This Apple and Almond Tart is a delightful twist on the traditional apple strudel, combining the crispness of a buttery tart crust with the warm, spiced flavors of apples, raisins, and cinnamon. The filling is enhanced with crunchy pine nuts, sweet apricot jam, and a hint of amaretto liqueur, all topped with a light and flaky shortcrust pastry. This tart brings together classic flavors in a new and comforting way, making it the perfect dessert for any occasion.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe:
This tart offers the perfect balance of textures and flavors—soft, spiced apple filling meets the crunchy pine nuts and crispy pastry. The addition of amaretto and apricot jam adds richness and depth, while the crumbled amaretti biscuits provide a delightful crunch. Easy to make and incredibly satisfying, this dessert is perfect for family gatherings or as a sweet treat to accompany your coffee or tea.
Perfect Occasion:
This Apple and Almond Tart is ideal for a holiday dessert, festive brunch, or a weekend family treat. With its warm, autumnal flavors and elegant presentation, it’s perfect for special occasions like Thanksgiving, Christmas, or even a cozy dinner party.
Decoration Tips:
Create a lattice design on top of the tart using extra pastry dough for a classic, rustic look. After baking, dust the tart with powdered sugar for an elegant touch. You can also glaze the top with some warmed apricot jam for added shine and flavor.
Ingredients:
For the Shortcrust Pastry:
- 500g all-purpose flour
- 230g cold butter, diced
- 200g sugar
- 1 egg
- 3 egg yolks
- Zest of 1 lemon
- Pinch of salt
For the Filling:
- 400g golden apples, diced
- 60g sugar
- 20g pine nuts
- 70g raisins, soaked and drained
- 3 tablespoons apricot jam
- 30g crumbled amaretti biscuits
- 2 tablespoons amaretto liqueur
- Pinch of cinnamon
Instructions:
- Prepare the Pastry: In a bowl, combine the flour and cold butter, working the mixture with your fingers or a food processor until it forms a crumbly texture. Add the sugar, egg, yolks, lemon zest, and salt, mixing until the dough comes together. Form the dough into a ball, wrap it in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
- Prepare the Filling: In a large bowl, combine the diced apples, sugar, cinnamon, crumbled amaretti, pine nuts, soaked raisins, and apricot jam. Stir until the mixture is evenly combined.
- Assemble the Tart: Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F). Roll out the dough between two sheets of parchment paper to about 0.5 cm thickness. Line a 22 cm tart pan with the rolled-out dough, trimming the edges. Fill the tart with the apple mixture.
- Decorate: Use any leftover pastry to create strips or shapes for the top of the tart, arranging them in a lattice or decorative pattern.
- Bake: Bake for about 50 minutes, or until the tart is golden brown and the filling is bubbling. If the crust browns too quickly, cover it loosely with foil for the last 10-15 minutes of baking.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the tart to cool before serving. Dust with powdered sugar or glaze with warm apricot jam for a shiny finish.
Enjoy this flavorful and comforting Apple and Almond Tart, a perfect dessert for any occasion!