Macaroon Cherry Tart Food

MACAROON CHERRY PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to a 1/8-in.-thick circle; transfer to a 9-in. cast-iron skillet or deep-dish pie plate. Trim to 1/2 in. beyond edge of plate; flute edges. Bake 6 minutes; set aside. , Drain cherries, reserving 1 cup juice. Set cherries aside. In a large saucepan, combine sugar and cornstarch; gradually stir in cherry juice until blended. Bring to a boil over medium heat; cook and stir until thickened, 2 minutes. , Remove from heat; stir in cinnamon and food coloring if desired. Gently fold in cherries. Pour into crust. Cover edges loosely with foil. Bake at 400° 20 minutes., Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine first 6 topping ingredients. Stir in coconut and almonds. , Remove foil from pie; spoon topping over pie. Reduce oven to 350°; bake until topping is lightly browned, 15-20 minutes. Cool on a wire rack 1 hour. Chill 4 hours or overnight before cutting.

CHERRY MACAROONS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream shortening and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs and extract; mix well. , Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture. Stir in the coconut and cherries (dough will be very stiff). , Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls 2 in. apart onto greased baking sheets. Bake at 375° for 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool on wire racks.

COCONUT CHERRY MACAROONS

Steps:

• Arrange the oven racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven and preheat to 350 F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment.
• Whisk together the sugar, cherries, orange zest, vanilla, egg whites and salt. Add the coconut and toss until completely coated. Spoon heaping tablespoons of the batter onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving about 1-inch between each. Moisten your fingertips with water and shape each macaroon into a tall and rounded mound or pointed pyramid.
• Bake until the macaroons are toasted and the edges are lightly browned, rotating the pans halfway through the baking time, 16 to 20 minutes. Transfer to a rack to cool. Store macaroons in an airtight container for up to a week.

ALMOND MACAROON CHERRY PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400F.
• Roll out pie pastry and place in 9 inch pie pan.
• In large bowl, combine pie filling, cinnamon, salt and lemon juice.
• Mix lightly.
• Spoon into crust-lined pie pan.
• Bake 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, combine all topping ingredients in medium bowl and mix until blended.
• Remove pie from oven after 20 minutes, spread topping evenly over surface, and return pie to oven.
• Bake an additional 15 to 30 minutes, or until crust and topping are golden brown.

COCONUT MACAROONS WITH A CHERRY TOP

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 300°. Line baking trays with parchment paper.
• Place coconut in a large zip lock bag. Toss in 2 T. maraschino cherry juice and shake until coconut is pink. Set aside.
• Cut 18 maraschino cherries in half. Drain on paper towels. Set aside.
• Using a mixer, beat egg whites and salt at high speed until soft peaks form.
• Sprinkle sugar in, 2 tablespoons at a time, beating well after each addition until sugar is completely dissolved (allow 2 minutes after each addition of sugar). Whites should be in stiff glossy peaks when you're done.
• Beat in vanilla. With a rubber spatula, fold in coconut and flour.
• Drop coconut by rounded teaspoon about an inch apart onto the prepared baking sheets. They won't spread very much at all. Place a half cherry on top of each cookie.
• Bake at 300° for 20 minutes, or until lightly browned. Slide parchment paper and cookies directly onto a rack to cool.
• Store in tightly covered container for up to 3 days.
• Makes 36 cookies.

CHERRY, ALMOND & LEMON MASCARPONE TART

Steps:

• Roll out the pastry on a lightly floured surface to just thinner than a £1 coin. Use to line a 22cm loose-bottomed tart tin, leaving an overhang on the sides. Leave to chill in the fridge on a baking sheet. To make the frangipane, whizz everything together in a food processor until combined.
• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6 and line the tart case with baking parchment and beans. Bake for 20 mins, then remove parchment and beans, lightly prick the base with a fork and continue to bake for 10 mins until pale biscuity. Spread the frangipane over the base and return to the oven for 15 mins until cooked. Remove from the oven, trim the sides of the pastry and leave to cool completely.
• Beat the mascarpone with the lemon zest and juice and the icing sugar. Spread over the frangipane. Arrange the cherries on top, dust heavily with icing sugar, remove from the tin and serve.