Prep 20min (+cooling time)Bake 35-40minMakes 8-10 serves

I love this tart – a no-fuss, slice-like affair of buttery shortbread layers filled with jam and nuts. Research has revealed no reason why this tart is Belgian, but it brings back vivid childhood memories of my mum, Jocelyn, making it in two enamel plates, throwing them in the oven and then, once cool, covering them with foil to take to a picnic or tennis day. I remember it so clearly when I make the tart now (with a few small alterations) in my own kitchen. 

Ingredients

185g butter, softened slightly
150g caster sugar
1 egg yolk
1 teaspoon natural vanilla essence or extract
260g plain flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
165g mixed berry jam (see Baker’s Tips)
70g (½ cup) unsalted raw peanuts (or nuts of your choice)

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 160°C (140°C fan-forced).
2. Put the butter and sugar in the bowl of a food processor and process until well combined. Add the egg yolk and vanilla and process to combine, scraping down the side of the bowl if necessary. Sift together the flour and baking powder. Add to the butter mixture and use the pulse butter to process until just combined and a soft dough forms.
3. Press half of the mixture evenly over the base of an ungreased 23cm tart tin with removable base. Spread evenly with the jam, leaving a 2cm border. Press portions of the remaining dough between your hands to flatten and press over the jam to cover, patching where necessary. Sprinkle with the peanuts and press into the dough.
4. Place the tart tin on a baking tray and bake in preheated oven for 35-40 minutes or until golden and cooked through. Leave the tart to cool in the tin and then serve in wedges.
   

Prep 1hr 15min (+ cooling and chilling time)Bake 45-75minMakes 8-10 serves

One of our Make Me a Baker graduates, Dimi Jayawardene, baked this beautiful tart at her graduation ceremony – chocolate pastry filled with a chocolate custard and topped with chocolate ganache, it's the definition of decadent!

Ingredients

To Serve

Raspberries, blueberries and strawberries
Slivered almonds
Gold leaf
Edible flowers
Whipped cream

Chocolate Shortcrust Pastry

200g (1⅓ cups) plain flour
Good pinch salt
3 tablespoons icing sugar, sifted 
2 tablespoons cocoa powder, sifted 
150g chilled unsalted butter, cubed
3-3½ tablespoons iced water

Chocolate Custard Filling

4 egg yolks
1 tablespoon custard powder
2 tablespoons caster sugar
200g good-quality dark chocolate, chopped
300ml thin cream
250ml (1 cup) milk

Chocolate Ganache 

125ml (1/2 cup) thickened cream
250g good-quality dark chocolate, chopped
20g butter
2-3 tablespoons Tia Maria, or to taste

Method

1. To make the pastry, combine the flour, salt, icing sugar and cocoa powder in a large mixing bowl. Add the chilled butter. With your palms facing upwards, use your fingertips to rub in the butter until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs with some larger pieces of butter still visible.
2. Sprinkle 3 tablespoons of the iced water over the flour and butter mixture. Use a round-bladed knife in a cutting motion to mix until evenly combined and the mixture starts holding together. Press a little of the mixture between your fingers – if it holds together easily, there is no need to add more water; If it doesn’t add the remaining ½ tablespoon water and combine. The pastry should be soft but not sticky.
3. Bring the pastry together with your hands and transfer to a lightly floured, cool bench top. Lightly knead the pastry with your fingertips for about 10 seconds or until it comes together but isn’t completely smooth. Shape the pastry into a disc, wrap well in plastic wrap and place in the fridge for 20 minutes to rest.
4. Preheat oven to 200°C (180°C fan-forced). Roll pastry on a lightly floured surface to a 4mm-thick disc. Line the base and side of a 23cm (base measurement) round, fluted tart tin with removable base, pressing into the sides. Roll the rolling pin over the top to trim any excess pastry. Place in the fridge for 15 minutes to rest.
5. Place the tart tin on an oven tray. Line the pastry with baking paper and fill with baking beads, or dried rice or beans. Bake in preheated oven for 10-15 minutes. Remove the rice or beans and bake for a further 5-10 minutes or until pastry is just cooked through. Reduce oven temperature to 180°C (160°C fan-forced).
6. Meanwhile, to make the Chocolate custard filling, combine the egg yolks, custard powder and sugar in a saucepan. Add the chocolate, cream and milk and place over low heat. Cook, stirring occasionally with a balloon whisk, for 5 minutes or until chocolate melts and mixture is smooth. Remove from heat.
7. Pour the chocolate custard mixture into the pastry case (see Baker's Tips). Reduce oven temperature to 180°C (160°C fan-forced) and bake for 20-40 minutes or until custard is just set. (The baking time will depend on your oven and a the depth of your tart tin.) Remove from oven and set aside to cool completely in the tin.
8. While the tart is cooling, make the Chocolate ganache. Heat the cream for 30-50 seconds or until bubbling in the microwave. Place the chocolate, butter and Tia Maria in a bowl. Pour the cream into the bowl. Let it sit for 1-2 minutes until chocolate is melted and then start mixing with a small balloon whisk or spoon until the mixture is beautiful and smooth (the butter gives the ganache a lovely glossy look). Pour the ganache over the layer of custard and place in the fridge to set.
9. Transfer the tart to a serving plate. Top with berries and slivered almonds, decorate with gold leaf and edible flowers. Serve with whipped cream.

Prep 40min (+ pastry making time)Bake 35minMakes 10

Italian meringue makes an elegant topping for these classic tarts. You can caramelize the meringue lightly with a blow torch to add a delicate, slightly burnt caramel flavour to complement the sweetness of the meringue and sourness of the lemon filling if you wish.

Ingredients

1 quantity Sweet Shortcrust Pastry, rolled into a log about 15cm long before wrapping and chilling as directed
Icing sugar (optional), to sprinkle
Cream or ice cream, to serve

Filling

Italian Meringue

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 200°C (180°C fan-forced).

2. Remove the pastry from the fridge and cut into 10 even slices. Gently pat a pastry portion on a lightly floured benchtop with the palm of your hand to fatten slightly. Use a lightly floured rolling pin to roll out to a disc about 3mm thick. Line a 6.5cm (base measurement), 2cm deep, tart tin with removable base, with the pastry, pressing it into the side and corners with your thumb and/or fingertips. Roll the rolling pin over the top of the tart tin to trim any excess pastry. Repeat with the remaining pastry portions to make 10 tart cases in total.

3. Place the tart cases on an oven tray. Use a fork to prick the pastry base of each about 4 times. Line the pastry cases with squares of greaseproof paper or foil and fill with pastry weights, dried beans or raw rice, making sure they press into the corners and fill the cases. Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes.

4. Remove the tart cases from the oven and use the paper or the foil to remove the weights from the cases. Return the cases to the oven and bake for a further 5-10 minutes or until the pastry is just cooked through and looks dry.

5. Meanwhile, to make the filling, use a fork to whisk the eggs, sugar, cream and lemon juice together until well combined. Strain the mixture into a jug. Pour the filling into the hot pastry cases while still in the oven (see Baker's Tips), dividing evenly. Reduce the oven temperature to 160°C (140°C fan-forced) and bake for a further 10 minutes or until the filling has just set in the centre but still wobbles slightly when shaken. Cool the tarts in the tins.

6. To make the Italian Meringue, put the egg whites in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment. Combine the sugar and water in a small saucepan and stir with a wooden spoon over low heat until the sugar dissolves. Increase the heat to medium and bring to the boil. Boil for about 10 minutes, occasionally brushing down the side of the pan with a pastry brush dipped in water to dissolve any sugar crystals, until the syrup reaches hard ball stage (120°C on a sugar thermometer).

7. Meanwhile, just before the syrup is ready, whisk the egg whites on high speed until firm peaks form. Remove the syrup from the heat and stand for a bout 1 minute or until the bubble subside. With the motor running on high speed, gradually add the sugar syrup in a thin steady stream until all the syrup has been incorporated. Continue to whisk on medium speed for another 10 minutes or until the meringue has cooled to room temperature.

8. Spoon the meringue mixture into a large piping bag fitted with a #13 (1.3cm) plain or #11 (1.1cm) star nozzle. Pipe small rounds of meringue over the surface of the tarts to cover. Use a blow torch to lightly caramelize the meringue if desired.

9. Dust with icing sugar, if desired and serve with cream or ice cream.

Prep 25min (1hr cooling time)Bake 1hrMakes 8 serves

This recipe is from Anneka's SBS Food online column, Bakeproof: Comforting Custard.

CLICK HERE for more Bakeproof recipes.

Photography by Alan Benson.

Prep 30minBake 1hr20minMakes about 8-10 serves

Bakewell tart is simply a buttery almond cake in a tart case with a welcome layer of jam in the middle. On first consideration you may not think this combination would work, but take my word for it, it does!

Ingredients

Method

1. Preheat oven to 200ºC (180ºC fan-forced).
2. Use a lightly floured rolling pin to roll out the pastry on a lightly floured bench top to a round about 3mm thick. Carefully drape the pastry loosely around the rolling pin. Place it over an ungreased round 23cm (base measurement) tart tin with a removable base and then unroll the pastry being careful not to stretch it. Gently lift the edge of the pastry and ease it into the tart tin to line the base and sides and settle it into the corners. Use your fingertips to press it gently into the corners without stretching it. Then, working around the tin, press the pastry into the side using your thumb or finger. Roll the rolling pin over the top of the tart tin to trim any overhanging pastry.  
3. Place the tart tin on an oven tray. Prick the pastry base with a fork about 12 times. Line the pastry case with baking paper or foil and fill with pastry weights, dried beans or raw rice, making sure they press into the corners and they fill the case. Bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes.
4. Remove the pastry case from oven and use the paper or foil to lift the weights out of the case. Return to the oven and bake for a further 15-20 minutes or until cooked through and lightly golden. Remove from the oven.
5. Spread the jam evenly over the base of the tart case and set aside. Reduce the oven temperature to 160ºC (140ºC fan-forced).
6. Use an electric mixer to beat the butter, sugar and almond essence or lemon zest until pale and creamy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Combine the almond meal and flour, add to the butter mixture and beat on lowest possible speed until just combined. Spread the mixture evenly over the jam in the tart case.
7. Bake in preheated oven for 40-45 minutes or until golden brown and a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean. Cool in the tin for 10 minutes before removing, dusting with icing sugar and serving warm. Alternatively cool in the tin and serve at room temperature.

This recipe is from Anneka's SBS Food online column, Bakeproof: Best of British Baking.

CLICK HERE for more Bakeproof recipes.

Photography by Alan Benson.

Prep 40min (+20min chilling and 1hr 25min cooling time)Bake 45minMakes 8 serves

Traditionally made with apples, this classic upside-down French tart was created by the Tatin sisters who ran a hotel in France in the early 1900s. If you don't have an ovenproof frying pan, transfer the cooled caramel and pears to a base-lined 22cm round cake tin before covering them with the pastry and baking.

Ingredients

Ground cinnamon, to sprinkle
Vanilla ice-cream, cream or crème fraiche, to serve

1 quantity Shortcrust Pastry
80g butter, cubed
110g (½ cup) caster sugar
1.1kg small (about 7) pears (such as Josephine), peeled, halved and cored

Method

1. Prepare the Shortcrust Pastry.
2. Meanwhile, melt the butter in a 20–22cm (base measurement) heavy-based frypan over medium-high heat. Sprinkle with the sugar and then arrange the pears, cut-side up, in the pan, cutting some of the halves into quarters to fill the gaps. Reduce the heat to medium and cook, uncovered, for 15 minutes or until the liquid becomes a dark caramel and the pears are almost tender and golden underneath. Remove the pan from the heat and set aside for 1 hour 15 minutes or until cooled completely.
3. Preheat oven to 190°C (170°C fan-forced).
4. Use a lightly floured rolling pin to roll the pastry out on a lightly floured benchtop to about 5mm thick and then cut into a circle about 26cm in diameter. Place the pastry over the cooled pears in the pan and carefully tuck the pastry edge around the fruit and down the side of the pan. Bake in preheated oven for 45 minutes or until the pastry is deep golden and cooked through and the pear juices are bubbling. Remove from the oven and set aside for 10 minutes to cool slightly.
5. Place a serving plate with a lip over the top of the tart and invert. Serve immediately cut into wedges and accompanied by ice-cream, cream or crème fraiche.

Photography by Alan Benson.

Prep 45min (+ 20min chilling + 1.5hr cooling time)Bake 55minMakes 8-10 serves

The combination of fig, honey and almonds is a well-loved one. I’ve added the gentle pungency of fresh sage to this and the result is sublime. This tart is something special to reserve for autumn lunches when figs are at their best.

Ingredients

1 x quantity sweet sage shortcrust pastry, shaped into a rectangle before wrapping and chilling as directed
8 medium firm ripe figs (about 50g each), quartered
2 tablespoons honey, warmed, to brush
20 small sage leaves (optional), to serve
Icing sugar (optional), to dust
Honey ice cream or whipped cream, to serve

Frangipane

80g unsalted butter, at room temperature
75g (⅓ cup) caster sugar
2 tablespoons honey
1 orange, rind finely grated
2 eggs, at room temperature
50g (⅓ cup) plain flour
120g ground almonds (meal)

Method

1. Preheat oven to 200°C (180°C fan-forced).
2. Unwrap the pastry and place on a lightly floured, cool work surface. Gently pat the pastry with the palm of your hand to flatten slightly. Use a lightly floured rolling pin to roll the pastry into a rectangle about 4mm thick. Line a 11.5cm x 35cm (base measurement) tart tin, with a removable base, with the pastry. Roll the rolling pin over the top of the tart tin to trim any overhanging pastry.
3. Place tart case on a baking tray. Prick the pastry base with a fork (about 12 times). Line the pastry case with greaseproof paper or foil and fill with pastry weights, dried beans or raw rice, making sure to press into the corners. Bake for 15 minutes.
4. Remove from oven and use the paper to lift the weights out of the case. Return the pastry case to the oven and cook for a further 5-10 minutes or until the pastry case is lightly golden and just cooked through. Remove the tart case from the oven and set aside to cool.
5. Reduce the oven temperature to 170°C (150°C fan-forced).
6. To make the Frangipane, use an electric mixer to beat the butter, sugar, honey and orange rind until pale and creamy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition, until well combined. Combine the flour with the ground almonds and mix evenly. Add to the butter mixture and mix on low speed until just combined. Spoon the frangipane into the cooled tart case and spread evenly. Press the fig quarters, cut side up, randomly into the frangipane.
7. Bake for 50-55 minutes or until the frangipane is just set and the pastry is golden and crisp. Remove the tart from the oven and place, still in the tin, on a wire rack.
8. Brush the warm tart with the honey and set aside to cool (this will take about 1 hour). Sprinkle with the small sage leaves and icing sugar, and serve slices accompanied with ice cream or cream.

This recipe is from Anneka's SBS Food online column, Bakeproof: Autumn Fruits. CLICK HERE for more Bakeproof recipes.

Photography by Alan Benson.