EASY CRANBERRY FRANGIPANE TART

Easy Cranberry Frangipane Tart image

My first experience with a frangipane tart was at a Friendsgiving celebration; one bite and I had fallen in love. The nutty almond filling is rich and buttery and is a perfect foundation for tangy cranberries. Using a simple but delicious cookie crumb crust makes it a breeze to bake up.

Provided by Dan Langan

Categories dessert

Time 2h15m

Yield 8 to 10 servings

Number Of Ingredients 19

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Ingredients

Nonstick baking spray
1 3/4 cups shortbread cookie crumbs (from about 16 cookies)
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1/8 teaspoon fine salt
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1 stick (8 tablespoons) unsalted butter, softened
1/3 cup (70 grams) granulated sugar
1/4 cup (50 grams) lightly packed light brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon fine salt
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon almond extract, optional
2 large eggs, at room temperature
1 large egg yolk, at room temperature
1 1/4 cups (125 grams) fine almond flour
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 cup fresh or frozen cranberries, halved
Confectioners' sugar, for dusting
3 tablespoons toasted sliced almonds

Steps:

For the crust: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Spray a 9-inch tart pan with removable bottom with baking spray and place on a sheet pan.
Combine the cookie crumbs, flour, sugar and salt in a food processor or medium bowl and pulse or mix until combined. Add the butter and blend until moistened. The mixture should clump together in your hand; if it seems dry, mix in 1 teaspoon water until combined.
Evenly press the crumbs into the bottom and up the sides of the tart pan. Bake until the center of the crust looks dry, about 12 minutes. Set aside on a wire rack to cool while you prepare the filling. Lower the oven temperature to 350 degrees F.
For the filling: Beat the butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and salt in a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment until smooth. Add the vanilla and almond extracts and beat a few seconds more. Add the eggs and yolk one at a time, beating well after each addition (don't worry if the mixture looks thin). Add the almond flour and all-purpose flour and mix on low until completely combined.
Pour the frangipane into the warm crust and smooth it out towards the edges -- it's fine if it melts a little. Place the cranberry halves on top, pushing them in just slightly.
Bake the tart at 350 degrees F until golden and set (not jiggly) and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 43 to 45 minutes. Let the tart cool completely on the rack before removing the outer ring and placing the tart on a platter. Dust the edges of the tart lightly with confectioners' sugar, then sprinkle the toasted almond slices around the edges of the tart.