Marzipan Eccles Tarts Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil.
• Roll puff pastry out into a 14- to 15-inch circle on a floured surface. Place onto the prepared baking sheet.
• Place marzipan between 2 pieces of plastic wrap and roll into a circle about 11 inches in diameter. Remove plastic wrap and place marzipan in the center of the puff pastry.
• Toss apples, cornstarch, butter, flour, cinnamon, and nutmeg together in a large bowl. Add brown sugar and toss quickly.
• Arrange the apple slices in concentric circles onto the marzipan, leaving about 3 inches of pastry free at the edges. Pile the apple filling high up in layers and add all the dry bits remaining in the bowl. Sprinkle with pecans.
• Fold edges of the puff pastry up around the filling, leaving center open and pinching the edges where it overlaps. Press pastry gently around the filling to squeeze out any excess air in between. Brush a little egg around the top.
• Place in the preheated oven and immediately reduce the temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Bake until puff pastry is golden brown and apples are fork-tender, 35 to 40 minutes.

Steps:

• First, make the marzipan. Mix both sugars with the ground almonds and vanilla in a large bowl. Make a well in the middle. Reserve 1 tsp of the beaten egg in a small dish, then tip the rest into the well along with the lemon juice. Mix everything well, then mix in the cream, 1 tbsp at a time, until the mixture is spreadable (you may not need all the cream). Chill for 20 mins if it's too warm to spread properly, or greasy. Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6.
• Roll out the puff pastry on a baking tray lined with baking parchment, then score it lightly around the edges to create a 1.5cm border - be careful not to cut all the way through. Lightly score a diamond pattern over the middle to keep the pastry from rising in the centre during cooking.
• Spread the marzipan over the middle of the pastry, leaving the border clear (see tip, below). Top with the apricots, cut-side down. Brush the border with the reserved beaten egg, then bake for 15 mins. Scatter over the flaked almonds. Bake for 5-10 mins more until the almonds are golden and the pastry has cooked through.
• Warm the jam over a low heat, then brush it over the apricots. Cut into squares and serve warm with ice cream or cream. Will keep chilled for up to two days.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• On a floured surface, roll the pastry 3/8-inch thick and line a 10-inch flan ring with it. Place the ring on a parchment paper lined baking sheet and chill it until needed.
• Cream the butter and sugar lightly in an electric mixer; don't let the butter get too soft. Add the eggs and mix lightly.
• Stir in the liqueur, zest, and almond extract, then mix in the ground almonds.
• Pour into the chilled pastry shell and bake for 1 hour to 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until the pastry and marzipan are a deep golden brown.
• Remove the tart from the oven and let cool to room temperature.
• Brush the top of the tart with the currant jelly. Cover the top of the tart with sliced strawberries arranged in concentric circles or in a flower petal design, making certain the whole top of the tart is covered.
• Remove the flan ring and transfer the tart to a flat serving platter. Cut into wedges.
• Sugar Dough: 1 pound unsalted butter, slightly softened 3 1/3 cups (12 ounces) pastry flour 3 1/3 cups (12 ounces) all-purpose flour Pinch salt 3/4 cup (6 ounces) sugar 3 egg yolks 2 to 4 tablespoons heavy cream
• Cut the butter into large pieces and place the pieces in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle or dough hook.
• Add the pastry and all-purpose flour, salt, and sugar. Mix on low speed until the butter is evenly distributed throughout the flour.
• Add the egg yolks and cream. Continue to mix on low speed until the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl.
• Remove the dough and divide it into 2 pieces. Flatten each piece into a 6-inch round. Wrap in plastic and chill for at least 2 hours or overnight. Use as needed. The dough will remain fresh for 2 or 3 days in the refrigerator; or wrap securely in plastic, then in foil, and it will keep frozen for 2 to 3 months.
• Note: The dough may also be made in a food processor using the same technique, but make half a batch at a time for best results.
• To prepare the dough by hand, place the flours, sugar and salt in a large bowl or on a work surface. Mix together. Cut in the butter with your fingertips. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture. Pour in the egg yolks and cream. Using your fingertips, quickly work in the flour until the dough holds together. Form the dough into rounds, wrap it in plastic wrap and chill.
• Yield: 2 1/2 pounds

Steps:

• Crust:
• Combine butter, sugar and salt in a bowl. Beat in egg, then flour, 1/4 cup at a time, until you get a shaggy dough (it holds together loosely, but it's not smooth or elastic). Dust a surface with flour, transfer dough to surface and, with lightly floured fingers, knead once or twice until a sticky dough forms. Wrap in plastic wrap; refrigerate at least 40 minutes. Heat oven to 350°F. Divide dough in half; reserve half for Chocolate-Banana Tarts or freeze, well-wrapped, for another use. Divide remainder into 4 pieces. With lightly floured fingertips, press 1 piece into each tart pan, working dough up the sides evenly. (If dough tears on bottom, smooth dough over hole to close it up.) Prick pastry along bottom with a fork several times. Gently press a small square of foil into each pastry shell (do not press down hard). Top each with 1 tablespoon uncooked rice or dried beans (to prevent pastry from puffing up). Place on a baking sheet and bake 10 minutes. Remove foil and rice from each crust; discard. Return crust to oven; cook until golden, about 5 minutes more. Keep oven on.
• Filling:
• Combine butter and sugar. Beat in yolk, followed by flour, until combined. Beat in milk until incorporated. Divide filling among tart shells and bake until puffed, about 15 minutes.
• Fruit:
• Heat preserves with 1 tablespoon water in a small sauté pan over low heat until melted, about 3 minutes. Press through a sieve into a bowl. Let cool. Arrange about 7 raspberries on top of each tart. Brush glaze onto raspberries and drizzle remaining glaze over raspberries until covered. Serve immediately.

Steps:

• Dough:Whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Cut in butter with a pastry cutter or rub it in with your fingers until small bits remain. Stir in egg, and mix until a dough forms. Fit dough into a buttered 9-inch pie plate using plastic wrap or wet fingers. Spread 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons preserves on bottom of tart shell. Refrigerate until firm, about 20 minutes.
• Filling:Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Beat together butter, sugar, and extracts with a mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in nuts. Spread filling over preserves in tart shell.
• Bake tart until crust is deep golden brown and filling is set, 40 to 45 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack, and let cool completely, about 1 hour. Spread with remaining 1/4 cup preserves. Tart can be stored at room temperature, tented with foil, up to 1 day. Or, after tart cools, store it at room temperature, wrapped in plastic, then foil, up to 3 days; spread with preserves before serving.