Tuesday, April 07, 2009

Bakewell Tart


I've been quite busy in the kitchen over the past few days and I've struggled to decide what to post first. I've gone for the sweet option first of course - I am known for my sweet tooth and this is certainly sweet.

In fact, it is almost offensively sweet. This is because I decided to ice my bakewell tart in true
Mr Kipling fashion. If you like things a little less sweet, you could serve it topped with toasted flaked almonds and serve it warm with a dollop of custard.

This delicious treat has its roots in Derbyshire - a pastry case houses a rich frangipane and layer of raspberry or cherry jam. This version, taken from an old 'Simply Delicious' recipe card (no longer in existence as far as I can tell) incorporates marzipan into the frangipane, making it especially rich, moist and gooey.

The dedicated amongst you will no doubt make your own pastry, in which case you could flavour it with almonds perhaps. I cheated and used good quality ready-made from the chiller section of the supermarket. There were no complaints!

Bakewell Tart
Serves 6-8

Ingredients

8oz shortcrust pastry
4tbsp raspberry or cherry jam (or another flavour of your choice)
1 oz ground almonds
3oz butter, cubed
10oz marzipan, cubed
2 large eggs (organic and free-range preferably)
approx 3 oz icing sugar
5 glace cherries (or real cherries if you have them)

1. Preheat the oven to 200C. Line an 8 inch loose-based flan tin with the pastry and prick the base with a fork.

2. Spread the jam all over the pastry base.


3. In a food processor, blitz together the almonds, marzipan, butter and eggs until you have a smooth batter. Pour the mixture into the pastry case.


4. Bake in the oven for approx 30 minutes until golden and firm to the touch. Leave to cool before removing from the flan tin. Chill for 1/2 hour until firm.


5. Sieve the icing sugar into a bowl and mix with 2-3 tsp warm water to make a fairly thin icing (mine was a little too thick). Spread over the top of the tart and decorate with cherries. Leave to set for around an hour prior to serving.

15 comments:

Jules said...

I adore bakewell tart, I would go as far to say it is my favourite cake. Your version looks delicous.

Valerie Harrison (bellini) said...

Thgese remind me of my mom's rice tarts which we always loved as kids:D

Dan said...

Oh wow - this looks so good. I can just imagine eating that hot with some custard.

Katie said...

Your bakewell looks fantastic. Love how moist the almond layer looks. Bakewell tarts always remind me of home when my mum used to bake one almost every week

Anne said...

That looks absolutely gorgeous, bakewell tart is one of my favourite puds, have not made it since I left school and think its time to re-attempt! :)

Katiecakes said...

wow, your tart looks fab! Mr Kipling will be sending him boys round to eliminate the competition any time soon ;)

Katie xox

Maggie said...

When I went to Bakewell I wouldn't buy a tart because I didn't like the look of them!!!
Yours looks fabulous Antonia.

♥Rosie♥ said...

I just L-O-V-E bakewell tart Antonia and I'm SO pleased you went with the sweet option here. Your tart looks such a picture and very delicous.

Maria♥ said...

Wow your bakewell tart is beautiful and looks delicious too!

Maria
x

Trekkie said...

I keep thinking that, as I get older, I'll outgrow my sweet tooth - and then I see something like this. Mmmm

Trekkie said...

I keep thinking that, as I get older, I'll outgrow my sweet tooth - and then I see something like this. Mmmm

Abitofafoodie said...

Jules - me too. I'd forgotten just how good it was!

Val - Ooh - those sound really good.

Dan - Mmm, anything with custard is good with me.

Katie - using marzipan in the batter keeps it really moist and gooey. Just how I like it!

Anne - I hadn't had it for ages either. I'm glad I rediscovered it.

Katiecakes - I may have to go into hiding...

Margaret - how disappointing! You'd think they'd have wonderful-looking tarts there.

Rosie - you and me both!

Maria - thank you.

Lynn - I have such a sweet tooth. I just can't resist things like this...

Lucy said...

I love Bakewell Tart! For me it also always has to be iced Mr Kipling style, with glace cherries too of course :) Yours looks sublime!

Nic said...

Bakewell tart is one of my favs, I adore that first photo!

Unknown said...

This looks amazing! -e