Mini Blackberry Bakewells Recipes

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Lightly butter a 12 hole muffin tin. Unroll the sheet of pastry and use a 10cm circular pastry cutter to cut 12 circles out of the pastry sheet. Press the cut circles into the holes of the tin, making sure they come right up and slightly over the top - pushing out any creases. Chill the pastry in the fridge for 20mins. Scrunch up 10cm x 10cm squares of baking paper and then un-scrunch and use to line each of the pastry tarts, then fill with baking beans, rice or dried pulses. Bake for 10 mins, then remove the paper and beans and bake for 10 mins longer, until golden brown. Set aside to cool a little.
• Make the filling by beating together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, then whisk in the egg, followed by the flour (the flour will prevent the mixture from splitting). Fold in the ground almonds. Spoon a level tsp of cherry jam into each of the pastry shells, followed by a tablespoon of the frangipane mixture. Bake for 20 mins, until the frangipane is golden and springy. Set aside to cool completely. Neaten the edges of the pastry with a small knife or scissors if you like.
• Mix the icing sugar with 2 tbsp water. Spread the icing over each of the tarts, top each with a glacé cherry, leave to set for 20 mins, then serve with tea.

Steps:

• To make the pastry, crumb the flour, butter and sugar with your hands until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs OR throw the ingredients into a food processor until the same result is achieved.
• Add the eggs and mix until the dough comes together but be careful not to over work the pastry or it will become tough. Flatten into a disc, and make about 2-3 dozen mini pies in a muffin tin. Heat the oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4.
• Put a teaspoon of rassberry jam into the bottom of each tart. Beat the eggs. Cream together the butter and sugar. Then gradually add the beaten eggs and egg yolk. Fold in the ground almonds and lemon zest*.
• Carefully spoon the mixture over the jam. Bake for 20 mins and sprinkle with flaked almonds* and bake for a further 10 - 15 mins or until golden brown and set. Cool to room temperature, dust with icing sugar and serve with pouring cream or custard. * - optional
• They keep well in an airtight container for almost a week but that shouldn't be an issue.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5. Divide the raspberry jam between 12 uncooked tartlet cases. Beat the softened butter with the golden caster sugar, then gradually beat in the eggs followed by the ground almonds and flour. Sprinkle with a few flaked almonds and bake for 15-20 mins.

Steps:

• To make the base, melt the butter, then sizzle until it turns a nutty brown if you want some extra flavour. Blitz the biscuits into crumbs using a food processor, then add the melted butter and blend to mix. Press the crumbs into a lined 20cm square tin, then chill until set.
• Make the filling by beating the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, tip in the flour and almonds and continue beating, then spoon into a piping bag.
• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Remove the tin from the fridge, then spread over the jam, leaving a gap around the edge. Pipe the filling mixture on top, making sure you start with the edge around the jam. Press in the blackberries, sprinkle over the caster sugar and bake for 45-50 mins. The frangipane should be cooked all the way through with a sugary crust on the top. Remove from the oven and leave to cool. Can be made the day before and kept, wrapped, at room temperature. Bring to the picnic in the tin, then cut into squares and serve with a large spoonful of clotted cream.