Dried Fruit And Almond Tart Recipes

STOLLEN FRUIT TART OR ALMOND TART

Steps:

• Combine dried fruit, orange juice, cognac, and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring; reduce heat and simmer 2 minutes. Let cool, 15 minutes.
• Cut marzipan into chunks. In a food processor, puree marzipan, egg, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt.
• Butter two 10-inch tart pans with removable bottoms. Divide dough in half. Roll out one half (keep other half refrigerated) on a lightly floured surface to an 11-inch circle. Fit into bottom and up sides of a prepared pan. Fill with half of marzipan, then half of fruit mixture (or almonds for almond tart). Repeat with remaining dough and filling. Drape with buttered plastic wrap. Let rise in a warm spot until almost doubled, about 45 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees with racks in upper and lower thirds. Bake tarts, rotating pans once, until golden brown, about 20 minutes (15 minutes for almond tart). Let cool slightly on a wire rack before serving.

MIXED FRUIT ALMOND TART

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375°F.
• Make the crust: Grease the sides and bottom of a 9-inch tart pan with nonstick cooking spray. Place the nuts into the bowl of a food processor. Pulse until nuts are finely ground. Add remaining butter and sugar and pulse until the dough resembles coarse crumbs. Use your fingers and the flat bottom of a drinking glass to press the dough into an even layer in the bottom and up the sides of a 9-inch tart pan. Place the pan in the center of the oven and bake until the tart is firm and golden brown, 12-15 minutes. Set aside.
• Make the almond cream: Whisk the sugar, flour and egg yolks until thick and smooth in a medium bowl. Bring the milk and almond extract to a gentle boil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Pour about 1/2 of the milk mixture into the egg mixture, whisking constantly, then pour the whole mix back into the pot. Cook over medium heat, stirring with a wooden spoon, until the mixture thickens, 5-8 minutes. Stir this mixture constantly, scraping the bottom as you stir, so the flour doesn't stick to the bottom and burn. Pour the mixture onto a baking sheet lined with plastic wrap and cover it with a coating of plastic wrap so that it doesn't form a "skin". Refrigerate until completely cooled.
• Assemble the tart: Place the tart bottom on a serving platter. Spoon the pastry cream on top. Arrange the kiwi slices, raspberries and blueberries on top of the pastry cream and brush with the jam until the fruit is coated with it. Sprinkle with the remaining 1/4 cup of sliced almonds.
• Note: You can use a 9-inch springform pan in place of the tart pan, if desired. Build the crust so that it is one inch high on the sides of the pan.

PRUNE, CHERRY, AND APRICOT FRANGIPANE TART

Steps:

• Make dried-fruit compote:
• Heat grappa with sugar in a medium saucepan over low heat, stirring, until sugar has dissolved. Add fruit and gently simmer 1 minute. Remove from heat and let macerate, stirring occasionally, 24 hours.
• Make tart shell:
• Set flan ring on a parchment-paper-lined baking sheet. (If using a tart pan, parchment is not necessary.) Roll out dough on a lightly floured surface with a lightly floured rolling pin into a 13-inch round, then fit into flan ring and trim excess dough. Chill until firm, at least 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 375°F with rack in middle.
• Lightly prick bottom of shell all over with a fork, then line with foil and fill with pie weights. Bake until side is set and edge is pale golden, 18 to 20 minutes. Remove foil and weights and bake until bottom is golden, about 10 minutes more. Cool completely in pan, about 30 minutes. Leave oven on.
• Make frangipane filling and bake tart:
• Beat almond paste, butter, sugar, extract, and salt in a bowl with an electric mixer at medium speed 3 minutes. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition, then beat in flour.
• Spread frangipane filling in cooled shell. Drain fruit in a sieve set over a bowl, reserving syrup, and scatter fruit over filling, pressing in slightly. Bake until puffed and golden, 30 to 40 minutes. Transfer tart on parchment to a rack. Brush reserved syrup over tart and cool to warm or room temperature.

DRIED TART CHERRY AND ALMOND MUFFINS

Steps:

• Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 375°F. Butter ten 1/3-cup metal muffin cups. Bring juice to simmer in small saucepan. Remove from heat. Add cherries; let stand until softened, about 10 minutes.
• Mix flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in medium bowl. Using electric mixer, beat almond paste and melted butter in large bowl until well blended (mixture will still have some small pieces of almond paste). Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in cherry mixture and orange peel. Add flour mixture and mix just until blended.
• Divide batter among prepared muffin cups. Bake until tester inserted into center of muffins comes out clean but slightly moist to touch, about 20 minutes. (Can be prepared 2 days ahead. Cool. Wrap muffins in foil and store at room temperature. Rewarm in foil in 350°F oven 5 minutes.) Serve warm.