Even though it's September and the roads are clogged with school-traffic and beaches are seemingly abandoned, I refuse to believe that Summer is over. And technically, it isn't.
So this is my attempt at a slow transition into the rich, comforting desserts of Fall and Winter. I never made a baked tart...or at all---before L'Academie. And even though they look hard, as most pastries do, they aren't actually that difficult! Just whip up a batch of almond cream, spread in your pastry shell, add berries and bake. It really is that simple.
P.S. This is especially delicious served warm.
Raspberry Almond Tart [
click to print]
makes about ten 4" tarts
For assembly
- 1 pkg. pastry dough, rolled about 1/8" thick or a little less
- 2-3 c. raspberries
- 3-4 T. apricot jam or apple jelly
For the custard
- 1 c. unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 lb. sugar
- 1/2 lb. almond flour
- 5 eggs
- 1 T. vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp. almond extract
- 1 T. lemon zest
- 1-1/2 oz. flour
- 1/8 tsp. salt
1) Preheat oven to 350 F and generously coat tart pans (preferably with removable base) with nonstick cooking spray and set aside. Press pastry dough into 4" tart shells. (You can also use a larger tart shell or pie pan but baking time will be different.)
2) Beat butter in stand mixer until smooth. Add sugar and continue beating until combined.
3) Spoon in almond flour, scraping sides of bowl as needed.
4) Add four of the eggs, one at a time. Beat last egg with fork and add a little; add about half of all-purpose flour mixture then half of remaining egg. Beat in rest of flour, egg and salt. Add extracts and zest. Scrape sides as needed and mix until well combined.
5) Spread almond cream into prepared tart shells, filling about 1/2 to 2/3 full. Arrange raspberries on top of cream. Bake about 20-25 minutes or until cream is puffed and golden. Use pastry brush to coat top of tart with warmed apricot jam and enjoy!
