Traditional Bakewell Tart Recipes

BAKEWELL TARTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). Arrange tart shells on a baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 6 minutes. Remove shells from oven and cool. Reduce oven temperature to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Spoon 1 teaspoon raspberry jam into the bottom of each tart shell.
• Beat butter and white sugar together in a bowl with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy. Add flour, egg, baking powder, and almond extract and mix well. Spoon 1 tablespoon butter mixture on top of raspberry jam layer.
• Bake tarts in the preheated oven until filling is bubbling, 25 to 30 minutes.
• Stir confectioners' sugar and water together in a bowl until icing is smooth; drizzle over warm tarts.

BAKEWELL TARTS

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Lightly butter a 12 hole muffin tin. Unroll the sheet of pastry and use a 10cm circular pastry cutter to cut 12 circles out of the pastry sheet. Press the cut circles into the holes of the tin, making sure they come right up and slightly over the top - pushing out any creases. Chill the pastry in the fridge for 20mins. Scrunch up 10cm x 10cm squares of baking paper and then un-scrunch and use to line each of the pastry tarts, then fill with baking beans, rice or dried pulses. Bake for 10 mins, then remove the paper and beans and bake for 10 mins longer, until golden brown. Set aside to cool a little.
• Make the filling by beating together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, then whisk in the egg, followed by the flour (the flour will prevent the mixture from splitting). Fold in the ground almonds. Spoon a level tsp of cherry jam into each of the pastry shells, followed by a tablespoon of the frangipane mixture. Bake for 20 mins, until the frangipane is golden and springy. Set aside to cool completely. Neaten the edges of the pastry with a small knife or scissors if you like.
• Mix the icing sugar with 2 tbsp water. Spread the icing over each of the tarts, top each with a glacé cherry, leave to set for 20 mins, then serve with tea.

TRADITIONAL BAKEWELL TART

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients. Preheat the oven 325 F / 170 C / Gas 3.
• Sift the flour into a bowl.
• Add the butter and salt and rub into the flour with your fingertips until the mixture resembles sand (working as quickly as you can so the dough does not get warm).
• Add the water to the mixture, a little at a time, and, using a cold knife, stir until the dough binds together. You should have a soft, but not sticky, dough that has formed. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap, and chill for a minimum of 15 to 30 minutes.
• Gather the ingredients.
• Roll out the pastry on a lightly floured board to 1/4 inch thick.
• Grease and then line an 8-inch deep tart tin with the pastry. Prick the base all over with a fork. Chill in the refrigerator for 15 minutes.
• Line the tart case with parchment paper and fill with baking beans . Cook for 15 minutes or until the pastry is a pale golden color.
• Remove the baking beans, lightly brush the inside of the pastry case with a little egg white , and cook for a further 5 minutes.
• Spread the raspberry jam onto the base of the pastry case. Leave to cool.
• Cream the butter and sugar together until pale in color using an electric hand whisk.
• Add the beaten eggs and egg yolk a little at a time.
• Gently fold in the ground almonds and lemon zest.
• Pour the mixture into the pastry case and gently level the surface to ensure the whole case is filled. Place the tart tin on a baking sheet,
• Bake for 20 minutes, then sprinkle the flaked almonds onto the top of the tart.
• Bake for a further 20 minutes, or until golden and set.
• Leave to cool and serve with custard sauce or cream.

BAKEWELL TART

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. To make the pastry, put the flour in a food processor along with the salt and icing sugar. Blitz to combine. Add the butter and pulse in short bursts until it's the texture of fine breadcrumbs. Mix 4 tbsp cold water with the beaten eggs and drizzle into the mixture, then quickly pulse to combine. Tip out the crumbly mixture onto a work surface, then form into a puck, cover and chill for 30 mins.
• Roll the pastry out on a lightly floured surface to around 25cm, and to the thickness of a £1 coin. Line a 20cm fluted tart tin with the pastry, leaving the pastry to overhang. Add a large disc of baking parchment big enough to cover the edges, and some baking beans to weigh it down (use dried rice or lentils if you don't have baking beans). Bake for 15 mins, then remove the parchment and beans and bake for a further 7-10 mins or until the bottom is evenly cooked. Trim off any overhanging pastry with a serrated knife.
• For the filling, beat the butter and sugar until combined. Add the ground almonds, almond extract and eggs and beat for a further minute. Spread the jam over the pastry, then top with the almond filling. Scatter over the flaked almonds and bake for 25-30 mins until golden and firm. Leave to cool in the tin (or eat warm at this stage and leave out step 4).
• Mix together the icing sugar and 1-2 tsp water and drizzle over the tart. Slice and serve with cream or custard, if you like.