All good things must come to an end, and that includes Christmas Week. There’s still one more recipe to share, though, on the theme of Christmas Pies and Pastries.
I had a few options, but in the end I couldn’t pass up the excuse to crack open a jar of homemade jam to make these adorable bite-sized versions of Bakewell Tart, a quintessentially British concoction of a pastry shell filled with a thin layer of jam and sweet almond frangipane, and finished with a thin layer of white almond-scented glaze.
Sure, Bakewell Tarts aren’t a traditional holiday treat, but I think a case could be made for starting a new tradition – there is something awfully festive about these teensy tarts draped in snowy white icing and capped with a sliver of bright red glace cherry, after all.
These tarts do require some work to assemble, but the good news is that they also freeze beautifully – which means you can bake up a batch or two well in advance, freeze them unfrosted in an airtight container, and then thaw them out overnight before finishing them off with icing and cherries.
Then prepare yourself for the inevitable onslaught of compliments. Because if there’s one truth when it comes to sweet treats, it’s that no one can resist desserts in bite-size. No one.
Now, before we wrap up all the Christmas Week fun, there’s one last bit of good news to share. After all, it’s not Christmas without presents, right?
So here’s the deal… Freund Container & Supply has generously donated $100 gift certificates for each #ChristmasWeek blogger to give away!
Freund Container & Supply is the largest distributor of glass bottles, containers and wholesale packaging supplies online. Freund offers over 5000 items in stock every day, 98% same day shipping and low-price guarantees. Take a look at Freund’s wide selection of jars, tins, bottles and vials for all your crafting and food related needs!
Giveaway Details:
This giveaway is for one $100 gift certificate to Freund Container & Supply. Gift certificate will expire on March 31, 2013. Gift certificate is a one-time use certificate and must be used in its entirety; any leftover monies on the gift certificate will be forfeited. This giveaway is open to both US and Canadian residents. However, it should be noted that due to current International shipping rates, any Canadian winners will pay higher shipping costs for orders. The giveaway will run from today, December 7th, 2012, through Wednesday, December 12th, 2012.
Freund Container & Supply is also offering all #ChristmasWeek blog readers 10% off purchases from now through March 31, 2013. Simply enter code JINGLEME10 to receive your discount!
How to Enter:
Leave a comment telling me about what edible gift you’d package up with your Freund loot.
You can earn up to three bonus entries by doing the following:
(Make sure to leave a new comment for any of the above that you complete, so that I can count each one as a separate entry.)
On top of that, if you’d like more chances to win a $100 gift certificate from Freund, please make sure you visit today’s blog posts from each of the other #ChristmasWeek bloggers!
***Disclaimer: This giveaway is being provided by Freund Container & Supply. #ChristmasWeek bloggers have not been compensated as part of this giveaway.***
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- 1¼ cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup icing sugar
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ cup cold butter, cut into small pieces
- 2 egg yolks
- ½ tsp vinegar
- 3 tbsp ice-cold water
- ⅓ cup unsalted butter, softened
- ⅓ cup sugar
- 2 eggs
- ¾ cup finely ground almonds
- ½ tsp almond extract
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ cup raspberry jam (or any other jam you like)
- 1½ cups icing sugar
- 2 tbsp water
- ½ tsp almond extract
- 6 red glace cherries. quartered
- In the bowl of a food processor, combine the flour, icing sugar and salt and pulse to mix. Add the cold butter, and pulse five or six times, until mixture resembles coarse meal.
- In a small bowl, whisk together egg yolk and vinegar. With the machine running, add egg yolk mixture, then add the ice water, one tablespoon at a time, stopping as soon as the dough starts to clump together.
- Turn the dough out onto a clean surface, divide in half, and gently form each half into a flat disk. Wrap in plastic, and refrigerate for at least one hour or until quite firm. (You can also do this a day or two in advance.)
- While the pastry chills, begin on the frangipane filling.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat butter and sugar until fluffy. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in ground almonds, almond extract and vanilla. Cover the bowl tightly with plastic wrap, and chill for 30 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 400F.
- On lightly floured surface, roll out the chilled pastry to ⅛” thick. Using a 3-inch round cookie cutter, cut out 24 circles. Gently press the dough circles into the cups of a mini muffin tin, then place in the freezer to chill thoroughly for 15 minutes.
- Spoon ½ tsp jam into the bottom of each shell, then spoon in a little frangipane overtop, making sure to leave a little rim of tart shell uncovered. (Make sure not to overfill, as it will be very difficult to extract the tarts once they’re baked!)
- Bake in preheated oven until filling is puffed and golden, about 18-20 minutes. Let tarts cool in pan for about 10 minutes, then carefully remove and set on a wire rack to cool off completely before frosting.
- Once the tarts are cooled, whisk together icing sugar, water and almond extract in a small bowl until you have a smooth, thick glaze. Spread a layer of icing onto the cooled tarts, then finish each one with a piece of cherry.
Welcome to day #5 of Christmas Week, a multi-blogger event co-hosted by Kim of Cravings of a Lunatic and Jen of Juanita’s Cocina. Today’s theme for Christmas Week is “Christmas Pies and Pastries”. Make sure you visit all the participating bloggers today to see what special dish they whipped up for you:
- Christmas Apple Pie from Kim of Cravings of a Lunatic
- Pumpkin Cheesecake Fried Pies from Jen of Juanita’s Cocina
- Chocolate Angel Pie from Liz of That Skinny Chick Can Bake
- Undeclared Dish from Anuradha of Baker Street
- Cheese Danish Pie from Kristen of Frugal Antics of a Harried Homemaker
- Bakewell Tarts from Isabelle of Crumb
- Grasshopper Pie from Erin of Dinners, Dishes and Desserts
- Undeclared Dish from Erin of The Spiffy Cookie
- Cinnamon Pecan Crescent Rolls from Ramona of Curry and Comfort
- Banketstaaf (Dutch Christmas Log) from Heather of Girlichef
- Eggnog and Cranberry Christmas Braid from Cathy of The Dutch Baker’s Daughter
- Raspberry Galette from Chung-Ah of Damn Delicious
Your tarts look adorable. Contrary to the name of my blog, it has nothing to do with these tarts – just a spin on my P.O. Box (kinda funny though).
Every year I give away about 15 to 20 different cookies. I have some of them on my blog because I’ve been participating in the 12 Weeks of Christmas Treats blog hop. You can find them at http://bakewelljunction.wordpress.com
Have always wanted to try making these tarts. Think this is the year and the recipe. I need to send off some Christmas baking for my father’s first Christmas on his own so containers would be terrific.
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I would make Homemade Nutella and put in some of the jars if I won
Love the give away! I will fill some of the jars from Freund with my lemon, lime and orange marmalade and gift it to some of my family who are in other states! Also keep a few on hand for my neighbors to enjoy as well. Good Luck to All! Great little tarts too!
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I follow Freund on Pinterest by my nickname as well (Mippyfoofalina)
Such cute tarts! They look tasty! :D
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I like Freund on Twitter (@MippyFoofalina) :)
Hi!
Honestly I really could use either a scale: http://www.freundcontainer.com/benchtop-scales-standard/p/v1327F02/ or the wire shelving unit. I’d package up some fudge w/nuts or cookies if I choose containers. :)
These tartlets are beautiful!
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Such cute little pies. The cherries on top make them look so festive.
Very pretty–I love that filling! :) It was great blogging with you this week. Merry Christmas! :)
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I’d make some cookies mixes in a jar as gifts
I “liked” Freund on Facebook
What a great giveaway! I would use the glass jars to package the homemade Almond Roca we make each year as gifts.
These are so pretty Izzy. I could just see these on the dessert table at Christmas. So happy you joined us this week. Hope to see you soon. xx
I love mini desserts and these look amazing!It’s been so fun celebrating #ChristmasWeek with you!
I’d package up some red velvet butter cookies !
What a great little tart. I have seen these once before, and almost made them. Now I am really going to have to get to work!
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I follow Freund Container on Twitter.
I’m planning on making some carrot jam for Christmas gifts, and it would look great in Freund’s decorative jars.
So cute! I love Bakewell tarts, and the mini versions are awesome!! :) If I won the giveaway, I would package up peppermint brownies!
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I think some homemade granola would be great in some of those jars
I think maple brown sugar oatmeal cookies!
What adorable little tarts!!!
Not entering the giveaway, but I wanted to say thank you for participating and happy day #5! Gorgeous tarts!