When family birthdays come up I always let the birthday boy or girl select the party menu, but timing is a little off this month and my daughter will have to settle for her choice of dessert and save the beef and cheese fondue celebration until after my older daughter and I return from Europe. We all will get together this weekend to celebrate and I’ll rely on a family favorite, make ahead meal so I don’t end up with every pot and plate in the kitchen needing to be washed and put away the evening before we leave.
My mother made this tart for my daughter for special occasions since she was a little girl. Its easy to put together, no pastry rolling involved, and comes out of the oven full of roasted almonds and gooey caramel. I know you will love it if you try it. We don’t top it with anything, but a scoop of ice cream might be a delicious addition.
Almond Tart
CRUST:
- 2 cups flour
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- 3/4 cup butter
- 2 large egg yolks
Blend flour, sugar and butter with a pastry blender. Stir in the egg yolks and mix till dough forms a ball. Press into the bottom and sides of a 11 – 12 inch tart pan with removable bottom. Don’t try to roll out this pastry. Spread evenly and bake at 325 degrees for 10 minutes.
FILLING:
- 1-1/2 cups whipping cream
- 1-1/2 cups sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon grated orange peel
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 cups sliced almonds
- dash salt
Bring mixture to a boil, stirring. Reduce heat and cook 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from the heat and add vanilla, salt and almonds. Pour into shell and bake at 375 degrees till lightly browned, about 30 – 35 minutes. Watch carefully. Remove from pan when cool.
Yay, another Foodie Friday at Designs by Gollum. Skip on over to her blog to see who has entered this week. You’re sure to find some wonderful recipes and make some new friends.
This looks absolutely incredible. It’s impossible not to love the almond and caramel combination. Very, very nice, Cathy.
Oh my goodness! Such wonderful flavors. Ver nice, Cathy.
Almonds and caramel – I LOVE those flavors! This looks so good and SO easy. Thanks, Cathy!
That looks delicious. I love almonds in a tart.
I love anything almond — this may be my next dessert!
Martha
What a beautiful dessert and I loved reading the background. You evidently have April birthday’s also? We have an abundance of them and the birthday person always gets to select the menu 😉
Wishing you a wonderful and memorable trip, Cathy!
Almonds are a girls best friend:) My fave!
Bon Voyage and thanks so much!
Mmmm Cathy, I would love a piece of that! Anything nutty and crunchy is right up my alley!
Fabulous! So nice that your Mom handed this recipe to you& now you are sharing it with me. Thanks.
Joyce
This looks absolutely wonderful!! I love the ingredient list – so simple and easy. This is also going into my to-do list. Thanks for sharing.
LOVE the almond/caramel combo.. this looks amazing, Cathy. So very delicious.
“Roasted almonds and gooey caramel” I want that. Thanks for sharing the recipe. Can’t wait to try it.
I might have to bust my diet for this one. Looks YUMMY….
My hubby can’t have pecan pie because of his allergies, so I’m excited to make this instead! It looks wonderful!
This looks wonderful Cathy! What a special b-day treat. Have a wonderful trip to Europe, you lucky girl.
Hey Miss Cathy! I’m a nut lover…just ask my hubby, cause he’s the biggest nut I know. Although he would say it’s me.
I like easy recipes with a great presentation this covers both.
I’m going to be making the ham roll ups for my son and DIL. They’re coming down from Seattle this weekend. I hope the weather is as sunny as the weatherman predicts. It would be wonderful to enjoy these dishes in the sunshine.
Sweet wishes,
Sara
It really looks so good and really pretty. And even before you mentioned the vanilla ice cream, it was exactly what came to mind. The prefect dessert!
Cathy, that looks delicious! I like the no rolling of the dough!
OMG, this looks so good. Such a temptation. I love your pictures!
This looks wonderful! Wow!
What a beautifully scrumptious looking tart!
Nice to meet a fellow Portlander!
Wow! This looks so delicious. I can’t wait to give it a try.
The gooey caramel makes it sound extra tasty :).