Apricot Cream Cheese Tart Recipes

APRICOT AND CREAM CHEESE PASTRY

Steps:

• Line a baking tray with baking paper - See Note 6Remove the pastry from the freezer and defrost - See Note 7Preheat oven to 200 degrees C (400 F).
• Drain the canned apricots through a sieve. Then place on some kitchen towel, cut side down, to remove as much moisture as possible and avoid making your pastries soggy.
• Combine cream cheese, vanilla and icing/confectioners' sugar and mix well.
• Cut the puff pastry into eight 10 cm/4" squares.
• To make the shape that I have used, fold the square loosely in half diagonally to form a triangle. - See Note 8.
• To shape the pastry, use a very sharp knife and make two cuts along the outside edge of the triangle, about ½ " wide, but not cutting right through to the tip of the triangle.
• Open the triangle and gently lift the right-hand strip of pastry over to the left, placing it on the square of pastry.Place pastry on baking tray to shape and top. (It is difficult to move once assembled).
• Repeat with the left-hand strip, taking it to the right-hand side. The pastry creates a frame around the filling.
• Divide the cream cheese mixture between the pastry shapes.
• Place an apricot half on top of the cream cheese.
• Brush the edges of the pastry with the beaten egg and sprinkle with a teaspoon of demerara sugar.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes until the pastry becomes golden-brown.
• Meanwhile, add the jam to a small saucepan and heat over medium heat, adding a teaspoon of water if necessary to thin it a little. If there are large pieces of jam it will be best to push the jam through a sieve. If not, brush each apricot with some of the jam to give them a nice shine.
• Allow the pastries to cool for a few minutes before serving. However, if not serving immediately, store the cold pastries in an airtight container in the fridge for a day or two or freezer if keeping longer. Re-heat for a few minutes before serving.

APRICOT CHEESECAKE TART

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Pulse crackers, butter, 2 tablespoons sugar, and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a food processor until crumbs are moistened. Transfer to a 10 1/2-by-7 1/2-inch tart pan with a removable bottom; using a flat-bottomed glass or measuring cup, press crumbs evenly into bottom and up sides. Bake until crust is firm, about 15 minutes. Transfer pan to a wire rack; let cool completely. Reduce oven temperature to 325 degrees.
• In the bowl of a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat together cream cheese and sour cream on medium speed until smooth. Add 3/4 cup sugar; continue beating until smooth. Add vanilla and remaining pinch of salt; beat to combine. Add eggs; beat until smooth, scraping down sides of bowl as needed. Fill crust with cream-cheese mixture; smooth top.
• Heat jam in a small saucepan to loosen. Strain into a small squeeze bottle; let cool. Squeeze small dots of jam onto cream-cheese mixture in evenly spaced lines. Bake until just set, about 25 minutes. Transfer pan to a wire rack and let cool slightly, then refrigerate until firm, about 2 hours. Cut into squares.

CHERRY-APRICOT CREAM CHEESE TART

Steps:

• Make crust:
• Blend flour, sugar and salt in processor. Add butter and process, using on/off turns, until mixture resembles very coarse meal. Add yolk and process until moist clumps form. Gather dough into ball; flatten into disk. Wrap in plastic; chill 1 hour. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Keep chilled. Let soften slightly at room temperature before rolling out.)
• Make filling:
• Beat cream cheese and orange peel in medium bowl to blend. Whisk sugar, yolks, cornstarch and flour in small bowl until smooth. Bring milk to simmer in saucepan. Gradually whisk hot milk into yolk mixture; return to same pan. Whisk over low heat until custard thickens and boils. Cool custard 15 minutes. Beat barely warm custard into cream cheese mixture. Press plastic wrap directly onto surface of filling; chill until cold, at least 3 hours and up to 1 day.
• Roll out dough on lightly floured surface to 12-inch round. Transfer to 9-inch-diameter tart pan with removable bottom. Press dough gently into place; trim excess dough. Freeze 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 400°F. Line crust with foil; fill with dried beans or pie weights. Bake crust 10 minutes. Remove foil and beans. Reduce oven temperature to 375°F. Bake crust until golden, piercing with fork if bottom bubbles, about 5 minutes. Cool crust in pan on rack.
• Spread cream cheese filling over crust. Arrange cherries, cut side down, in 2 concentric circles around edge of tart. Arrange apricots in middle of tart, overlapping slightly. Place any remaining cherries in center. Stir preserves in saucepan over low heat until beginning to melt. Strain into small bowl. Brush enough preserves over fruit to glaze. Serve immediately or chill up to 6 hours.