Lattice Topped Apricot Tart Recipes

LATTICE-TOPPED APRICOT CROSTATA

Steps:

• Cut butter into 1/2-inch pieces. In a bowl whisk together flours, sugar, and salt. With your fingertips or a pastry blender blend in butter until most of mixture resembles coarse meal with remainder in small (roughly pea-size) lumps. In a cup with a fork stir together whole egg and yolk until combined well and stir into flour mixture. Stir in vanilla and lemon juice and with hands gently knead mixture just until it forms a dough.
• Preheat oven to 350° F.
• Form one third dough (about 1/2 pound) into a ball and flatten into a thin disk. Chill disk, wrapped in plastic wrap, while working with remaining two thirds.
• Reserve one fourth remaining dough and crumble remainder into an 11-inch tart pan with a removable bottom and pat out dough to evenly cover bottom (not side). With lightly floured hands roll reserved piece of dough into several 1/2-inch-thick ropes. Arrange ropes end-to-end around edge of pastry against rim of pan, pressing gently, to form a shallow side. Spread preserves over bottom.
• With a rolling pin roll out chilled dough between 2 sheets plastic wrap into an 11-inch round and transfer in plastic wrap to a baking sheet. Remove top sheet of plastic wrap and with a fluted pastry cutter cut round into 1-inch-wide strips. Freeze dough on baking sheet 10 minutes to firm up dough.
• Working quickly, carefully invert dough strips onto baking sheet and remove plastic. Arrange dough strips over tart in an open lattice pattern (do not make a woven lattice), trimming edges to fit inside rim of pan. (Don't worry if strips break while making the lattice. Just lay any broken pieces in place‑they will meld together during baking.) Brush lattice with cold water and sprinkle with sugar. Scatter almonds over crostata and bake in middle of oven 45 minutes, or until lattice is golden. Cool crostata in pan on a rack. Crostata may be made 2 days ahead and kept, loosely covered, at room temperature.

LATTICE-TOPPED APRICOT TART

Steps:

• for filling:
• Combine 1 pound apricots and 3 tablespoons water in heavy large saucepan. Bring to boil, stirring often. Cover; cook over medium heat until apricots are almost tender, stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes. Stir in sugar; cook uncovered until apricots are very tender, liquid evaporates and mixture thickens, about 10 minutes. Cool filling slightly. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover; chill.)
• for crust:
• Mix flour, sugar and salt in medium bowl to blend. Add butter. Rub in with fingertips until coarse crumbs form. Using fork, mix in yolks. Transfer to work surface. Knead gently just until dough comes together. Divide dough into 2 pieces, using 2/3 of dough for 1 piece and remaining 1/3 for second piece. Flatten into disks. Wrap each disk in plastic. Let stand at room temperature 30 minutes.
• Position rack in bottom third of oven and preheat to 350°F. Press larger dough disk onto bottom and up sides of 9-inch-diameter tart pan with removable bottom. Roll out second dough disk on parchment paper to 8-inch round. Cut dough into 1/2-inch-wide strips. Chill while filling tart. Spread apricot preserves evenly over bottom of unbaked crust. Spoon apricot filling over preserves. Arrange 1/2 pound apricot wedges atop filling. Arrange dough strips atop filling to form lattice. Trim ends of strips at tart pan edges. Brush lattice with egg glaze.
• Bake tart until crust is golden brown and fruit just bubbles, about 1 hour 10 minutes. Cool on rack 45 minutes. Using small knife, gently loosen tart from pan sides. Remove sides. Serve slightly warm or at room temperature.

LATTICE-TOPPED APPLE-APRICOT COBBLER FOR A CROWD

Steps:

• Pastry, in a large bowl, mix the flour, sugar and salt to combine.
• Cut the butter into about 16 pieces and scatter over the flour mixture.
• With a pastry blender, cut in the butter until pieces range in size from cornmeal to small peas.
• Tossing the mixture with a fork, add the milk 1 tablespoon at a time, until dough sticks together.
• Less milk might be sufficient, or mix in a little additional milk, if needed.
• With your hands, gather the dough into a ball and divide it into 2 equal portions; shape each into a flat disc and wrap each in plastic wrap.
• Refrigerate at least 2 hours before rolling.
• Adjust rack to lower third of oven.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• Filling, in a large bowl, toss the fruits. Add the sugars; toss gently.
• Add the zest; toss gently to mix thoroughly.
• Spoon fruits into a 9 x 13 x 2-inch baking dish or pan.
• Dot with butter.
• Lattice crust, on a lightly floured surface, roll half the dough into a 71/2 x 13-inch rectangle, 1/8-inch thick.
• With a fluted pastry wheel or sharp knife, cut it into 6 (13 x 11/4-inch) strips.
• Roll the remaining dough into a 10 x 9-inch rectangle, 1/8-inch thick; cut it into 8 (9 x 11/4-inch) strips.
• Weave a lattice top over the fruit, spacing the strips evenly.
• If desired, sprinkle the crust with additional granulated sugar.
• Bake 35 to 45 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown and the fruit juices are bubbly.
• Serve warm or at room temperature with vanilla ice cream or lightly whipped heavy cream, the same day as baked.
• A variety of fruits such as pears, nectarines, plums, figs, peaches, pitted cherries, blackberries or raspberries can be substituted for the apricots.

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.