Almond
Other (whole) nuts
There’s no nut that doesn’t
belong in a frangipane (peanuts
are questionable). For any nut,
I recommend keeping half your
nut amount as almond meal and
replacing the other half with walnut,
hazelnut or pistachio, finely ground
to a meal (not paste) in a food
processor. Almond meal takes up
moisture better than home-ground
nuts. You can even toast your nuts
before crushing for a richer flavour
(be sure to chill them first, and
don’t over-whiz to a paste). Keep
the almond extract to boost the
nuttiness in softer-flavoured nuts
like pistachio. Use the same nut on
the top, so the top nut reflects the
nut within, and use the guide at right
to best match nuts and fruits.

Bakewell tartlets
I love these to use up marmalade,
jams or collapsing fruits like roasted
rhubarb. Smear a fine layer of
frangipane on the raw shell, place
a scant tablespoon of fruit on top,
then cover with frangipane to fill to
the tin top.

Traditionally, the fruit is placed
straight on the base, but because
we are baking from raw, I use a little
frangipane to keep my bottom crisp.

Scatter with flaked almonds, then
drizzle with butter and sprinkle
demerara sugar on top. Bake as
described.

Poached fruit
Pears are exceptional but do dry
them off carefully so they don’t over- moisten the frangipane, or you’ll get
super soggy almond.

* The fruit sinks (and some of the almonds). This can happen if the frangipane
batter gets too fluffy, doesn’t chill or your tart tin is too deep. Don’t let your
heart sink like the fruit, just call it a Bakewell (see left), dust with icing sugar
when cool and keep living your best baking life. As long as the fruit is in ther e,
it’s still a great tart and you are a legend for baking it!
** The bases haven’t coloured but the topping is well cooked. Warm up a heavy
flat pan and keep it on a steady and low heat. Place the tartlets on the pan in
batches to cook the bottom pastry. Keep an eagle eye on them.
my preferred pairings
Pear
Apricot
Peach
Plum
Hazelnut Walnut Pistachio
Fig
Raspberry
Quince
Strawberry