Gluten Free Almond Mini Tarts Food

SWEET ALMOND SHORTCRUST PASTRY (GF)

Steps:

• Sift the 200g flour, 1 tsp xanthan gum and 1.5 tbsp sugar into a large mixing bowl, then add the 40g ground almonds. Stir to combine.
• Grate the 120g chilled butter into the bowl (use the large grater setting on a cheese grater) and toss the butter strands through the flour with a spoon. Once the butter is coated with flour, use your finger tips to rub the butter into the flour until you have a coarse breadcrumb-like texture.
• Beat one large egg and add to the bowl. Stir through with the spoon.
• Add 1 tbsp water (you may not need the second) and use your hands to bring the ingredients together to form a nice ball of dough. It should come away from the sides of the bowl and be a slightly sticky dough, but will form into a ball. If it is still a bit crumbly, add the second tbsp water and work to combine.
• Take a large piece of greaseproof paper (approx 30cm long) and place the ball of dough on the waxed, non-stick side. Press it down gently with your hands to form an oval shape a couple of cm thick. Now fold the paper over to cover the other side of the dough and then fold the edges over so that you have a nice little dough parcel. Now place into the fridge to chill for 30 minutes.
• Unwrap the chilled dough and place the greaseproof paper on your worktop. Dust well with gluten free flour and pop the dough on top. Place a 30cm piece of cling film on top of the dough.
• Use a rolling pin to roll the pastry out to 0.5cm thick in a large circular shape - wide enough to completely cover the tart tin and sides. If there's any breaking or uneven edges you can just patch them up easily with other pieces of pastry.
• Carefully ease the side of the pastry onto the floured rolling pin, then carefully slide onto the tart tin. OR you can also flip the greaseproof paper and dough over onto the tart tin, then carefully peel the greaseproof off.
• Gently tuck the pastry into the tin, pressing down to completely cover the base and around the sides. Use a sharp knife to slice off any excess pastry (you can save these offcuts in the fridge for later use). You should be left with a nice neat edge.
• Use a fork to gently prick holes in the base of the pastry tart (image below). Place the used greaseproof paper on top of the pastry and tin, adding baking beads to fill (see image below) so that you can "blind bake" the tart. Place it into the oven to blind bake for 10 minutes at 180C.
• Now remove the tart case from the oven, lift out the baking beads and greaseproof paper and return to the oven (uncovered) to bake for 10 minutes at 160C (fan).
• The almond shortcrust case should now be cooked through (add 5 minutes to the cooking time if it still looks raw on the bottom). Remove from the oven and place onto a wooden board or heatproof mat. Then you add your filling of choice and bake per requirements/chill to set.

GLUTEN FREE ALMOND MINI TARTS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Make the crust: Pulse the oat flour, almond flour, tapioca flour, sugar, and salt together in a food processor for 5 seconds to blend.
• Add the cubed butter and pulse 8-10 times more until a moist, crumbly dough starts to form. Add the applesauce and blend until a soft dough forms.
• Divide the dough into 6 equal pieces and use your fingers to press the dough into 6 mini tart pans (or 1 9-inch tart pan if you don't have mini shells), making sure the dough rises slightly above the edges of each pan.
• Place the tarts on a rimmed baking sheet and freeze for 15 minutes while the oven heats.
• Bake the tarts for 10 minutes, until they start to brown at the edges. Remove from the oven and cool the crusts to room temperature.
• Reduce the oven heat to 375 degrees F.
• Make the filling: Beat the egg, almond paste, and applesauce together with an electric hand mixer on medium-low speed until smooth.
• Add the oat flour and powdered sugar, and beat on low speed to blend thoroughly.
• Divide the almond custard evenly between the cooled tart crusts.
• Pit and slice the peaches into 1/4-inch thick half-moons and fan the peach slices across each tart crust. Whisk the jam with 1 tablespoon water to make a glaze. Brush the peaches with the glaze using a pastry brush. Return the tarts to the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes more, until the custard is matte and puffy at the edges. Serve immediately.

GLUTEN- AND DAIRY-FREE FRESH FRUIT TART

Steps:

• For the filling. Add the almond milk, vanilla extract and salt in a small saucepan and bring to just under a boil over medium heat. Meanwhile, add the sugar, tapioca flour and egg in a medium bowl and whisk until combined.
• As the almond milk comes just below a boil, stream about half of it into the egg mixture, whisking constantly, then pour the egg mixture back into the saucepan. Cook over medium heat and whisk vigorously until thick and bubbly (you want the tapioca starch to fully thicken), for about 4 minutes.
• Transfer to a bowl and cover with plastic wrap touching the surface of the filling so it will not form a skin. Refrigerate until fully cool and set, for at least 4 hours and up to 8 hours.
• For the crust: Grease a 9-inch tart pan with a removable bottom with nonstick cooking spray.
• Make the crust. Add the gluten-free all-purpose flour, almond flour, oat flour, tapioca flour, sugar and salt into a food processor. Whisk to combine. Add the cubed vegan butter on top. Run the food processor on medium until the dough begins to form clumps, about 2 minutes. Scrape down the sides and bottom. Pour in the water 1 tablespoon at a time. Run the food processor until the dough comes together in a smooth cohesive mass, 3 to 5 minutes more.
• Transfer the dough into the prepared tart pan. Press the dough evenly along the bottom and sides, trimming off any excess with a small knife. Smooth the bottom with a flat-bottomed measuring cup or slightly damp hands. If there are any bare spots, patch it up using the trimmed off dough. Dock the bottom of the crust with a fork. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Bake the tart until golden brown, 35 to 40 minutes. Let cool completely.
• For the topping: To assemble the tart, remove the cooled crust from the pan and onto a serving plate. Spread the filling evenly over the crust, smoothing the surface using the back of a spoon. Arrange the strawberries, kiwi, blueberries and blackberries on top in whatever design you prefer. Refrigerate the fruit tart to set for at least 3 hours and up to 8 hours before serving.