Best Plum Tarts Recipes

PLUM TARTS

Steps:

• Make dough:
• Combine flour, butter, sugar, salt, and zest in a food processor and pulse until most of mixture resembles coarse meal with remainder in small (roughly pea-size) lumps. Add yolks and process just until incorporated and mixture begins to clump.
• Turn mixture out onto a work surface and divide into 4 portions. Smear each portion once with heel of your hand in a forward motion to help distribute fat. Gather together 2 portions of dough and form into a ball; make another ball with other 2 portions.
• Pat out each ball of dough with floured fingertips into a tart pan, in an even 1/4-inch layer on bottom and up sides (about 1/8 inch above rim). Chill 30 minutes, or until firm.
• Make filling while shells chill:
• Stir together sugar and cornstarch in a large bowl. Add plums and lemon juice and toss to coat. Let stand, stirring occasionally, 30 minutes, or until juicy.
• Assemble and bake tarts:
• Preheat oven to 425°F.
• Arrange plum halves, skin sides down, in tart shells, overlapping in a rosette pattern (see photo, opposite). Halve any remaining plums lengthwise and randomly tuck in between plum halves in tarts. Pour all juices from bowl over plums.
• Bake tarts in middle of oven 15 minutes, then reduce temperature to 375°F. Cover tarts loosely with foil and bake until plums are tender and juices are bubbling and slightly thickened, 40 to 50 minutes more. Brush warm juices in tart over plums. (Juices will continue to thicken as tarts cool.) Cool tarts completely in pans on a rack.

PLUM AND APRICOT PUFF PASTRY TARTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F.
• Scrape seeds from vanilla bean with a knife into a small bowl, discarding pod, and stir in sugar and cinnamon.
• On a lightly floured surface roll out pastry 1/8 inch thick and cut out two 6- by 5 1/2-inch rectangles. Arrange pastry on a baking sheet and fold edges in on all sides to form 1/2-inch borders, leaving corners unfolded. Form points at corners by twisting ends and pressing them gently onto baking sheet. On pastry arrange plum and apricot slices, overlapping them slightly, in rows and sprinkle with sugar mixture.
• Bake tarts in middle of oven until pastry is golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes. Cool tarts on a rack and brush with jam.
• Serve tarts warm with ice cream.

PLUM TARTS WITH HONEY AND BLACK PEPPER

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425°. Cut pastry into six 4" squares, place on a parchment-lined baking sheet, and prick all over with a fork. Top with plums, leaving a 1/2" border. Sprinkle with sugar; season with a few grinds of pepper.
• Bake tarts, rotating pan halfway through, until edges of pastry are puffed and golden brown, 25-30 minutes. Drizzle with honey and sprinkle with salt just before serving.
• Do ahead: Tarts can be baked 4 hours ahead. Keep at room temperature.

UPSIDE-DOWN PLUM TARTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degree. Cut out four 4-inch circles frompuff pastry, and transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet.Freeze for 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat butter and sugar in a 12-inch saute panover medium heat, stirring constantly, until butter melts. Addplums and salt, and cook, stirring frequently, until plums beginto soften, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat, and addbrandy. Return to heat, and swirl pan until alcohol cooks off,about 1 minute.
• Divide plums, cut sides down, and pan juices among four10-ounce ramekins. Top each with a puff pastry circle, andbake until edges are bubbling and tops are golden, about40 minutes. Let cool for 5 to 10 minutes. Carefully turn out intoshallow bowls, and serve each with a dollop of sour cream.

THREE-POINT ELEPHANT HEART PLUM TARTS WITH ROSEMARY PLUM COMPOTE AND MAPLE MASCARPONE CREAM

Steps:

• Make the tart shells: In a medium bowl, combine the cream cheese, butter, and flour until it just comes together. (There should still be streaks of cream cheese.) Remove the dough from the bowl, pat into a disc, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Roll out the dough into 1/8-inch thickness and cut into 6 (3-inch circles). Refrigerate on a parchment-lined sheet pan for 15 minutes.
• Make the filling: Dice 2 of the plums and toss together with 2 tablespoons of the granulated sugar, the cinnamon, and creme fraiche.
• Assemble the tarts: Brush the dough lightly with the beaten egg and spoon a generous tablespoon of the filling in the center of each circle. Lift up the edges of the tart and pinch 3 points of the tart about halfway to the filling to form the sides of the crust. Refrigerate for 30 minutes. Brush the edges of the crust with egg and sprinkle lightly with the remaining 1 tablespoon granulated sugar. Pinch the dough again to make sure it is tightly sealed and freeze for 10 minutes. Remove the tarts from the freezer and immediately bake at 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes, or until golden brown. Let cool slightly and dust with confectioners' sugar.
• Make the compote: Dice the remaining 2 plums and toss with simple syrup, lemon juice, and rosemary. Warm over medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes, until the plums are tender.
• Make the Maple Mascarpone Cream: Whip the Mascarpone and heavy cream together until medium stiff peaks form. Add the maple syrup and whisk together until smooth.
• Plate the tarts: Place 1 spoonful of plum compote in the center of each plate. Place a tart in the center of each plate and spoon some of the Maple Mascarpone Cream around the tart.

ALMOND PLUM TARTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Using a food processor, chop almonds until finely ground; do not allow to become a paste. Transfer to a bowl and set aside. Cut a small cross into stem end of each plum, and remove pit; set plums aside.
• In bowl of food processor, combine butter and sugar. Process until smooth. Add eggs, vanilla, flour and ground almonds. Process until just combined.
• Divide almond mixture among four 1-cup pudding or souffle dishes. Press a plum, cut side up, into center of batter; a portion of the plum will remain above the batter.
• Bake until filling is puffed and golden, 15 to 20 minutes. Garnish tarts with a dollop of whipped cream. Serve immediately.