Apricot Cream Cheese Tartlets In Macadamia Crust Recipes

AMARETTO CHOCOLATE TART WITH APRICOT CREAM

Steps:

• Place an oven rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Liberally butter the tart pan.
• For the crust: Combine the all-purpose flour, almond flour, almonds, cocoa powder and sugar in a food processor. Process until the almonds are finely ground. Add the butter and pulse until the mixture forms a coarse meal. With the processor running, gradually add 2 tablespoons of iced water until the mixture forms a ball, adding extra water, as needed, if the mixture is too dry. Form the dough into a disc and wrap in plastic. Refrigerate for 20 minutes.
• Roll out the dough into a 10-inch circle on a lightly floured work surface. Place the dough in the tart pan and trim any excess dough from the top of the pan. If the dough cracks, press scraps of dough into the cracks to seal. Prick the dough all over, using a fork, and bake for 15 minutes. Let the crust cool for 15 minutes.
• For the filling: Place the chocolate and butter in a small bowl over a saucepan of barely simmering water. Stir occasionally until the chocolate has melted and the mixture is smooth. Beat the eggs, liqueur, sugar and vanilla in a medium bowl. Pour the melted chocolate into the egg mixture and whisk until smooth. Pour the filling into the prepared crust. Place the tart pan on a baking sheet and bake until the filing has set and begins to crack slightly on top, 22 to 25 minutes. Allow the tart to cool completely, about 1 hour.
• For the apricot cream: Beat the cream at high speed until stiff peaks form, using a hand mixer. Add the jam and vanilla. Beat until the jam is incorporated into the cream.
• Remove the tart from the pan and cut into thin wedges. Serve with a dollop of apricot cream.

APRICOT TARTS

Steps:

• In a small bowl, beat the butter, cream cheese and flour until blended. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour. , For filling, in a small saucepan, bring apricots and water to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes. Drain. Add the pecans, sugar, marmalade, cinnamon and cloves; set aside., Shape dough into 24 balls. Press onto the bottom and up the sides of greased miniature muffin cups. Spoon filling into cups. , Bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes or until browned. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely. , For topping, in a small bowl, beat cream cheese and butter until smooth. Beat in vanilla. Gradually beat in confectioners' sugar until smooth. Spoon a dollop onto each tart. Store in the refrigerator.

APRICOT-CREAM CHEESE TARTLETS IN MACADAMIA CRUST

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Blend nuts, 6 tablespoons sugar and flour in processor until nuts are finely chopped. Add butter. Process until mixture begins to clump together, divide equally among four 4-inch-diameter tartlet pans with removable bottoms. Press mixture onto bottom and up sides of pans. Bake until crusts are golden and set, about 13 minutes. Transfer pans to racks; cool completely.
• Combine wine, water and 1/3 cup sugar in large nonstick skillet. Scrape in seeds from vanilla bean; add bean. Stir over medium heat until sugar dissolves. Increase heat and boil until liquid is slightly thickened and reduced to generous 1/2 cup, about 5 minutes. Discard vanilla bean. Cool syrup to room temperature.
• Combine cream cheese, preserves and 2 tablespoons vanilla syrup in processor; purée until smooth. Spoon filling into crusts; smooth tops. Refrigerate until set, about 1 hour. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Keep tartlets chilled. Cover syrup and let stand at room temperature.)
• Transfer 2 tablespoons vanilla syrup into small bowl. Add apricots to syrup in skillet; toss gently to coat. Arrange apricot slices decoratively atop filling in crusts. Brush apricot slices with reserved 2 tablespoons vanilla syrup. Refrigerate tartlets 30 minutes. Serve chilled.

GOAT CHEESE TART WITH HONEYED APRICOTS

Steps:

• Make the crust: Pulse the flour, granulated sugar and salt in a food processor until combined. Add one-third of the butter and pulse until incorporated. Add the remaining butter and pulse until the mixture looks like coarse meal with bits of butter throughout, about 3 pulses. Add the vinegar and 3 tablespoons ice water; pulse 3 or 4 more times to combine. Squeeze the dough between your fingers; if it doesn't hold its shape, add 1 more tablespoon ice water and pulse again. Pat the dough into a disk, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 1 hour. Position a rack in the lower third of the oven; preheat to 400 degrees F. Lightly butter a 9-inch tart pan with a removable bottom. Roll out the dough into a 10-inch circle on a floured surface. Ease the dough into the pan and press into the bottom and sides; trim the excess. Pierce the dough all over with a fork. Refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes. Line the dough with aluminum foil and fill with dried beans. Bake until set, about 20 minutes. Remove the foil and beans; continue baking until golden, about 15 more minutes. Transfer to a rack and let cool completely.
• Make the filling: Beat the goat cheese and 1/3 cup granulated sugar in a large bowl with a mixer on medium speed until creamy, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the 4 egg yolks and beat until combined, about 1 minute. Add the cornstarch, vanilla and cognac and beat until smooth, about 1 minute, scraping down the bowl as needed. In a separate large bowl, beat the 3 egg whites until foamy. Add the salt and the remaining 1 tablespoon granulated sugar and beat until soft peaks form, 1 to 2 minutes. Using a rubber spatula, fold the beaten egg whites into the yolk mixture until combined, then pour into the prepared crust. Bake until the filling is set and golden on top, about 20 minutes. Transfer to a rack and let cool completely.
• Make the topping: Bring the granulated sugar, honey, cinnamon, cognac, vanilla and 1/3 cup water to a simmer in a small skillet over medium heat; cook until syrupy, 5 to 7 minutes. Add the apricots and cook 3 more minutes, then add the lemon juice. Let cool completely. Use a small knife to loosen the tart, then remove the springform ring. Dust with confectioners' sugar. Serve at room temperature with the apricot topping. Photograph by Johnny Miller

APRICOT-ALMOND TARTLETS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine flour and confectioners' sugar; cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add egg yolk and water; stir until dough forms a ball. Roll into twenty-four 1-in. balls. Press onto the bottoms and up the sides of greased miniature muffin cups., In a small bowl, beat almond paste and butter until blended; beat in egg white and almond extract. Spoon into tart shells, about 2 teaspoons in each., Bake at 350° until golden brown, 20-25 minutes. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks. Top with apricot preserves.

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.

FRESH FRUIT TART WITH MASCARPONE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease 2 tart pans.
• Blend flour, butter, and sugar together in a bowl using an electric mixer until combined. Divide mixture evenly and press into the bottoms of the prepared tart pans.
• Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, 12 to 15 minutes. Let cool completely.
• While crusts are cooling, beat cream cheese, mascarpone cheese, sugar, vanilla extract, nutmeg, and cinnamon together in a bowl using an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Spread mixture over cooled crusts. Arrange strawberries, blackberries, and kiwis on tart in desired design.
• Mix sugar and cornstarch together in a small saucepan. Pour in water and lemon juice. Cook over medium heat until clear and thick, about 2 minutes. Let glaze cool completely.
• Glaze the entire top of each tart gently using a pastry brush.

RICOTTA-APRICOT TART

Steps:

• Crust: In a medium-sized mixing bowl, cream the butter until light and fluffy. Add the sugar, salt and vanilla. Beat in the egg and half the flour, then add the remaining flour and mix until evenly blended. Gather the dough into a ball, flatten it into a thick disk, wrap it well, and refrigerate for 1 hour. Heavily flour your work surface and the dough. Roll the dough to fit a 10-inch tart pan or a 9-inch deep-dish pie pan. Place the dough in the pan, and prick it all over with the tines of a fork. (The crust will be blind-baked -- baked without any filling -- but it doesn't need to be weighed down with beans or rice or pie weights, as long as you prick it thoroughly with a fork.).
• Bake the crust in a preheated 425°F oven for 10 minutes. Turn the oven down to 350°F, and bake it until it's golden brown, about another 8 to 10 minutes. Remove the crust from the oven and cool it while making the filling.
• Filling: In a medium-sized bowl, mix together the ricotta cheese, cream, eggs, egg yolk, sugar, vanilla, Fiori di Sicilia or orange oil, and flour. Set aside.
• Peel and slice the apricots. To quickly peel apricots, fill a large pan with hot water. Bring it to a boil, and place the apricots in the pan. Bring back to a boil, and simmer for 2 to 3 minutes. Remove the apricots from the hot water and plunge them into a bowl of ice water. The skins should slip off easily.
• Assembly and Baking: Stone and slice the apricots. Pour the ricotta mixture into the tart shell. Place about 10 slices of apricot over the filling; they'll sink partially -- it's OK. Bake the tart in a preheated 350°F oven for about 45 minutes, until the filling looks mostly set.
• Sauce: Place the remaining sliced apricots into a medium-sized saucepan. Add the brown sugar, water, and brandy, if you're using it. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil, reduce the heat, and simmer until the apricots are cooked through and the sauce starts to thicken. Remove the sauce from the heat, and transfer it to a serving dish. It can remain at room temperature while the tart cools.
• Let the ricotta tart cool for several hours before cutting it into wedges. Spoon the sauce over each piece before serving, or serve it on the side. Refrigerate any leftover tart.

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.

PINEAPPLE-APRICOT CREAM CHEESE TART

Steps:

• Prepare crust as package directs. Center crust in 9-inch removable bottom tart pan. Fold down edges; pricking with fork. Bake at 450 degrees for 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool.
• In a 1-quart saucepan, bring 1 1/2 cups water to a boil. Add apricots. Simmer 10 minutes uncovered; drain and cool. Drain pineapple well, reserving 1/3 c of liquid. Blend cream cheese with sugar and ginger. Spread on crust.
• Arrange fruit on top. In a small saucepan, blend cornstarch with reserved pineapple juice. Cook, stirring constantly, until thickened. Brush over fruit. Chill.