Almond Frangipane Tart with Vanilla and Honey Glazed Nectarines
January 6, 2012
Confession. I’ve made this tart 4 times in the last 10 days. I love it that much.
You see, while I knew exactly what I wanted to cook for Christmas dinner, I came up blank when I was planning dessert. I wasn’t in the mood for chocolate, ice cream was out of the question without my machine and I had my fill of puddings and cakes. But to not have dessert to cap off the night? Unthinkable.
So in between slow roasting a cider pork, I threw this together on a whim with what I had in my kitchen. I used my favourite buttery pastry and wrangled it into a tart tin (damn my hot kitchen was not pastry friendly!). Then I whipped up a simple almond frangipane fragranced with Grand Marnier and vanilla to fill the tart with.
I was meant to serve it with fresh nectarines and peaches but they weren’t ripe or sweet enough so to bring out its natural flavour, I glazed them up with a light vanilla and honey syrup and served it on top of the tart. Dessert was obliterated within minutes.
The Captain, who has the biggest aversion to ‘fake’ almond flavours was a little hesitant at the thought of frangipane but he was converted in no time. The buttery nuttiness of the frangipane just works brilliantly with the sweet shortbread-like pastry and the vanilla honey tinged stone fruit. If there was ever a perfect summer tart, this would be mine.
Proof that sometimes, impulse and spontaneity is a good thing.
Almond Frangipane Tart with Vanilla and Honey Glazed Nectarines
2013-03-02 04:48:17
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Buttery Shortbread Pastry (Pate Sablé)
125g plain flour
50g icing sugar
pinch of salt
100g butter, cold and chopped
1 egg yolk
Instructions
In a food processor, add the flour, sugar and salt and give it a quick whirl to mix. Add chopped cubes of cold butter and process until it roughly resembles breadcrumbs. Add the yolks and process until the dough comes together.
Pat dough together into a round disk and wrap well in clingfilm (you might need a little sprinkle of flour if dough gets too soft or warm). Refrigerate until ready to use or until well chilled.
Lightly grease a 20cm loose-bottomed fluted tart tin. Roll pastry between two sheets of non-stick baking paper to a circle roughly 25-26cm in diameter and about 3mm thick.
Wrap dough around the rolling pin removing the baking paper from the bottom as you do so. Line the tin and tuck in the pastry into the sides and bottom. Remove the top sheet and run the rolling pin over the top of the tin to cut off the excess.
Use excess dough to patch up any holes or flaws. If the dough gets too warm and soft, refrigerate for 5-10 minutes to firm up.
Chill pastry for at least an hour.
Preheat oven to 180°C. Scrunch up a sheet of baking paper and lay on top of the tart shell. Fill with ceramic pie weights and blind bake for 15-20 minutes or until cooked, lightly golden and the bottom is ‘dry’.
Remove the baking paper and weights and bake for another 3-5 minutes until lightly golden. Remove from oven and cool on wire rack.
Note: This is a really buttery pastry so it isn’t exactly summer/humidity friendly. Be sure to refrigerate as soon as the pastry softens too much to make it easier to work with and rest it adequately to prevent shrinkage in the oven. It definitely needs to be rolled between two sheets of baking paper but don’t worry if you mess up a little when lining the tin. You easily can use the pastry to patch up any holes or mistakes.
Makes more than enough for 2 tarts (you can freeze half of it for next time or use for another recipe)
150g butter, slightly softened
150g icing sugar
150g almond meal
2 eggs
1 egg yolk
20ml Grand Marnier
1 tsp vanilla extract
30g plain flour
Instructions
Cream butter and sugar until pale, light and fluffy (at least 5 minutes). Add the almond meal and beat until mixed. Add the eggs, Grand Marnier, vanilla and flour and beat until combined.
Mixture can be refrigerated covered for a couple of days or frozen. Allow the mixture to come to room temperature to soften before adding to pastry case.
Spoon enough frangipane into your cooled shortbread pastry case and use an offset spatula to even it out (do not fill more than 0.5 cm below the top of pastry case).
Bake in a preheated 180°C oven for around 15 minutes until frangipane is puffed, cooked through and lightly golden (it’s ready when the centre springs back).
Remove tart and cool on wire rack.
Brush the surface of the warm tart with some warmed apricot jam then shower with sifted icing sugar. Allow to cool completely.
Tart is best served on the day but can be stored for a short time in an airtight container.
About 4 yellow nectarines (or plums or peaches), ripe but slightly firm
100ml freshly squeezed orange juice, strained
1 Tbl of honey
1-2 Tbl caster sugar
1 small vanilla bean, seeds scraped (reserve pod for another use or add it to salt or sugar)
Instructions
If you wish to peel your nectarines, bring a pot of water to a boil (enough to cover the fruits). Meanwhile set aside a large bowl of iced water. With a paring knife, score the bottom of the nectarines with a small cross.
When the water has boiled, turn off the heat and add the fruits making sure it’s submerged. Blanch for about 40 seconds (depends on how ripe it is).
Remove with slotted spoon and immediately plunge in bowl of ice water and leave for about 20 seconds to stop it from cooking. Remove the loosened skins, remove the stone and cut into thick wedges.
In a pan over medium heat, bring the juice, honey and sugar to a simmer and cook until reduced by half or until it’s a syrup consistency. Stir through the vanilla seeds.
Add the cut fruit and cook, stirring occasionally for a couple of minutes until warmed through.
Serve with the tart with extra nectarine syrup and a dollop of double cream.
IF you made it so many times in a span of 10 days, it surely has to be that good. Have to have a go at this one! =) Tina @ bitemeshowme recently posted..Pho Tau Bay, Cabramatta
OH MY GOODNESS, i’m in love with your almond frangipane tart. can it get any better? and gorgous photos, thanks for this mouthwatering post, i will pin it to my pinterest board in a sec. xo Helene @ Homebound recently posted..{new girl in town}
Mmm I love the sound of the honey glazed nectarines with a super short, buttery pastry. Nectarines are so good at the moment too! Steph recently posted..Chocolate ‘Cupcake’ Fudge
Love the new look Karen! I love stone fruit and sweetened with a little honey and vanilla makes them even tastier! Jacq recently posted..Penguin says Feed Me in 2011!
I love the new look – especially the colour!
I’m also not a fan of fake almond flavours but wow 4 times in 10 days you have me convinced… I will have to try this!
This tart looks so delicious! I have a crush with your blog, really, such beautiful photography and recipes *-* Sylvia @ My Lovely Bites recently posted..Cookie Wedding Cake
Just as I was hoping to find some more nectarine recipes – this pops up! thank you, perfection.
they are so beautiful this summer in Sydney. Laura recently posted..White rocky road
What a fantastic recipe and how beautiful are your images! Congrats! I love the look of your tart and I will definitely be giving your recipe a try. I’ve been looking for something exactly like this to take to BBQ dinners and picnics on the beach etc. Hotly Spiced recently posted..Life Experience
Good Freaking Gawd, that is the most wonderful sounding tart!! I adore your ingredients (shame to admit it, but it’s true I am an almond O’Holic! Can’t believe you made this 4 times in 10 days, oh wait….we are dealing with almonds. I totally believe you and can’t wait to make this. Thanks ever so much.
Kathleen
I love frangipane but don’t like “marzipan”…does that make sense. Mmmm…that you flavoured it with Grand Marnier…everything sounds and looks so good! A wonderful creation Karen. Peter G | Souvlaki For The Soul recently posted..Photo Friday-a tale of two sandwiches
I’m totally making this! Everything about it sounds wonderful and your photos are just gorgeous. Lisa recently posted..Fresh Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream
This looks utterly delicious – I can never resist anything almondy! Love the vanilla honey peaches for the top as well, so pretty. Lucy recently posted..William Curley Chocolate Tarts
Wow! Everything looks so yummy more especially this frangipane tarts! I will do this on weekend. My kids will surely love this as much as I would! Melissa034 recently posted..Celebrity fitness: Eva Mendes’s body
{ 31 comments… read them below or add one }
IF you made it so many times in a span of 10 days, it surely has to be that good. Have to have a go at this one! =)
Tina @ bitemeshowme recently posted..Pho Tau Bay, Cabramatta
OH MY GOODNESS, i’m in love with your almond frangipane tart. can it get any better? and gorgous photos, thanks for this mouthwatering post, i will pin it to my pinterest board in a sec. xo
Helene @ Homebound recently posted..{new girl in town}
Mmm I love the sound of the honey glazed nectarines with a super short, buttery pastry. Nectarines are so good at the moment too!
Steph recently posted..Chocolate ‘Cupcake’ Fudge
This looks amazing! I love frangipane but have never thought of making it myself… must try this recipe one day.
Beautiful photos too! That photo of the stone fruits has such beautiful colours!
mel @ crunchytiger recently posted..Zay and Mel’s Fun Punch! (Alcoholic fruit punch)
Yum! Love the addition of fresh fruit to this tart
Phuoc’n Delicious recently posted..Vietnamese coffee ice cream
Love the new look Karen! I love stone fruit and sweetened with a little honey and vanilla makes them even tastier!
Jacq recently posted..Penguin says Feed Me in 2011!
I love the new look – especially the colour!
I’m also not a fan of fake almond flavours but wow 4 times in 10 days you have me convinced… I will have to try this!
This tart looks so delicious! I have a crush with your blog, really, such beautiful photography and recipes *-*
Sylvia @ My Lovely Bites recently posted..Cookie Wedding Cake
*blush* thanks so much Sylvia! :D
Just as I was hoping to find some more nectarine recipes – this pops up! thank you, perfection.
they are so beautiful this summer in Sydney.
Laura recently posted..White rocky road
What a fantastic recipe and how beautiful are your images! Congrats! I love the look of your tart and I will definitely be giving your recipe a try. I’ve been looking for something exactly like this to take to BBQ dinners and picnics on the beach etc.
Hotly Spiced recently posted..Life Experience
I can’t believe how good it looks, as always your presentation is beautiful
beti recently posted..Focaccia
A timeless classic…and it looks absolutely gorgeous!
it looks so good :) making me hungry
Amelia recently posted..Most days of the year are unremarkable
Good Freaking Gawd, that is the most wonderful sounding tart!! I adore your ingredients (shame to admit it, but it’s true I am an almond O’Holic! Can’t believe you made this 4 times in 10 days, oh wait….we are dealing with almonds. I totally believe you and can’t wait to make this. Thanks ever so much.
Kathleen
Happy New Year Karen!
Mmm love frangipan tarts! Sometimes the best things we make seem to be on the whim ;)
Angie recently posted..Etch Restaurant – New Year’s Eve Dinner, and the year that was
ooh! i’d love to try this one with the peaches i have growing in the backyard! :)
Anita Nervosa recently posted..The winner takes all (the honey!!).
This looks absolutely stunning – your food and photos just keeping getting better and better, Karen.
DROOL!
Love the new site design, btw! It puts the focus right on your gorgeous pics :D
I love frangipane but don’t like “marzipan”…does that make sense. Mmmm…that you flavoured it with Grand Marnier…everything sounds and looks so good! A wonderful creation Karen.
Peter G | Souvlaki For The Soul recently posted..Photo Friday-a tale of two sandwiches
Hmmm this looks fab…I love almonds. 4 times in 10 days it must be good!!
Great photos too.
I’m totally making this! Everything about it sounds wonderful and your photos are just gorgeous.
Lisa recently posted..Fresh Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream
This looks utterly delicious – I can never resist anything almondy! Love the vanilla honey peaches for the top as well, so pretty.
Lucy recently posted..William Curley Chocolate Tarts
4 times – really?! I thought me making tarts 3 days in a row was bad but this sure looks good enough to make 4 times! Now, if only I can get my hands on nectarines somewhere…
Janine recently posted..Healthy CNY cookies #1: Pseudo-Pineapple Tarts for Diabetics – Apple Tarts
Frangipane is the stuff of my dessert dreams!
Now, care to share what happened to Mr Snowy?
Rita (mademoiselle délicieuse) recently posted..An experimental sous-vide dinner
Wow! Everything looks so yummy more especially this frangipane tarts! I will do this on weekend. My kids will surely love this as much as I would!
Melissa034 recently posted..Celebrity fitness: Eva Mendes’s body
It looks so amazing and delicious and the photography is very artistic. I will definitely try this recipe one day. Thanks for sharing this mouthwatering post and job well done.
Akishya recently posted..Happy New Year To All Of You And Hope You Like The Aquarium Fish Photos Here …
The recipe is so mouth watering, especially the peace and apple pie. My stomach is looking craving for it now!
gabby recently posted..The best Diet solutions to supplement weight loss
This looks an awesome recipe and perfect for a family day!
Maegan87 recently posted..mis sold ppi
Hi, your recipe looks awesome. Would this work with caramelised apples instead of the nectarines on top?
Hi Amy, absolutely you can replace the nectarines with any fruits you like, fresh or caramelised :)
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