counter (3 hrs+) then refrigerate 12 - 24 hours. (Note 5)
• Work with pastry as frozen as possible - it's easier. (Note 4)
• Cut base and sides: Cut base out using the inside of the pan as a guide on one sheet of puff pastry. Cut three 25 x 5.5cm (2.15 x 10″) wide strips on the other sheet of puff pastry. Place base and sides back in freezer. RESERVE offcuts (for emergency patching).
• Line pan: Butter and line the sides of a 20cm/8" springform pan with a 5.5cm / 2.2" strip of baking paper. We are not using the pan base. (Note 6)
• Line sides: Place cake pan on a square sheet of baking paper on a plate. (Note 6) Remove cut puff pastry from freezer. Working quickly, when sides have JUST thawed enough to bend, line sides of cake pan with puff pastry, overlapping by 1cm / 0.4", using water to seal - just press down for now (will seal properly later).
• Base: Brush base of sides with water. Fit base into cake pan (see video at 2 min 50 sec for technique).
• Seal pastry: Use the back of a teaspoon to press base into the corner. Then smear the now-thawing puff pastry to full seal.
• Prick base: Prick base 30 times with fork. (I always forget!!)
• Freeze: Cover with cling wrap, freeze 4 - 24 hours. (Note 4)
• Preheat oven to 220°C/430°F (200°C fan) for 30 minutes.
• Line & fill with beads: Pick up crust using paper and place on tray (on the paper). Crumple 2 x 60cm / 2 feet long sheets of baking paper (Note 7) then fit into crust arranged in X. Fill with baking beads 1cm / 0.4" below rim (Note 8). Press to push paper into corners.
• Blind bake 25 min + 5 min: Bake 25 minutes, then use overhang paper to remove beads carefully (if sides look like they will cave in, return to oven with beads for 5 min). Bake 5 minutes then cool 10 minutes. (Seal any visible cracks with puff pastry scraps)
• Turn oven down to 200°C/390°F (180°C fan).
• Fill with custard: Remove Creme Patissiere from fridge. Whisk to loosen, scrape into crust - fill to 1cm/0.4" below rim. (Leftover custard Note 7) Smooth surface, brush custard surface with egg yolk (use it all).
• Bake 65 minutes, rotating tray 180° at 45 minutes. It will puff up in the last 15 ninutes like a souffle. Remove from oven - it will still be very wobbly, have faith! It will set when cool!Golden surface - If the top is not golden like pictured, switch on broiler to caramelise surface. Watch carefully - takes minutes!
• Cool on counter for 4 hours (in pan). Transfer to plate (still in pan), cover loosely with cling wrap, then refrigerate 12+ hours.
• Serve: Remove from fridge 1 hour prior to serving to bring to room temperature. Cut into slices like cake! The pastry is crispy & flaky. The custard will cut neatly (it will not ooze) but when you bite into it, the custard is beautifully soft and creamy. Traditionally eaten as a hand held bakery treat in France but you can use a plate if you're feeling civilised!
• Shelf life: Flan Pâtissier is at its best in the first 24 hours after it is put in the fridge after baking as this is when the pastry is still beautifully crisp. Beyond this the pastry starts to soften which no one has pointed out yet because everyone is besotted by the custard! But I notice. :)

VANILLA ORANGE TART

Steps:

• In a food processor, process the vanilla wafers to crumbs. Pour in the melted butter and pulse until the crumbs are moistened.
• Press the crumbs into a 10-inch deep-dish tart pan to line the bottom and sides. Refrigerate for 10 minutes.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the egg yolks, 1/4 cup of the sugar and the cornstarch. Set aside.
• In a small bowl, mix the gelatin with 2 tablespoons cold water. Set aside.
• In a medium saucepot, combine the milk with another 1/4 cup of the sugar and the vanilla bean. Bring to a boil over medium heat, whisking occasionally.
• A ladleful at a time, slowly pour the heated milk into the egg yolk mixture, whisking to temper the yolks. When half of the milk has been added, pour the hot egg mixture back into the saucepot, whisking constantly. Heat over medium heat, whisking constantly, until thickened and bubbles start appearing on the surface.
• Whisk the bloomed gelatin into the custard. Pour the custard through a fine-mesh strainer to remove any lumps or overcooked yolks.
• Pour the strained custard into the tart shell and refrigerate for 1 hour, until set.
• In a small saucepot, bring the orange juice and the remaining 1/2 cup sugar to a boil. Add the dried orange slices and simmer until syrupy, 10 minutes. Set aside to cool; the orange slices will continue to soften.
• Remove the tart from the refrigerator and decorate with the orange slices in a fan pattern. Drizzle the tart with some of the orange syrup.
• Place the tart back in the refrigerator for another hour, or until the candied oranges are set.

TARTE AUX POMMES (FRENCH APPLE - CUSTARD TART)

Steps:

• For crust: Roll out the dough 1/8 inch thick on a lightly floured surface turning it constantly so that it does not stick; add more flour as needed (the dough might crack around the edges, most of the cracks don't matter since the edges will be trimmed after the tart is in the pan, if there are some big ones that will show when the tart is in the pan, patch them with pieces of dough before fitting the) when the dough is rolled out, flip it over the rolling pin and transfer it to a 10-inch tart pan with removable bottom; fit it into the tart pan without stretching; roll the rolling pin over the top of the tart to cut off the dough hanging over the pan's edge; refrigerate 20 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 400°F Place the tart pan on shallow baking sheet; fit the tart pan with aluminum foil or parchment paper, fill with beans or pie weights, and bake in the middle of preheated oven for 15 minutes; carefully remove the foil with beans and bake for another 5 minutes.
• For filling: Turn the heat down to 375F; quarter, core, and peel the apples; cut into 1/4" lengthwise slices; toss them in a bowl with the sugar and cinnamon, then arrange them in the crust in concentric circles; bake in the upper third of preheated oven for about 20 minutes, or until they start to color and are almost tender; remove from oven and let cool while preparing the custard.
• For custard: Beat the egg and sugar together in a mixing bowl until mixture is thick, pale yellow, and falls back on itself forming a slowly dissolving ribbon; beat in the flour, then the cream, and finally the cognac; pour the mixture over the apples; it should come almost to the top of the pastry shell; return to oven for 10 minutes, or until cream begins to puff.
• Sprinkle with icing sugar (placed in a sieve and sprinkled evenly over) and return to oven for 15 to 20 minutes more.
• Tart is done when top has browned and a knife plunged into the custard comes out clean; unmold the tart; cool 10 minutes and serve.

JAMIE OLIVER'S PORTUGUESE CUSTARD TARTS

Steps:

• Begin by preparing pastry shells.
• Lay puff pastries out flat, sprinkle with cinnamon and lightly rub it in to spread out and coat surface evenly.
• Roll up both pastry sheets and cut each into 6 even pieces.
• Stand up each piece on it's end and flatten down with fingers into disc shape, place disc's in standard muffin pan.
• Using fingers, spread each piece into a cup shape using the pan as a mold.
• Bake for 8-10 minutes at 400°F in oven on top shelf.
• While they're baking prepare custard mix.
• In a medium sized bowl mix together eggs, sugar, vanilla, creme fraiche and zest from 1 orange.
• Shells should still be a little soft and slightly puffed out when they come out of the oven - using a spoon, push back the pastry into the mold and into its cup shape so it can hold the custard.
• Fill each shell almost to the top with custard mix.
• Put custard-filled pastry shells back into 400°F oven on top shelf and bake for 8-10 minutes.
• While tarts continue baking prepare caramel topping.
• Heat up a medium sized saucepan on the stove over medium-high heat.
• Add sugar and juice from 2 oranges.
• Use care and caution when making caramel - it is like molten lava. Only use metal utensils while working with caramel as it will ruin wooden spoons and plastic could melt.
• Continuously watching pot and stir occasionally to prevent burning, sugar will melt and bubble as it cooks.
• Caramel is ready once it turns a nice amber color and should be done around the same time the tarts are finished baking.
• Move tarts onto wire rack to cool. Using a spoon, drizzle caramel over top of each tart.

ORANGE CUSTARD TART

Steps:

• For crust:
• Combine first 5 ingredients in large bowl. Add butter, egg yolk and vanilla. Using electric mixer, blend until coarse crumbs form. Knead into ball. (Dough will be very soft.) Pat dough onto bottom and up sides of 13 1/2x4 1/4-inch rectangular tart pan or four 4-inch-diameter tartlet pans with removable bottom. Press into place; trim excess dough. Freeze 20 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Line crust with foil and fill with dried beans or pie weights. Bake 15 minutes. Remove foil and beans. Press crust up sides of pan if necessary. Bake 10 minutes longer. Cool.
• For filling:
• Mix first 6 ingredients in medium bowl. Pour filling into crust. Bake until barely set, about 30 minutes. Cool 20 minutes. Refrigerate until custard is firm, about 3 hours. (Can be prepared 8 hour ahead.)
• Using small sharp knife, cut between membranes of oranges to release segments. Drain well on paper towels. Arrange alternating rows of orange segments and raspberries atop tart.

GATEAU BASQUE (FRENCH CUSTARD OR JAM TART)

Steps:

• Whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt and keep at hand.
• Working in a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or in a bowl with a hand mixer, beat the butter and both sugars together on medium speed for about 3 minutes, or until smooth. Add the egg and beat another 2 minutes or so, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. The mixture may look curdled, but that's OK. Add vanilla and mix for about a minute more. Then reduce the mixer speed to low and add the dry ingredients in two or three additions, mixing only until they're fully incorporated into the dough.
• Place a large sheet of plastic wrap or wax paper on your work surface and put half of the very soft and sticky dough in the center of the sheet. Cover with another piece of plastic or wax paper, then roll the dough into a circle just a little larger than 8 inches in diameter. As you're rolling, turn the dough over and lift the plastic or paper frequently, so that you don't roll it into the dough and form creases. Repeat with the other half of the dough.
• Put the dough on a cutting board or baking sheet and refrigerate it for about 3 hours or for up to 3 days.
• When you're ready to assemble and bake the gateau, center a rack in the oven and preheat the oven to 350°F Generously butter a 2-inch high, 8-inch round cake pan.
• Remove the layers from the refrigerator and let them rest on the counter for a couple of minutes before peeling away the plastic or paper. Fit one layer into the pan. If it breaks, just press the pieces together. If there's a little extra dough running up the sides of the pan, you can either fold it over the bottom layer or cut it so that it's even. Spoon some of the jam or pastry cream onto the dough, starting in the center of the cake and leaving one inch of dough bare around the border. Add more filling if you don't think it will squish out the sides when you press down on it with the top layer of dough. (I find that 3/4 cup is usually just the right amount, but if you're using a very thick jam, you might want a bit more.).
• Moisten the bare ring of dough with a little water and then top with the second piece of dough, pressing down around the edges to seal it. If you'd like, you can work your finger between the top dough and the edge of the pan, so that you tuck the dough under a little. Because of the softness of the dough and the baking powder, even if you only press the layers together very lightly, they'll fuse as they bake. And, no matter how well you press them together, it seems inevitable that a little of the filling will escape.
• Brush the top of the dough with the egg glaze and use the tips of the tines of a fork to etch a cross-hatch pattern across the top.
• Bake the cake for 40 to 45 minutes, or until the top is golden brown. Transfer the cake to a cooling rack and let it rest for 5 minutes before carefully running a blunt knife around the edges of the cake. Turn the cake over onto a cooling rack and then quickly and carefully invert it onto another rack so that it can cool to room temperature right side up.

ORANGE CUSTARD TARTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 180C (fan forced).
• Place 1 pastry sheet on a clean surface and spray with cooking spray and then top with the second pastry sheet and spray with cooking spray.
• Cut in half lengthways, then cut each half into 4 even sized pieces to make 8 pieces in total.
• Use 4 pieces to line each of 2 x 3cm deep 8.5cm (base measurement) loose bottom, fluted flan tines.
• Trim pastry edges and place tins on a baking tray and bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until pastry is light golden brown.
• Meanwile, put custard powder in a small saucepand and gradually whisk in the milk and cook, stirring over a medium heat for 6 to 7 minutes or until custard comes to a simmer and thickens.
• Remove pan from heat, stir in sugar and orange zest and set aside for 5 minutes to cool slightly.
• Carefully remove pastry cases from tins and put on plates.
• Whisk the custard until smooth and pour into pastry cases and top with the orange slices.
• Set aside for 15 minutes to cool completely and then serve.

PEAR AND CUSTARD TART

Steps:

• Roll pie crust disk out on lightly-floured work surface to 1/8 inch thick round.
• Roll dough up on rolling pin and transfer to 9 inch in diameter tart pan with removable bottom.
• Gently press into place.
• Trim and finish edges.
• Refrigerate 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 375F.
• Line pastry with foil and fill with pie weights or dry beans.
• Bake 15 minutes.
• Remove foil and weights and continue baking 10 more minutes.
• Cool.
• Arrange pears in pastry in concentric circles, overlapping slightly.
• Dot with butter; sprinkle with brown sugar; bake until pears are tender, about 20 minutes.
• Whisk light cream, egg, egg yolk, ¼ cup sugar and vanilla and almond extracts to blend.
• Pour over pears.
• Sprinkle lightly with ground nutmeg and cinnamon.
• Continue baking until custard is set, about 30 minutes.
• Serve warm or at room temperature.

FRENCH STYLE APRICOT TART

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 180 C degrees.
• Lay pie crust on pie plate and punch with a fork.
• In a medium bowl beat eggs and sugar. Add almonds, coconut then cream.
• Pour the just-made mix onto the pie crust.
• Add apricots (without syrup). Lay them out on bent side.
• Bake at 180 C for about 40-45 minutes.
• Options: You can easily adapt this recipe, replacing apricots by peaches and/or pears as well as mixing the different fruits. You may also replace the grounded almonds by the coconut and vice-versa.

FRENCH-STYLE ORANGE CUSTARD TART

Steps:

• Make the pastry: whisk together the flour and salt in a big bowl; with a pastry blender, cut in the butter until the mixture resembles small crumbs.
• Add the water 1 tablespoon at a time, mixing lightly with a fork after each addition, until the dough just comes together if a small bit is pressed between your fingers; do not overmix.
• Shape the dough into a disk; wrap in wax paper, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or for up to 2 days (if it has been chilled overnight or longer, let the dough stand at room temperature for 20 minutes before rolling it out).
• On a lightly floured surface, with a floured rolling pin, roll the pastry into a 14-inch round.
• Fold the pastry in half and transfer it to an 11-inch fluted tart pan with a removable bottom.
• Unfold the pastry and gently press it into the bottom and up the sides of the pan with your fingertips.
• Trim the overhanging pastry to 1 inch.
• Fold the overhang in and then press the dough against the sides of the pan so it extends about 1/4 inch above the rim; refrigerate for 15 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 425°.
• Press a piece of heavy-duty foil snugly into the bottom and up the sides of the pastry shell and fill with uncooked rice or dried beans; bake for 15 minutes.
• Remove the foil and rice, and bake for 8-10 minutes longer, until golden (if the shell puffs up during baking, gently press it down with the back of a spoon); let cool on a wire rack; decrease oven temperature to 350°.
• Make the filling: whisk together the eggs, sugar, orange zest, lemon zest, orange juice, lemon juice, and salt in a medium bowl until well combined; whisk in the creme fraiche.
• Carefully pour the filing into the cooled tart shell; place on a baking sheet and bake for 30 minutes, or until the edges are set but the center is still slightly jiggly; cool completely on a wire rack.
• To serve, remove the side of the pan and cut into wedges; you may dust the tart with powdered sugar and serve with fragrant ripe strawberries.