I wanted to try a different version of an old favourite combining different elements of several cakes that are sumptuous and decadent: the frangipance of bakewell tarts, the richness of the currant mix in mince pies and the melted marzipan inside a Simnel cake. With those in mind, I've created my own Christmas Bakewell Tarts.
Ingredients:
- Shortcrust pastry:
- 125g/4oz plain flour
- pinch of salt
- 55g/2oz butter, cubed
- 30-45ml/2-3 tbsp cold water
- 2oz ground almonds
- 1oz caster sugar
- Frangipane filling:
- 125g butter
- 125g caster sugar
- 2 eggs
- 125g ground almonds
- 1 tsp of Nielsen Massey almond extract
- 1tbsp plain flour
- currants, raisins and cherries roughly chopped in a food processor for thirty seconds (I'm using this instead of mincemeat as The Boy doesn't like that)
- marzipan
- Make the shortcrust pastry in the traditional way (rub butter, flour, salt, sugar and almonds together, then add a few drops of water at a time until it binds together).
- Cut out circles and place them into a small muffin tin. Trim off the excess pastry and put a layer of baking beads over the base and cook for 8 minutes at 180°C.
- While this is blind-baking in the oven, make the frangipane mix.
- Cream the sugar and butter, add the eggs, mix in the flour and ground almonds, with a teaspoon of almond essence. Mix thoroughly.
- Once the tart cases have cooked, remove the baking beads carefully (they're hot!) and place a small circle of marzipan in each one.
- Place a teaspoon of currant mix on top, and then put a spoonful of frangipane mix on the top of each tart case.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes at 180°C until a skewer/knife comes out clean.
- Sift icing sugar over the top.
For a change I thought I'd video this cooking session. Mainly because cooking with a three year old is fun and I wanted to share that.
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Linking up to Recipe of The Week
Nom nom, very clever combination. And I just know this will work
Aww he's doing so well. Such a cute video x
Don't these tarts look tasty! Love the look of concentration on The Boy's face when he's eating them, bless him.
they look lovely, I've never actually made bakewell tarts…might have to make some with more of my mincemeat – oh & the florentines are lovely, and so easy!
Mmmm these do sound like something I wold enjoy eating! And what a great baker the boy is! He is concentrating so hard and does such a fab job!
ooohhh these sound delicious, will need to buy some marzipan and try them
Wonderful, it's the almonds that gets me every time, I am a sucker for anything with almonds. Just become the main ingredient in my new Christmas cake!
He;s really good at mixing, very cute video. The finished tarts look very scrummy too!
Really love the sound of these (and Mr Mischief is super gorgeous!) x
Ohhhh yumm these look fantastic. I love a good bakewell. I regularly drive through the place of the same name and they call it pudding there…even though its blatantly a tart. It tastes amazing though 🙂
These look so good I can't wait to bake them with the kids. Thanks for linking up to #recipeoftheweek. Have Pinned and tweeted this post and there's a fresh linky live now 🙂