Indulge in a culinary journey with Chez Panisse's Almond Tart, a symphony of flavors and textures that will tantalize your taste buds. This classic tart features a buttery, flaky crust enveloping a luscious almond filling, crowned with a delicate layer of apricot glaze. With its origins in the renowned Chez Panisse restaurant, this recipe embodies the essence of California cuisine, emphasizing fresh, seasonal ingredients and culinary artistry.
The article presents a collection of recipes that guide you through the process of crafting this delectable dessert. From the Pate Brisee, a versatile pastry dough that forms the tart's sturdy foundation, to the creamy almond filling and the finishing touch of apricot glaze, each recipe is meticulously explained with step-by-step instructions. Additionally, the article offers variations to customize your tart, including a gluten-free crust option and suggestions for alternative fillings, such as plum or raspberry, allowing you to explore a range of flavors.
CHEZ PANISSE ALMOND CARAMEL TART
Although French baking is kind of my playground, I enjoy taking on a challenge once in a while. And this week, I decided it was time for me to tackle the infamous Chez Panisse Almond Caramel Tart. Truth is, I had never heard of this Caramel Almond Tart up until a few months ago, when I started to really dig into French food writers and cooks operating from or hailing from North America. I discovered this recipe on David Lebovitz's blog, which I learnt is incredibly famous (but not at...
Provided by Audrey
Categories Recipes
Yield 1 tart (8 people)
Number Of Ingredients 4
Steps:
- For the tart dough:
- In a large mixing bowl or in a food processor, mix the flour and sugar together. Add the butter and mix (or pulse) until the butter is just incorporated, with tiny bits still visible. Add the water and extracts and mix until the dough just comes together (do not overmix!).
- Press into a flat disk, wrap in a plastic film and chill thoroughly in the fridge for about 30 minutes.
- Let the dough come to room temperature and press it into a 9" spring form tart shell using your hand/palm first, and then your finger tips to even out the dough on the bottom and the sides.
- Put the tart shell in the freezer and chill thoroughly again (for about 20 minutes).
- When ready, pre-heat the oven to 375F. Bake the shell for about 25 minutes, until the edges turn lightly golden.
- Meanwhile, prepare the tart filling.
- In a big pot, heat up the cream, sugar and salt together. Cook until the mix starts to foam up. Remove from the heat immediately and stir in the almonds, along with the almond extract and the liquor of your choice.
- Mix with a spatula, making sure all the almonds are evenly coated. Scrape the filling into the tart shell (that should still be warm), stopping slightly below the edge of the crust (do not overfill!). Distribute the almonds evenly with a spatula, making sure there is no clumps. Place the tart in the oven, with a sheet of foil underneath to catch any spills (the filling will bubble while baking).
- Bake for 30 to 35 minutes,until the top is a nice shade of creamy caramel (it will continue to darken after you take it out of the oven).
- 10 minutes later (allowing the tart to set a bit), loosen the sides of the pan with a knife and then remove the tart from the ring. Transfer the tart to a cooling rack.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 200, Fat 20 grams
ALMOND CAKE WITH PEACHES AND CREAM
This tender, golden cake, adapted from Lindsey Shere's "Chez Panisse Desserts," walks the line between dense and light, with a fine, moist crumb and deep marzipan flavor that comes from a combination of homemade almond paste and a touch of almond extract. Easily made in a food processor, it's a versatile cake that you can dress up any way you like. Here, it's topped with peaches and cream, but it's just as good with berries, nectarines, plums or poached pears. Or leave it plain for a more restrained dessert or afternoon snack. You can vary the nuts for the paste here, too. Substitute unsalted roasted almonds for a toasty, earthy flavor; hazelnuts for woodsy notes; and pistachios plus a dash of orange blossom water for a heady, floral notes. This cake will keep for up to two days well wrapped at room temperature or five days in the fridge.
Provided by Melissa Clark
Categories cakes, dessert
Time 1h30m
Yield 10 to 12 servings
Number Of Ingredients 12
Steps:
- Heat oven to 325 degrees. Butter and lightly flour a 9- or 10-inch springform pan.
- Place almond flour and confectioners' sugar in a food processor and pulse to combine. Add egg white, almond extract and 1/4 teaspoon salt, and process until it all forms a paste.
- Add granulated sugar to the food processor and pulse until everything is well combined and crumbly. Add butter and vanilla, and continue processing until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. With the machine running, add eggs one at a time, processing until smooth between eggs.
- Stop the machine, scrape down the sides with a rubber spatula, and add flour, baking powder and remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt. Pulse a few times, until the dry ingredients are just integrated. (Be careful not to overprocess.)
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake until the cake is golden on top and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 60 to 70 minutes for a 10-inch pan and 70 to 80 minutes for a 9-inch pan. Transfer the pan to a wire rack and let cake cool completely before unmolding and serving.
- Put the peach slices in a bowl and taste a slice. If they seem tart, sprinkle peaches with a little confectioners' sugar.
- Just before serving, dust the top of the cake with confectioners' sugar. You can serve slices of the cake with the peaches and cream on the side or dollop some whipped cream on top of the cake and top with the peaches before cutting.
CHEZ PANISSE ALMOND TART
Steps:
- Instructions for preparing tart filling: 1. To bake the tart, line the rack under the one you plan to use with a sheet of aluminum foil to catch any spills. 2. Heat the cream, sugar, & salt in a big, wide heavy-duty pot (use one that's at least 4 qts,) until it begins to boil. Continue to cook & when it starts to foam up, remove it from the heat & stir in the almonds, the extract, & liquor. 3. Scrape the filling into the shell. If there's a bit too much filling, don't toss it; in case the tart leaks, you can use it to add more. Make sure there's no clumps or piles of almonds & that everything is evenly distributed, then put the filled tart shell into oven. 4. After the first 10 min., check the tart. Take a heatproof rubber spatula, holding it diagonally & with a tapping motion, break up the surface of the tart. Doing this is important since it avoids the top of the tart getting that 'corn flaky' look. Be sure to give the filling a good series of 'taps'-not enough to break the tart shell pastry underneath, but it's important to break up the surface crust that's forming. 5. Continue to cook, checking the tart every 5-8 minutes, & break up any dry crust that may be forming, getting less aggressive as the filling sets up. As it begins to caramelize, stop tapping it & let the tart do its thing. 6. Remove the tart from the oven when the filling is the color of coffee with a light touch of cream in it & there are no large pockets of gooey white filling, about 30 min. Let the tart cool a few minutes on a cooling rack. 7. Check & see if the tart has fastened itself to the tart ring. Slide a knife between the tart & the pan to loosen it so the sides don't come off when you remove the ring. 8. To remove the ring rest the tart on top of a solid object & gently coax the ring off. Slip a large spatula underneath it to return the tart to a cooling rack.
Tips:
- To make the crust, use a food processor to combine the flour, sugar, butter, and salt. Pulse until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- Press the dough into a 9-inch tart pan with removable bottom. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown.
- To make the filling, combine the eggs, sugar, almond flour, butter, and lemon zest in a bowl. Whisk until smooth.
- Pour the filling into the prepared crust. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the filling is set.
- Let the tart cool completely before serving.
Conclusion:
This classic almond tart is a delicious and elegant dessert that is perfect for any occasion. The almond filling is rich and flavorful, while the crust is buttery and flaky. With its simple ingredients and straightforward instructions, this tart is a great choice for both experienced and novice bakers. Whether you're looking for a special dessert to serve at a dinner party or a simple treat to enjoy with your family, this almond tart is sure to please everyone.
Are you curently on diet or you just want to control your food's nutritions, ingredients? We will help you find recipes by cooking method, nutrition, ingredients...
Check it out »
You'll also love