Bakewell Bars Recipes

BAKEWELL BARS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400°F.
• Knead pie crusts together; roll out into rectangle to fit in bottom of ungreased 13x9-inch pan. Place in pan. With fork, poke holes all over crust. Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove from oven. Reduce oven temperature to 375°F.
• Spread raspberry preserves over crust in pan; set aside.
• In large bowl, beat egg whites with electric mixer on high speed until soft peaks form. Gradually add 3 tablespoons sugar, beating until stiff peaks form. Set aside.
• In another large bowl, beat together almond paste and 1/2 cup sugar. Add butter; beat until pale and fluffy. Beat in egg yolks one at a time. Beat in lemon peel, lemon juice, almond extract and salt. Gradually beat in flour.
• Fold egg white mixture into almond mixture. Spoon dollops of batter over preserves in pan; spread evenly with spatula.
• Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until set. Cool completely, about 45 minutes. Cut into squares; dust with powdered sugar.

BAKEWELL SLICE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line a 8x12-inch rimmed baking pan with parchment paper.
• Roll out pastry dough thinly to fit the baking pan and press over the bottom. Cover with parchment paper and fill with dried beans for blind baking.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes. Remove the parchment and beans from the baked pastry and bake until pastry has a golden color, about 5 minutes more. Set aside to cool, about 15 minutes.
• Spread raspberry jam evenly over the cooled pastry.
• Combine butter and 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar in a large bowl; beat with an electric mixer until pale and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add lemon juice, almond extract, and lemon zest and beat until well combined. Fold in ground almonds. Spoon almond filling over the raspberry base and smooth out top with the back of a spoon. Sprinkle sliced almonds over the top.
• Bake in the preheated oven until filling is golden on top and feels firm in the middle, 30 to 35 minutes. Cover pastry loosely with aluminum foil if it gets too brown. Remove from oven and allow to cool, about 30 minutes. Dust with confectioners' sugar before cutting into slices.

TRADITIONAL BAKEWELL TART

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease an 8 inch pie plate. Whisk together the flour, ground almonds, and baking powder; set aside.
• Roll the pie crust pastry into a round shape a little larger than the pie plate. Cut off a 1/2-inch wide strip from the edge of the pastry circle, and line the lower sides of the pie plate with the strip, placing the cut side upwards (the pastry will not reach the rim of the pie plate). Dampen the strip with water, then place the remaining pie pastry circle into the pie plate, pressing to seal the edges of the circle onto the strip where the pastry overlaps. This will create a crust that is slightly thicker around the lower edges. Spread the strawberry jam evenly over the center of the pastry shell.
• Beat the butter and sugar with an electric mixer in a bowl until light and fluffy. Whisk the egg together with the lemon zest, and add gradually to the butter mixture, beating well after each addition. Gently fold the flour mixture, a spoonful at a time, into the egg mixture, folding until just incorporated. Spread the batter over the jam in the pie shell.
• Bake the tart in the preheated oven until the filling is firmly set and browned, about 30 minutes. Sprinkle with confectioner's sugar.

BUTTERNUT BAKEWELL BARS

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Halve the butternut lengthways, scrape out and discard the pith and seeds, then put in a roasting tin, cut-side down. Roast in the oven for 1 hr 10 mins until completely soft. When it has 20 mins left, cook the pecans on a baking tray in the oven, then leave to cool. Scrape the flesh out of the butternut and purée in a food processor. Set both aside to cool. The purée and pecans can be prepared up to three days ahead.
• For the pastry, blitz together the flour, butter and a pinch of salt in a food processor until it resembles coarse breadcrumbs. Add the egg and pulse until the pastry comes together. Wrap in cling film and chill for 2 hrs.
• Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Butter and line a 20 x 30cm loose-bottomed baking tin. Roll out the pastry, then lift into the tin. Don't worry if it falls apart a little, patch it up with your fingers and press down into the corners. Chill for 20 mins, then prick the base all over with a fork and bake for 10-12 mins until lightly coloured. Reduce the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4.
• Grind the pecans in a food processor, then tip into a large bowl with all the sponge filling ingredients and a pinch of salt. Beat with an electric whisk until well combined. Warm the marmalade, then spread over the pastry. Smooth the cake batter on top and bake for 20-25 mins. Leave to cool.
• Mix the icing sugar with the cinnamon and enough water to make a thick drizzling consistency. Drizzle over the cake and scatter over the pecans. Once the icing is set, cut into 20 bars.