Grape Tartlets: A Delicious and Elegant Dessert
These delightful grape tartlets, featuring a buttery, flaky crust and a rich frangipane filling, are the perfect combination of sweet and tart flavors. The fresh, juicy grapes create a beautiful topping, making these little treats not only delicious but also visually stunning. Whether you’re looking for a show-stopping dessert for a dinner party or a sweet treat for the family, these grape tartlets are sure to impress. With a perfect balance of textures and flavors, they are a must-try.
Ingredients:
| Ingredient | Quantity |
|---|---|
| White Grapes | 15 (cut in half) |
| Black Grapes | 6 (whole) |
| Apricot Jam | 1 tablespoon |
| All-purpose Flour | 250g |
| Egg Yolks | 2 |
| Butter (for pastry) | 125g |
| Powdered Sugar | 100g |
| Almond Flour | 70g |
| Whole Egg | 1 |
| Butter (for filling) | 60g |
| Granulated Sugar | 60g |
Instructions:
1. Prepare the Pastry:
- Begin by preparing the shortcrust pastry. In a mixing bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, powdered sugar, and almond flour. Add the chilled butter and cut it into small cubes. Work the mixture with your fingers or a pastry cutter until it forms a crumbly texture.
- Add the egg yolks and the whole egg, mixing until a dough forms. If the dough is too dry, add a teaspoon of cold water at a time until it comes together.
- Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to chill. This helps in achieving a crisp, tender crust once baked.
2. Prepare the Frangipane Filling:
- In a separate bowl, mix together the butter, granulated sugar, and almond flour. Beat the mixture until creamy and smooth.
- Add the egg, mixing well to incorporate. This will form the base of your frangipane filling.
- Set aside the frangipane filling for assembly, stopping just before you begin to bake it.
3. Assemble the Tartlets:
- Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F), and grease and flour six 8cm tartlet pans.
- Roll out the chilled pastry on a lightly floured surface, aiming for a thickness of about 3mm (1/8 inch). Cut the dough into squares approximately 10cm (4 inches) in size.
- Press each square of dough into the tartlet pans, making sure the dough covers the base and sides. Trim off any excess pastry using a rolling pin or knife.
- Prick the bottom of each pastry with a fork to prevent it from puffing up during baking.
4. Fill the Tartlets:
- Spoon the frangipane filling into each pastry-lined tartlet pan, spreading it evenly.
- For the grape topping, wash the white grapes and slice them in half. Remove any seeds if present.
- Arrange the halved white grapes on top of the frangipane filling, placing them in a petal-like pattern to create a beautiful flower shape. In the center of each “flower,” place one whole black grape.
5. Bake:
- Place the tartlets in the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes or until the frangipane filling is golden and firm to the touch.
- Once baked, remove the tartlets from the oven and allow them to cool completely.
6. Glaze and Serve:
- If desired, warm the apricot jam with a small amount of water to make a glaze. Use a brush to gently coat the grapes with the apricot glaze for a glossy finish.
- Let the tartlets rest before serving. Enjoy the stunning, delicious combination of flavors with a perfect balance of sweetness from the grapes and the nutty frangipane filling.
Serving Suggestions:
Serve the grape tartlets as a sophisticated dessert for dinner parties, or enjoy them with your afternoon tea. These individual tartlets are a beautiful addition to any dessert table, sure to delight your guests with their flavor and elegance.
Tips for Success:
- If you don’t have tartlet pans, you can use muffin tins or other small baking dishes as an alternative.
- Make sure to chill the dough well before rolling it out; this ensures that the pastry will stay firm and prevent shrinkage during baking.
- You can substitute the white grapes with red or green grapes, or even use other fruits such as berries, depending on what’s in season.
These Grape Tartlets are a delightful dessert that blends the sweetness of grapes with the rich, nutty flavor of frangipane in a buttery, flaky crust. Perfect for any occasion, this recipe will certainly be a crowd-pleaser!
