Aga Bakewell Tart

A classic dessert tart with a shortcrust pastry base, jam layer and moist almond filling. Simple and quick to bake in the AGA without blind baking the pastry first.

Serve warm or cold as a dessert with softly whipped cream or Cow & Cacao gelato or just on its own with a cup of tea.

Recipie: Naomi Hansell

Difficulty:

Prep time: 15 minutes

Cook time: 45 minutes

Serves: 12-16

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Dessert

Ingredients

375g sweet shortcrust pastry, ready rolled is ideal, or alternately you can make homemade pastry (see below for details)
Several large spoonfuls (approx 100g) of strawberry or raspberry jam
335g soft butter
335g caster sugar
5 eggs (or 6 if they are small)
335g ground almonds
1 tsp almond essence
A small handful (approx 25g) flaked almonds, to decorate

Homemade AGA Sweet Shortcrust Pastry (to line a 24cm deep round tin.)

250g plain flour
125g chilled butter, in 1 cm cubes
3 tbsp icing sugar
A pinch of salt
An egg, lightly beaten

Method

First make the pastry if necessary. Rub the flour and butter together until they look like breadcrumbs. Add the icing sugar and pinch of salt. Mix to a dough with the beaten egg, form into a ball, flatten slightly, wrap in grease-proof paper and chill for 30 mins.
Roll out the pastry, using the width of the tin as a guide and allowing for the sides. Press into the tin, trim off the top edge and prick the base with a fork. Set aside in the fridge or freezer for a few minutes while you prepare the filling.
Put the butter, sugar, eggs, ground almonds and almond essence into a bowl or food processor or mixer and mix until combined.
To assemble the tart, spread the jam on the uncooked pastry base. Spoon the almond mixture on top and spread out gently. Scatter over the flaked almonds.
Bake in the AGA roasting oven, on the floor of the oven, using the floor grid if necessary (see note). Cook for 25 mins initially and for a further 10 - 15 mins as needed. The tart is cooked when the filling is just firm to the touch. If the almonds are well cooked and the filling is still soft, insert the AGA cold plain shelf above the tart and continue to cook. This will protect the top from browning further whilst allowing the filling and pastry to cook fully.
Serve warm or cold. Suitable for freezing. Defrost at room temperature.

AGA Sweet Shortcrust Pastry

Put the flour and butter together in a large bowl and rub together using fingertips to look like breadcrumbs. Stir in the icing sugar and pinch of salt.

AGA Models

Use a floor grid if necessary. To bake in a modern electric aga (AGA total control, AGA eR7, AGA eR3, AGA R3, AGA 60) where a floor grid is provided, place the grid on the floor of the roasting oven before baking and place the tart directly on top to bake for the same time.

R6 setting can be used for baking in an AGA eR7. Reduce the cooking time by a few minutes.