German Fresh Fruit Torte Food

FRESH FRUIT TARTS

Steps:

• Make the crust: In a small bowl, whisk together the egg yolks and heavy cream. In the bowl of a food processor with a blade attachment, pulse the flour, butter, sugar and salt until no big chunks of butter remain. Slowly add the yolk mixture to the flour mixture. Blend to combine but don't overwork the dough.
• Remove the dough and, turning it out onto a lightly floured surface, knead it 4 or 5 times to incorporate.
• Divide the dough in half if making one large tart. Divide the dough into four pieces if making mini tarts. Flatten the dough pieces into discs with your hands, wrap them in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 20 minutes and up to overnight. (Freeze any remaining pieces for another project for up to 3 months.)
• Make the pastry cream: Put a damp kitchen towel under a medium bowl and whisk together the egg yolks and 1/4 cup of the sugar until the yolks are lighter in color, about 2 minutes. (The towel will ensure the bowl doesn't slide around.) Add the cornstarch and salt, whisk again, and set the bowl aside.
• In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine the milk and the remaining sugar 1/4 cup sugar and cook until the mixture almost boils, 4 to 5 minutes. With one hand, start whisking the egg yolk mixture; with the other hand, slowly drizzle the hot milk into the bowl, whisking until all the milk is incorporated.
• Pour the custard back into the saucepan and continue cooking, stirring constantly, on medium-high heat, until the mixture is thick and one bubble plops up on top, about 2 minutes.
• Remove the custard from the heat and pour into a clean medium bowl. Don't scrape the pot if the bottom looks burned or like scrambled eggs. Now, stir in the butter and vanilla. Keep stirring until the butter melts. Place a piece of plastic wrap over the bowl so it is touching the pastry cream, then refrigerate for 1 hour.
• Bake the tart shell or shells: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Using a rolling pin, roll out the dough on a floured surface until it is a circle (about 9 inches across and 1/2 inch thick for one large tart and about 6 inches across and 1/8 to 1/4 inch thick for four mini tarts.
• Lay the dough onto the tart pan, and then using your fingers, gently press it down. Try not to tear the dough or make it too thin. Ideally, it should be an even thickness all the way across.
• Using a sharp knife, carefully trim the edges so the dough is perfectly even with the top of the tart shell (see Cook's Note). Place the tart shell on a parchment-lined rimmed baking sheet. Using a fork, poke a bunch of holes in the bottom of the tart shell to keep bubbles from forming during baking. Refrigerate the tart shell for 20 minutes. Repeat with the remaining tart shells if using.
• Remove the pan or pans from the fridge and lay a piece of parchment over the chilled dough. Fill the uncooked tart shell with pie weights or dried beans or uncooked rice.
• Bake for 10 minutes, then, using oven mitts, remove the baking sheet from the oven. Remove the pie weights and parchment. Return the baking sheet to the oven, continuing to bake until the crust is golden brown, 5 to 8 more minutes. Let the pan or pans cool on a wire rack.
• Make the glaze and finish the tart: In a medium pot over medium heat, cook the apricot jam and water. Stir with a fork as it cooks until the mixture is a thin, shiny liquid, about 3 minutes.
• Take the pastry cream from the fridge and, in the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment on medium-high speed, beat the pastry cream to loosen it up. Spread the pastry cream in a thin 1/4- to 1/2-inch layer on the bottom of the tart shell.
• Carefully cut the strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, kiwi, mangos and figs. Arrange the fruit so there is no visible pastry cream. (You can make the tart look awesome by laying the fruit in cool patterns.)
• Once the fruit is arranged, use a soft pastry brush to paint it with the warm apricot glaze. Don't leave any bare spots. Make sure to glaze all the fruit. Take your time.
• Cut and serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 12 hours.

OBSTTORTE (FRUIT TORTE)

Steps:

• CAKE:.
• Mix flour and sugar.
• Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
• Add egg yolks; mix to form dough.
• Press dough into bottom and sides of a 10-inch springform pan.
• Dough should come 1 1/2 inches up the sides.
• Bake in a preheated 375°F oven for 20 to 25 minutes, until pastry is firm and light brown.
• FILLING:.
• Drain canned or frozen fruit, reserving juice.
• Crush 1 cup of fresh fruit to make juice.
• Add sugar to fresh fruit and let stand 1/2 hour.
• Drain juice and add water to make 1 cup.
• Mix cornstarch and fruit juice.
• Cook over medium heat until thickened.
• Place whole fruit in baked pastry shell.
• Pour thickened fruit juice over top.
• Chill thoroughly.
• Carefully remove torte from springform pan.
• ALMOND COATING:.
• Beat egg white until foamy.
• Gradually beat in the sugar. beat until stiff peaks are formed.
• Spread the meringue around the outside of the pastry shell.
• Press in the almonds so that they completely cover the sides.
• TOPPING:.
• Gently fold sugar and vanilla into whipped cream.
• Spread over the fruit.
• Garnish with sliced toasted almonds, if desired.

TRADITIONAL GERMAN OBST KUCHEN - FRESH FRUIT FLAN (SPONGE CAKE)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• In large bowl, beat yolks. Add sugar, softened margarine and yeast. Mix well.
• Add flour, then vanilla and mix well.
• In separate bowl beat egg whites until stiff. Add egg whites to flour mixture - then gradually mix in enough milk to give a soft dropping consistency.
• Grease German flan pan. Add dough to greased pan, spreading evenly with a spatula.
• Bake at 350F degrees for about 20 minutes until tests done with a toothpick.
• Remove from oven. Cool in pan on a rack for 15 minutes, then invert on a cake plate or other large plate.
• Arrange fresh berries or other fresh or canned fruits (kiwi slices, pineapple, gooseberries, apricots, and cherries are nice) on top of the inverted sponge cake (note: you may add a thin custard layer prior to filling with fruit, if you wish). Spread your favorite fruit glaze over the top of the fruit (may use a clear glaze or use strawberry or red currant jelly, or apricot jam). Chill until serving time.
• Serve with dollops of fresh whipped cream, and a cup of coffee. Enjoy!

MOM'S FRUIT FLAN (GERMAN ERDBEER/OBST BODEN TORTE)

Steps:

• To Make Base (Boden):.
• Thoroughly grease a 10 to 11 inch (25 to 28 cm) boden tin. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a large bowl beat together butter and sugar til white and creamy; add egg and beat til mixed in thoroughly.
• Sift together flour and baking powder and fold into the butter mixture, adding milk til it holds together in a ball.
• Press dough into a well greased boden torte pan (wet your hands with a little water to keep the dough from sticking to your hands).
• Bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes or until lightly golden.
• Remove from oven. Cool in pan on a rack for 15 minutes, then invert on a cake plate or other large plate.
• Filling:.
• If desired, spread a thin layer of custard (or vanilla pudding or pastry cream) evenly over the cooled boden.
• Fill with a variety of fruit and whipped cream. Use any variety you like or simply canned peach slices or fresh strawberries.
• Glaze:.
• For a simple glaze, melt a little apple jelly or strawberry jam and pour over the fruit.
• -Or- take 1/2 cup of the fruit syrup. Cook it over high heat with 1 Tablespoon of cornstarch dissolved in a little cold water, cook it until it is clear, and the raw cornstarch flavor disappears (approximately 2 minutes). Drizzle evenly over the fruit.
• Chill until ready to serve. This cake is best served within 24 hours.
• Serve with a dollop of fresh whipped cream and you have a lovely little dessert. Quick and easy.

GERMAN FRUIT TART WITH CREME FRAICHE

Steps:

• Mix and kneed together the ingredients for the crust.
• Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• In the meantime wash, pare, and slice or chop your fruit.
• Grease a 10-inch springform pan.
• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Roll out dough to fit bottom of spring form and about 1 1/2" up the side.
• Fit the dough into the spring form and using a stab tiny holes all over the crust using a fork.
• Arrange the fruit on the crust.
• In a bowl add the creme fraiche, eggs,sugar, and vanilla, and mix well.
• Pour the mixture over the fruit.
• Sprinkle with the nut slices.
• Back for 50 minutes.
• Remove from oven and let sit for 10 - 15 minutes.
• Carefully remove the the ring from the spring form and let the tart cool completely.