• It might have them in its name, but this frangipane apple tart doesn’t actually contain any flowers. Instead, frangipane refers to a distinctively delicious almond paste that’s the star of this dessert. Frangipane apple tart is beautifully rustic and full of sweet, nutty flavour.

    Frangipane apple tart

    Serves: 4 - 6
    Cooking Time: 2 hrs

    Ingredients

    • Pastry

    • 200g cake flour
    • pinch of salt
    • 100g butter
    • 1 large egg yolk
    • 45ml (3 tbsp) cold water
    • Frangipane

    • 125g butter
    • 100g (½ cup) sugar
    • 2 large eggs
    • 50g cake flour
    • 100g ground almonds, finely crushed
    • 15ml (1 tbsp) vanilla extract
    • 4 Granny Smith apples
    • juice of 1 lemon
    • 60ml (¼ cup) castor sugar
    • 5ml (1 tsp) ground cinnamon
    • Nappage (glaze)

    • 80ml (1/3 cup) smooth apricot jam
    • 30ml (2 tbsp) water

    Instructions

    1

    For the pastry, sift the flour and the salt in a large mixing bowl and add the butter. Work the butter into the flour with your fingertips until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.

    2

    Add the egg yolk and water and bring the mixture together to form a dough. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for about 30 minutes.

    3

    On a lightly floured surface roll out the pastry and use it to line the bottom and sides of a greased 22cm springform cake tin. Prick the bottom of the pastry all over with a fork and refrigerate for a further 20 minutes.

    4

    Preheat the oven to 180°C.

    5

    To make the frangipane, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Mix in the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Fold in the flour, almonds and vanilla extract.

    6

    Peel and core the apples, then cut in half and slice thinly. Immediately squeeze the lemon juice all over the apples to prevent discoloration.

    7

    Spread the frangipane evenly over the pastry and arrange the apple slices on top. Mix the sugar and cinnamon well together and sprinkle over the apples.

    8

    Bake until golden, about 30 minutes.

    9

    For the glaze, heat the jam and water in a saucepan, stirring until melted. Brush this over the apples while the tart is hot.

    10

    Serve with custard or ice cream.