Best Frangipane Recipes

PEAR FRANGIPANE TART

Steps:

• Prepare crust: With mixer at low speed, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy; add egg until blended. Add flour; beat until blended. Grease 9-inch tart pan with removable bottom. Press dough into bottom and up sides of pan. Prick crust with fork. Spread bottom with jam. Refrigerate.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare filling: With mixer at low speed, beat almond paste, sugar and egg. Add butter and almond extract; beat until just blended. Add flour and baking powder; beat well. Spoon mixture over jam in crust.
• Arrange pear halves, cut-side down on mixture in crust. Bake 50 minutes until filling is set. Cool completely.

FRESH FRUIT FRANGIPANE TART

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Place 1 piece of puff pastry on a baking sheet lined with a silicone mat or parchment paper. Lightly moisten one of the short edges with water. Connect the end of the other puff pastry to the moistened edge. Press pieces together to form a long rectangle, trimming off loose ends with a dough scraper as needed.
• Cut the third puff pastry piece lengthwise into 1-inch strips. Moisten the outer edges of the long rectangle with your finger; stick the pastry strips on top. Poke shallow holes all over the bottom of the dough using a fork. Do not prick the raised border.
• Bake pastry shell in the preheated oven until it starts to turn golden brown, about 15 minutes. Remove from oven. Reduce oven temperature to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Readjust the borders and push the bottom down with the flat side of a fork. Let cool completely while preparing the filling.
• Place butter and 1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar in a bowl; smear together using a spatula until combined. Whisk in egg until mixture is creamy. Add almond flour, salt, vanilla extract, and almond extract. Mix thoroughly. Cut each pluot into 6 wedges. Fill pastry shell with the almond paste. Stick the pluots snugly, but not too deeply, into the filling.
• Bake in the preheated oven until browned and almond filling is set, 30 to 40 minutes. Transfer tart onto a wire rack and let cool completely, at least 40 minutes.
• Combine apricot jam and water in a microwave-safe bowl. Bring to a boil in the microwave. Let cool until warm. Brush glaze over the cooled tart.

APPLE FRANGIPANE PHYLLO TART

Steps:

• Place one sheet of phyllo dough on a work surface; coat with cooking spray. (Keep remaining phyllo covered with plastic wrap and a damp towel to prevent it from drying out.) Gently press phyllo into a 9-in. tart pan, allowing ends to extend over edges of pan., Layer with remaining phyllo, spraying after each layer; arrange in pan, rotating phyllo so corners do not overlap. Fold in overhanging phyllo, to form a pastry shell., Place almonds and sugar in a food processor; cover and process until finely ground. Add the flour, butter and salt; pulse until blended., Add the egg yolks, amaretto and almond extract; cover and pulse to blend well. Spread filling over the bottom of phyllo shell., Halve apples and thinly slice widthwise. Arrange apples in a pinwheel pattern over filling., Bake at 375° for 40-50 minutes or until apples are tender. Cover edges with foil during the last 15 minutes to prevent overbrowning if necessary. Remove to a wire rack and cool slightly. Brush warmed jelly over apples. Serve warm. Refrigerate leftovers.

PEAR AND HAZELNUT FRANGIPANE TART

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Pulse hazelnuts with 1/4 cup sugar in a food processor until finely ground, then add flour and pulse to combine.
• Beat together butter and remaining 1/4 cup sugar with an electric mixer at moderately high speed until pale and fluffy. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition, then beat in extracts. Reduce speed to low and mix in nut mixture until just combined.
• Spread frangipane filling evenly in tart shell. Peel, halve, and core pears, then cut lengthwise into 1/4-inch-thick slices, holding slices together to keep pear shape intact. Arrange pears decoratively on filling, fanning slices slightly. Bake until pears are golden and frangipane is puffed and golden brown, 30 to 40 minutes. Brush pears (not filling) with preserves and cool tart completely in pan on rack, then remove side of pan.

CHERRY FRANGIPANE TART

Steps:

• Make the tart dough: Combine flour, sugar and salt in a mixing bowl. Work in butter thoroughly. Stir in egg yolk mixture and knead briefly until dough is smooth, then form into a flat disk.
• Roll dough to a large circle and lay it in a 10-inch/23-centimeter fluted tart pan with a removable bottom. Press in well (patch any cracks with extra dough). Refrigerate or freeze for 1 hour.
• Heat oven to 425 degrees. Blind bake tart shell until lightly browned, about 15 minutes. (You do not need to cover the shell or use pie weights.)
• Meanwhile, make the filling: Put almonds, flour and sugar in work bowl of food processor and grind to a rough powder. Add butter and pulse until well incorporated. Add eggs and almond extract and process until smooth and creamy, about 2 minutes. (Alternatively, use ground almonds and make batter with a mixer instead.)
• Pour almond batter into prebaked shell and smooth with a spatula. Press cherries into batter in a single layer. Sprinkle with a handful of sliced almonds. Lower oven temperature to 375 degrees and bake until golden, 30 to 40 minutes. (An inserted skewer should come out clean.) Cool on a rack and remove outer rim of tart pan. Place tart on a serving dish and dust with confectioners' sugar.

RASPBERRY FRANGIPANE TART

Steps:

• For the pastry: Whisk together the flour, granulated sugar and salt in a large bowl. Cut the butter in with a pastry blender or two knives until the mixture resembles coarse meal with a few pea-sized pieces. Add 4 tablespoons of the water and stir with a fork until a shaggy dough starts to form. Add 1 to 2 more tablespoons water if you need to, but stop before the dough gets too wet. It should just hold together when you squeeze it in your hand.
• Gather the dough into a rough ball in the bowl with your hands. Put a piece of plastic wrap on the counter and set the dough on it. Wrap the dough and flatten it into a 6-inch disc. Refrigerate until cold, at least 1 hour.
• For the filling: Meanwhile, place the almonds in the bowl of a food processor and pulse until very finely ground. Add the granulated sugar, butter, salt and almond extract and blend until smooth. Add the eggs and blend until smooth. Add the flour and pulse until just combined.
• Heat the oven to 375 degrees F. On a lightly floured surface with a lightly floured rolling pin, roll the dough out to an 11-inch circle. Ease the dough into a 9-inch tart pan with a removable bottom. Gently press in the edges, then run a rolling pin over the top to trim the edges. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or freeze for 15 minutes. Line the cold pastry with parchment paper and fill with pie weights or dried beans. Place the lined tart pan on a baking sheet and bake until set and dry, about 20 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F.
• Scrape the filling into the tart pan and spread it out evenly. Top evenly with the raspberries and sprinkle with the sliced almonds. Bake until the filling is puffed and golden brown, 35 to 40 minutes. Transfer to a rack to cool. Serve warm or at room temperature sprinkled with confectioners' sugar.

RASPBERRY, LEMON & FRANGIPANE TART

Steps:

• To make the pastry, put the flour and butter in a large bowl and rub them together with your fingertips until the mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs. Tip in the sugar, lemon zest and a pinch of salt and mix slightly. Now work in the egg yolk and vanilla extract until you have a smooth dough. Roll the dough into a ball, wrap in cling film and chill for at least 1 hour (or up to 2 days).
• While the pastry is chilling, make the lemon crème pâtissière (lemon custard). Put the egg yolks and sugar in a bowl and whisk together using a balloon whisk for 1-2 minutes until the mixture turns pale. Tip in the flour and cornflour and mix well. Put the milk and lemon zest in a saucepan and bring to the boil. Pour the boiling milk over the mixture in the bowl, whisking continuously until everything is smooth.
• Pour the custard into the pan, place over a medium heat and simmer for 2 minutes, stirring continuously until it has thickened. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the lemon juice and butter. Pour the custard into a clean bowl and cover the surface with cling film to stop a skin forming. Leave to cool, then put in the fridge until completely cold. (The custard will keep in the fridge for up to 2 days.)
• To make the frangipane (almond cream), tip all the ingredients into a bowl and mix until everything is well combined. (The frangipane will keep in the fridge for up to 4 days.)
• On a floured surface, roll out the chilled pastry to the thickness of a £1 coin, then use to line a 25cm loose-bottomed tart tin. Trim the pastry with a small knife but leave a lip hanging over the edge. Chill the tart case for at least 1 hour - if you have room to put it in the freezer, this would be ideal.
• Put a baking tray in the oven and preheat the oven to fan 180C/ conventional 200C/gas 6. Using a spatula, stir the crème pâtissière until smooth, then spread three quarters of it over the base of the tart case.
• Spoon the frangipane into a piping bag fitted with a smallish nozzle (about 1cm). If you don't have a piping bag, spoon the mixture into a tough plastic bag, squeeze it into the end, then cut off the tip. Pipe lines of frangipane evenly over the custard. Don't worry about the gaps, as the frangipane will spread while cooking.
• Put the tart tin on the hot baking tray and bake for 30-40 minutes until the frangipane is golden brown and the pastry is biscuity brown. The frangipane will puff up during the baking. Trim off the overhanging pastry with a small knife to give a professional finish. Lift the tart and base from the tin and leave on a wire rack to cool completely.
• To make the topping, put the cream in a bowl and lightly whip until billowy. Using a spatula, gently fold the remaining crème pâtissière into the cream, then spread the mixture evenly over the frangipane.
• Arrange the raspberries on top, placing them upside down in concentric circles as closely as possible. Put the jam and kirsch in a small pan and bring to the simmer, stirring, until it lightly coats the back of the spoon. Using a pastry brush, gently brush the raspberries with the glaze. Cool slightly, then, using a palette knife, ease the tart off the base on to a serving plate.

CHERRY FRANGIPANE TART

Steps:

• To make the pastry, process the flour (or flour and semolina, which gives it extra crunch) and butter, then add the sugar, followed by the beaten egg and just enough water (about 2 tbsp) to form a dough. Shape into a disc, wrap in cling film and leave to rest in the fridge for 20 mins.
• Meanwhile, to make the filling, place the sugar, ground almonds, butter, egg and egg yolk in a bowl and mix to make a creamy paste. Stir in the kirsch or Armagnac. Chill for at least 20 mins.
• Heat oven to 190C/fan 170C/gas 5. Roll the pastry out onto a floured surface and use to line a 23cm loose-bottomed tart tin. Fill with lightly greased foil and baking beans and bake for 20-25 mins, removing foil after 15 mins, until golden. Spread the almond paste onto the base of the pastry and bake for 25 mins until golden and crisp. When the tart comes out of the oven, arrange the cherries on top in a single layer. Heat the cherry conserve with 1 tbsp water until smooth, then brush over the cherries. Leave to cool before removing from the tin. Cut into wedges to serve, adding a spoonful of crème fraîche if you like.

FRANGIPANE-PRUNE TART

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375. In a bowl, pour the hot tea over the halved prunes, and let the fruit rehydrate while you make the almond filling.
• Put almonds, sugar and salt in a food processor, and pulse just until ground (be careful not to overprocess, or the filling will become a hard paste). Add the butter, eggs, brandy and almond essence, if using, and pulse just until smooth.
• Drain prunes well, pressing out any excess liquid with your hands, and place in the tart shell, more or less in an even layer. Spoon on the almond mixture, smoothing it with the back of the spoon, then sprinkle over remaining sliced almonds. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the top is a nice golden brown. Dust with icing sugar, and let cool before serving.

PLUM FRANGIPANE TART

Steps:

• Combine flour, sugar, and salt in a large bowl. Rub in cold butter cubes with your fingers until mixture looks like bread crumbs. Add water and egg yolk; knead into a ball. Wrap pastry in plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Combine softened butter and sugar in a large bowl and beat with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add egg and mix until well combined. Add ground almonds and beat frangipane until well combined.
• Roll out chilled pastry dough and transfer to a 9-inch fluted tart tin; trim edges.
• Spread frangipane over the pastry base. Arrange plums on top in a circular pattern.
• Bake in the preheated oven until the pastry is golden brown and the plums are soft, about 45 minutes.

APPLE TART WITH HAZELNUT FRANGIPANE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.;
• For the dough:
• Mix the flour, butter, sugar, and salt quickly with your fingertips until the butter is in pieces about the size of dried beans. Quickly stir the water into the mixture and then gather up the dough onto a sheet of plastic wrap and press it into a flat dish shape. Refrigerate dough for 1 hour.
• Line a cookie sheet or jelly roll pan with parchment or a silicon pad. Roll the dough out onto a lightly floured surface into a rectangle about 15-inches long by 10-inches wide, with rough edges. Roll the dough up onto your rolling pin and then unroll it directly onto the lined pan.
• Roast the hazelnuts on a cookie sheet for 7 or 8 minutes. Transfer the nuts to a food processor, add the 1/4 cup sugar, egg, 1 tablespoon butter, and vanilla, and process until a creamy paste forms. Spread the frangipane on the dough, stopping about 1 1/2-inches from the outer edge on all sides.
• Peel the apples, remove the cores, and cut them into 1/2-inch thick slices. Arrange them attractively in a slightly overlapping pattern, like the tiles of a roof, on the pastry dough so that the apples cover the frangipane. Fold the edge of the dough back over the apples to make a 1 to 1 1/2-inch border of dough. Increase the oven temperature to 400 degrees F. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons sugar over the apples, letting a little of the sugar fall onto the border to help crystallize the dough. Break the remaining 2 tablespoons butter into pieces and scatter them over the tart. Bake for 1 hour. The dough should be nicely crystallized all over.
• Remove the finished tart from the oven and cool on a rack until lukewarm. Dilute the apricot preserves with the calvados or water and glaze the surface of the tart, spreading it carefully on the apples with the underside of a spoon. Serve at room temperature cut into little wedges, with plain cream, sour cream, creme fraiche, or ice cream, if desired.

FRANGIPANE

Steps:

• Combine the almond cream ingredients and in a pastry bag with a large opening (no tip) and set aside. Halve the puff pastry and roll each into an 8 1/2-inch circle, 1/8 inch thick.
• Place 1 of the circles on a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Pipe a 5-inch diameter mound of almond cream in the center of the circle. The mound should be about 1-inch high. Prepare the egg wash: Whisk together the egg yolks, whole egg, and milk in a small bowl until well combined.
• Lightly brush the remaining 1 1/2-inch rim of the pastry circle with the egg wash. Place the second circle of puff pastry over the first. Gently press against the sides of the almond cream mound to remove any trapped air. Seal the edges of the 2 layers by pressing the top edge into the bottom edge. Use a sharp knife to give the circle a fluted edge like a flower. Use a sharp knife to pierce a 1/2-inch slit in the top layer at the center. This will allow steam to escape during baking. To make the classic pattern in the top, use a sharp knife to score a curved line that begins at the top of the mound and ends at the bottom of the mound. Repeat this line every 1/2 inch around the circumference of the mound, but be careful not to cut through the top layer and into the almond cream. Lightly brush the top with egg wash.
• Let the frangipane rest in the refrigerator for 1 hour before baking. (At this point, you can wrap the frangipane well in plastic wrap and freeze for up to 2 weeks. Let it thaw in the refrigerator or in your backpack before baking.) Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Bake until it begins to brown slightly, about 20 minutes. Meanwhile, prepare the glaze: Stir together the corn syrup and water.
• Remove the frangipane from the oven and brush it well with the corn syrup mixture. This adds sweetness, enhances the color, and gives it a crispy crust. Continue to bake until well risen and evenly browned, about another 20 minutes. The baked frangipane should be flaky and tender, and the almond cream center still moist. Remove the baking sheet from the oven and let cool on a wire rack. The frangipane is best when served while it is still slightly warm. Use a serrated knife to slice it.

PEAR AND HAZELNUT FRANGIPANE TART

Steps:

• Combine the flour, sugar and salt in a food processor. Add the cold butter and pulse ten times until the butter is the size of large peas. Add 3 tablespoons of cold water and pulse until it comes together. Turn onto a lightly floured work surface and bring the dough together, forming a disk. Wrap in Reynolds® Parchment Paper and refrigerate for at least 45 minutes.
• On a lightly floured work surface, roll the dough to 1/8-inch thickness. Fill a 9-inch tart mold or rectangle tart mold with the dough. Cut off excess from the top and refrigerate for another 15 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Cover the top of the dough with Reynolds Wrap® Aluminum Foil and weigh down with pie weights or dry beans. Bake for 15 minutes. Remove the foil and pie weights and let cool.
• Combine the hazelnuts and sugar in the food processor. Pulse to a fine powder. Add the butter, egg, flour, vanilla, rum and salt. Process until it comes together as a paste.
• Spread the mixture over the partially baked tart. On the top, arrange the pear slices in a pattern. Bake the tart for 30 to 35 minutes until golden brown. Let it cool for 10 minutes before slicing.

SOUR-CHERRY FRANGIPANE TART

Steps:

• Crust: Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Butter a 9-inch fluted tart pan with a removable bottom. Pour melted butter over granulated sugar; stir to dissolve. Let cool 10 minutes. Whisk together both flours and 1/2 teaspoon salt; stir into butter mixture until thoroughly combined.
• Press dough into prepared pan, making sides slightly thicker than bottom. Freeze until firm, 15 minutes. Bake on a rimmed baking sheet until slightly puffed and golden, about 20 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack; let cool completely.
• Filling: Meanwhile, whisk together eggs, cream, almond extract, and granulated sugar. In another bowl, whisk together both flours and salt, then whisk into egg mixture until smooth. Arrange cherries in cooled crust in a single layer; gently pour batter around them. Bake, rotating once, until golden brown and just set, 35 to 40 minutes. Let tart cool at least 30 minutes, dust with confectioners' sugar, and serve.

APPLE FRANGIPANE CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9-inch round springform pan.
• Beat 1/2 cup plus 6 tablespoons softened butter, almond paste, and 1 cup sugar at low speed with a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, until combined. Increase speed to medium-high and beat until smooth, light, and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes. Beat in vanilla bean paste; add eggs, 1 at a time, and beat until completely combined after each addition. Gently fold in flour and salt with a rubber spatula until just combined.
• Spoon mixture into the prepared springform pan. Arrange apples slices over top of batter; brush apples with melted butter and sprinkle with 1 tablespoon sugar.
• Bake in the preheated oven until browned and a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean, 50 to 55 minutes. Remove to a wire rack and cool for 10 minutes. Remove sides of pan and cool completely, about 1 hour. Dust top of cake with powdered sugar and sprinkle with toasted sliced almonds.

PUFF-PASTRY TARTS WITH STONE FRUITS AND FRANGIPANE

Steps:

• Pulse almonds in a food processor until finely ground. Add granulated sugar, butter, 1 egg, salt, and cinnamon; process until smooth.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Whisk remaining egg with 1 tablespoon water. On a lightly floured surface, cut pastry into 6 four-inch-squares and transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet. Brush edges of pastry with egg wash. Spread 2 teaspoons almond mixture in center of each square; top with 4 pieces fruit. Sprinkle each tart with some turbinado sugar.
• Bake until tarts are golden brown and fruit has softened, 22 to 25 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack, 20 minutes. Sprinkle with flowers; serve.

APRICOT-HAZELNUT FRANGIPANE TART

Steps:

• Make the poached apricots: Combine wine, 3 cups water, sugar, vanilla pod and seeds, and cinnamon stick in a large straight-sided skillet. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Add apricots, cut-side down. Cover surface with a parchment round, and cook, simmering, until apricots are just tender, 3 to 5 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer poached apricots to a small rimmed baking sheet or plate.
• Bring poaching liquid to a boil and cook until reduced to about 3/4 cup, about 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, preheat oven to 400 degrees with rack in lower third of oven. Make the frangipane: Combine hazelnuts and sugar in bowl of food processor and process until finely ground. Add butter, flour, egg, liqueur, salt, and vanilla extract; process until frangipane is smooth.
• Prepare the tart shell: Unfold puff pastry on parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Using a paring knife, lightly score a border about 1 1/2-inches in from perimeter of pastry.
• Using tines of a fork, pierce puff pastry all over within border. Spread frangipane in an even layer within border. Arrange poached apricots on top of frangipane, cut-side down; brush lightly with poaching liquid. Combine egg and cream, then brush lightly onto puff pastry border.
• Bake until tart is puffed and golden brown, 35 to 40 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and brush apricots lightly with more poaching liquid. Let cool completely.

APRICOT TART WITH PISTACHIO FRANGIPANE

Steps:

• Start with the pastry shell: Heat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit/190 degrees Celsius. Prepare a 9-inch/23-centimeter nonstick tart pan with a removable base by lining the bottom with parchment and greasing the sides with butter. If needed, on a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to a circle roughly 1/8- to 1/4-inch/3- to 5-millimeters thick and large enough to line the base and sides of the tin, plus extra to poke above the edge by about 1/2 inch/1 centimeter. (Some store-bought doughs may be the perfect size right out of the package.) Carefully line the pan with the pastry and press it down so it covers the base and sides, with excess overhang.
• Cover the pastry with parchment paper or waxed paper and fill with dried beans or pie weights. Place pan on a baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes, then remove the paper with the beans. Prick the pastry base and sides with a fork about 15 times, then bake for another 10 to 15 minutes, or until golden brown. Set aside to cool.
• Poach the apricots: Add Sauternes, lime half, vanilla, sugar and 3 tablespoons/40 milliliters water to a saucepan that is just big enough to hold the apricot halves in one layer. Place the pan over high heat and cook until the sugar has melted and the liquid boils.
• Remove the pan from the heat and place the apricots in the hot liquid, cut-sides down. Leave them to poach in the residual heat until they are soft but still hold their shape (20 to 40 minutes, depending on how ripe they are) flipping them every 10 minutes. Transfer the apricots to a covered container and refrigerate until needed. Squeeze the lime into the syrup and then discard it; return the saucepan with the syrup to medium-high heat and simmer until reduced to 2 tablespoons, 5 to 8 minutes. Set aside at room temperature until needed.
• Next, make the frangipane: Set aside 2 tablespoons of pistachios for serving. In a food processor, blitz the remaining pistachios until coarsely ground. Add the marzipan and blitz to a coarse crumb. Add all the remaining frangipane ingredients and blitz for 30 seconds, until everything just comes together.
• Once the tart shell has cooled completely, spoon the frangipane back in and spread it flat with the back of a spoon. Cut 3 1/2 ounces/100 grams of the apricot halves (3 or 4 of them) into quarters (or sixths if larger) and arrange evenly over the frangipane, pushing them down gently. Bake tart for 20 to 25 minutes, until golden brown and just set. Set aside until cool enough to handle. Remove the tart from the tin and set on a wire rack to cool completely. If making the recipe over two days, wrap the pastry in plastic wrap (cling film) once it has cooled completely.
• While the frangipane is baking (or the next day), make the crème pâtissière: In a medium bowl, whisk 2 tablespoons sugar with the cornstarch (cornflour), flour and yolks until smooth. Add milk, butter, vanilla and the remaining 2 tablespoons sugar to a saucepan over medium-high heat and cook until warm but not boiling. Remove the milk from the heat. While whisking, pour a third of the warm milk into the egg mix, and whisk well. Pour the mixture back into the pan with the rest of the milk and return to medium-low heat. Continue cooking, whisking vigorously, until mixture bubbles and becomes very thick. Remove pan from heat and leave to cool for 5 minutes, then spoon on top of the cooled frangipane, smoothing with the back of a spoon. Cover surface with plastic wrap (cling film) and refrigerate for 2 hours until completely set.
• Just before serving, cut the remaining apricot halves into quarters (or sixths if larger). Arrange the apricots evenly in circles over the crème pâtissière, cut-side up, leaving a 2-inch/5-centimeter gap between each apricot (push them into the crème slightly as you go). Drizzle 1 tablespoon of the reduced poaching syrup evenly over the tart, then drizzle the orange blossom water over the tart. Roughly chop the reserved pistachios and mix with 1 teaspoon sugar. Sprinkle the pistachio mix in the gaps between the apricots to cover the crème pâtissière and serve at once with the remaining syrup drizzled over each piece once sliced.

PEAR FRANGIPANE TART

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Roll out dough into a 12-inch round on a lightly floured surface. Fit into a 10-inch tart pan with a removable bottom and fold over to make a double-thick edge. Roll rolling pin over edge of tart pan to trim dough, and pierce bottom of dough all over with a fork. Freeze until firm, about 15 minutes.
• Cream butter and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add egg, ground almonds, rum, almond extract, and flour; beat until smooth. Spread the thick mixture evenly in chilled tart shell and refrigerate while preparing pears.
• Remove cooled poached pears from poaching liquid and cut in half lengthwise, removing the core and stem. Reserve poaching liquid. Place each half, cut side down, on a cutting board, and cut crosswise into thin slices. Arrange sliced pear halves on frangipane filling around edge of tart, leaving space between each half, and place one half in center of tart. When arranging pears, try to "pull" slices toward center of tart, which will elongate pears a bit and fill the shell better than if the pears were just placed flat. Bake for 10 minutes, reduce oven temperature to 400 degrees, and bake until tart shell is golden brown and frangipane has puffed and browned, 25 to 35 minutes more.
• While tart is baking, bring reserved poaching liquid to a boil and reduce by half. Brush this glaze lightly over pears immediately after removing tart from oven. Serve at room temperature.

APRICOT & PISTACHIO FRANGIPANE TART

Steps:

• First, make the pastry. Sieve the flour, ground almonds and a pinch of salt into a large bowl. Add the butter and lightly rub in until you have no large lumps. Make a well in the centre, mix the egg yolk and sugar together until the sugar is dissolved, then pour into the well. Stir until the liquid is well combined and you have a smooth, very soft pastry. Wrap in baking parchment and rest in the fridge for 1 hr.
• Roll the pastry between two sheets of baking parchment, then line a deep 23cm fluted tart tin with the pastry - you will need to work quite quickly when it comes up to room temperature. Don't worry if it tears or breaks, just patch it up - it will knit together again when it bakes. Return the pastry case to the fridge while you make the filling. Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4.
• To make the frangipane, beat together the sugar and butter until fluffy, then add the egg, egg yolk and ground nuts. Fill the tart case with the frangipane and top with the apricots. Press them into the frangipane and sprinkle with the chopped pistachios. Bake in the oven for 40-50 mins until the pastry is crisp and golden and the frangipane is puffed and coloured.