This classic British treat is a must-try for all baking fans. Although a little tricky it will certainly impress as tea parties.
What You’ll Need:
For the sweet shortcrust pastry:
- 430g plain flour
- 1tsp salt
- 280g unsalted butter, cold
- 130g icing sugar
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- 2 large Baking Egg yolks
- 2 large Baking Eggs
For the frangipane:
- 220g caster sugar
- 220g unsalted butter, softened
- 1tsp almond extract
- 170g ground almonds
- 50g plain flour
- 4 large Baking Eggs
For the filling:
- ½ jar morello cherry preserve
For the topping:
- 200g icing sugar
- 4tbsp water
- 100g flaked almonds
- 16 cherries
What To Do:
- To make the pastry, sift the flour and the salt together. Rub the butter into the flour with your fingers until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Mix the sugar and lemon zest into the mixture. Add the egg yolks and eggs. Work everything together, wrap in cling film and refrigerate for 1 hour.
- To make the frangipane, mix the ground almonds and plain flour together, set aside. Cream the butter and sugar until pale. Add one egg at a time into the butter and sugar mixture, sprinkle a little of the flour mix into the wet ingredients to help the eggs bind. Once well incorporated, fold in the rest of the dry ingredients.
- Grease 16 tart moulds with vegetable shortening or butter (you can also use a muffin tin). Roll out the pastry and line the tart moulds with it. Spoon 1 teaspoon of cherry jam into the base of each mould. Pour the frangipane mixture into a piping bag and pipe it over the top of the cherry jam. Bake in the oven for 35 minutes until the pastry is golden and cooked through. Remove from the oven and transfer onto a wire rack to cool completely.
- To make the topping, toast the flaked almonds in the oven for 5 minutes. Mix the icing sugar with 4 tablespoons of water and stir until you have a thick paste. Spoon the paste over the tops of the cooled bakewells and sprinkle the flaked almonds on top. Garnish with a cherry.
Recipe from www.ellavalentine.co.uk.