Berry Almond Tartlets With White Chocolate Recipes

BERRY ALMOND TARTLETS WITH WHITE CHOCOLATE

Steps:

• For the almond pastry, put the flour, ground almonds, sugar and 1⁄4 tsp salt into a food processor and work for 5 seconds until mixed. Add the butter and pulse for about 10 seconds until the mixture forms fine crumbs. Tip into a bowl, add the egg yolks and almond extract and mix with a knife to make coarse crumbs (don't do this in the machine or you'll overwork it and make the pastry tough). Turn out on to the work surface and knead briefly by hand to a smooth, pliable ball. If it's too sticky, work in a little more flour. Wrap in cling film and chill for at least 30 minutes until firm.
• Brush six 9cm loose-bottomed tartlet tins with melted butter. Divide the ball of dough in half and work with one piece at a time. Roll it out on non-stick baking parchment until 3mm thick. Cut out three 13cm rounds using a plain pastry cutter or a small upturned saucer as a template. Ease each disc of pastry into the tins and press them on to the base and sides so the edges of the pastry come slightly above the top edge of the tins. Prick the bases with a fork so they do not puff up in the oven and set them on a baking sheet. Repeat with the rest of the pastry. Chill for at least 15 minutes until firm. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to fan 180C/conventional 200C/gas 6.
• Line the tartlets with small squares of buttered foil, pressing them well against the sides to hold up the dough during baking. Bake for 7-8 minutes until the pastry starts to brown. Remove the foil and continue baking for a further 3-4 minutes until they are golden brown. Let them cool in the tins, then turn them out to be sure they are loose. Replace them in the tins for support before adding the filling.
• For the ganache, break the chocolate into a bowl. Bring the cream just to the boil, pour on to the chocolate and leave for 2-3 minutes, then stir until smooth. Chill without stirring for 8-12 minutes until the ganache is cool but still soft enough to pour, then pour a shallow layer into each tartlet to cover the base. Chill until set, then unmould the tartlets and let them come to room temperature for at least 30 minutes. (They can be kept covered, at room temperature, for up to 6 hours.)
• To finish, warm the redcurrant jelly with 1 tbsp water and stir until smooth. Pick over the raspberries and pile them casually on top of the ganache. Spoon over a little of the warm glaze and decorate each tartlet with a tiny sprig of mint.

CHOCOLATE BERRY TARTS

Steps:

• In a small microwave-safe bowl, melt 4 tablespoons butter; stir in cracker crumbs and sugar. Press onto the bottom and up the sides of two 4-in. fluted tart pans with removable bottoms. Freeze for 1 hour or until firm., In a small saucepan, combine the cream, cinnamon and remaining butter. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Remove from the heat; stir in chocolate chips until melted. Pour into crusts. Refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour., Just before serving, arrange berries over filling; sprinkle with confectioners' sugar.

WHITE CHOCOLATE CRANBERRY ALMOND TART

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°. Place almonds and sugar in a food processor; pulse until almonds are ground. Add flour and salt; pulse until blended. Transfer mixture to a small bowl; stir in melted butter and cream. Press onto bottom and up sides of an ungreased 9-in. fluted tart pan with removable bottom., Bake 15-18 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove from oven; sprinkle baking chips evenly over bottom. Cool on a wire rack., In a saucepan, combine filling ingredients; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, simmer, uncovered, 10-15 minutes or until slightly thickened, stirring occasionally. Pour over baking chips., Bake 20-25 minutes or until filling is bubbly and crust is golden brown. Cool on a wire rack. Refrigerate 2 hours or until cold. , In a microwave, melt baking chips and shortening; stir until smooth. Drizzle over tart. Sprinkle with almonds.

FRESH BERRY & ALMOND TARTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°. On a lightly floured surface, unroll pastry sheets. Roll dough to 1/8-inch thickness. Cut each with a floured 3-in. cookie cutter to make eight circles or other shapes. Transfer to ungreased baking sheets; prick holes in pastries with a fork., Bake 8-10 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from pans to wire racks to cool completely., Meanwhile, in a small bowl, mix cream cheese, confectioners' sugar and almond extract until blended. Spread over cooled pastries. Top with berries, pressing lightly to adhere. Sprinkle with almonds and, if desired, confectioners' sugar. Refrigerate leftovers.