Gourmandistan

Picking up a little blueberry almond tart

Blueberry Almond Tarts

This universe is vast and full of mysteries, replete with bosons, gluons, quarks and other micro-matter. So Steve understands that, possibly on some subatomic level, there could exist a condition known as “too much pie.” This theoretical event horizon, however, exists beyond any pie plate Steve might find himself within reach of. Not that Steve will eat an entire pie in one sitting—that would be gluttonous (besides Steve has usually stuffed himself on savories by the time dessert rolls around). But excess pie (along with crumble, cake and countless other good things) can expose one of the scientific controversies of Gourmandistan: the half-life of leftovers.

Blueberry Almond Tarts

Michelle may stand for one reheated “second serving” of pies or crumbles, believing the pastry, fruit and other components can’t match their just-from-the-oven excellence. Steve, on the other hand, can enjoy a cobbler for days—the soggy bits of pastry, soppy juices and deflated bits of fruit eaten as extra desserts, late night snacks or yogurt topping. He will usually not push the envelope of eatability too far, so we still see (in Steve’s mind, at least) too many good things go to the chickens. The solution? Shrink a classic French tart and give it a twist with some blueberries (you froze some last summer, didn’t you?), almonds and a sassy hit of almond liqueur. These little babies are big enough to split, yet small enough to eat out of hand when they’re a day or two old—at least, if you’re Steve and believe affinage pastry can be just about as good as fresh-baked.

Blueberry Almond Tart

BLUEBERRY ALMOND TARTS

  • Servings: makes four 4-1/2 inch tarts
  • Print
  • Pie crust dough for a one-crust pie (such as this pâte brisée recipe)
  • 1 large egg
  • 5 TB sugar
  • 1/2 c. crème fraîche
  • 1/4 c. heavy cream
  • 1 t. vanilla extract
  • 1-1/2 TB Amaretto or other almond liqueur
  • 1/4 c. finely ground almonds
  • 2 c. blueberries
  • Confectioners’ sugar (optional)

Equipment needed:  four 4-1/2″ tart pans with removable bottoms.   (NOTE: You can make this recipe into one 10″ or 10-1/2″ tart.  Add a few more blueberries, and increase cooking time accordingly.)

Preheat oven to 375°.

Divide pie crust dough into four equal parts and shape into disks.  After chilling in refrigerator, roll out one disk on a lightly floured sheet of waxed paper, to a circle a couple of inches larger than the tart pan you are using.  Transfer the rolled-out dough to a tart pan, patting into the corners and loosely up the sides.  Trim the overhang, leaving about 1/2″ to 3/4″ outside the pan circumference.  Fold over and push the dough into the sides of the pan, making sure that the dough sides are slightly higher than the rim of the pan.  Prick the crust with the tines of a fork and refrigerate or freeze.  Continue with the remaining three dough disks.

Line the pie crusts loosely with aluminum foil and fill with pie weights or dried beans.  Place them on a cookie sheet.  Bake for about 15 minutes.  Remove foil and weights and continue to bake for 8-10 minutes more, until the crusts are lightly browned all over.  Remove from oven and cool on a rack.

Whisk egg, sugar, crème fraîche, cream, vanilla and Amaretto together in a bowl.

Arrange the blueberries in the partially-baked crusts.  Pour the filling mixture over.

Bake for 35 to 40 minutes in the middle of the oven, until filling is set and crusts are browned.  Cool on a rack.  When cool, remove tart rings.

Sift confectioners’ sugar over before serving, if desired.

 

47 comments

    • Michelle

      I am someday going to try all the teeny little tart pans I have in a drawer. But they don’t have removable bottoms, and I’m sort of frightened of them. Thanks for stopping by.

      Reply
  8. daisy

    I love making mini or smaller-sized desserts. It is a good way to control portion size and they’re so cute, like your tarts. I love this combo of flavors.
    daisy

    Reply
  9. ChgoJohn

    Seeing the words “almond” and “tart” in this post’s title got an immediate “like” without reading any further. A fruit or berry tart just isn’t right unless there’s a little almond thrown into the mix. Best of all is their size. Perfect. I knew those 3 lbs. of blueberries in my freezer would come in handy for something other than ice cream 🙂

    Reply
  11. emmycooks

    I am with Steve on both the aged pastry and the extra desserts. I’m also on the little-pie bandwagon, with thin-rolled crust to compensate for the higher ratio of crust to filling. (Why yes, I have given this topic a good deal of thought.) Mmm, pie.

    Reply
  17. Susan

    Love these. I rarely make custard tarts, for no particularly good reason, since they are so delicious. I love the creme fraiche frangipane thing in this recipe. I also like and approve of Steve’s “smaller tarts = finger food” rationale.

    Reply

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  20. baconbiscuit212

    I do not understand “big enough to split” 😉

    Looks amazing as usual! I am not the biggest dessert person, but I cannot resist pie. I. Love. Pie. Which is why it’s never in the house. Because I would be so gluttonous!

    Reply
  21. peasepudding

    I’m not a big fan of seconds but we have just adopted some chickens which hubby adores so he happily gives the leftovers to them. Have a wonderful Christmas. Alli

    Reply

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