Recipe Archives->Pies->Almond Plum Tart 02

Plum and Almond Tart
                                                                                
2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
3/4 cup Sucanat
8 ounces unsalted butter, chilled and cut into small pieces
1 egg yolk
1 teaspoon salt
                                                                                
1 cup whole blanched almonds, finely ground
1/2 cup Sucanat (see Hints)
1 stick unsalted organic butter, room temperature
1 egg plus 1 white
2 teaspoons all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon cornstarch
1/2 vanilla bean, halved and scraped (or 1/2 tablespoon vanilla extract)
2 teaspoons almond extract
                                                                                
1 pound small plums, washed, halved and pitted (for larger plums, quartered)
2 tablespoons raw sugar
1/4 cup sliced almonds for garnish

Mix flour, Sucanat and salt in a food processor until combined.
Add the butter and pulse until butter pieces are pea-size.  Add egg
yolk and pulse until dough begins to clump--stop before it makes a
ball.  Press dough into a 10-inch tart pan with a removable bottom
and trim top of dough. (There will probably be some leftover.) Chill
in the freezer for 30 minutes.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line
shell with foil and fill with pie weights (or dried beans) and bake
tart shell for 10 minutes, remove foil and weights and bake for
another 10 minutes.

Put butter and Sucanat in food processor and combine well.  Add
ground almonds until combined.  Add flour and cornstarch, then egg
and egg white and process until very smooth (the Sucanat will still
be a little grainy).  Add vanilla and almond extract just to blend.

Spread frangipane (almond paste) in tart shell.  Arrange plums, cut
sides up, on top of frangipane spiral or concentric circles are
pretty, and gently press them in.  Sprinkle with sugar and place
in 350 degree oven.  Bake about 45 minutes or until golden.  Remove
and let cool on a wire racksprinkle with sliced almonds before
serving.

Note: Sucanat is a natural sweetener that is available at health
food stores or on-line.

Printable version: almond-plum-tart02.txt.