Apple and Almond Tart

The apple and almond tart is a delightful and comforting dessert. Here is the recipe with an Italian twist that includes the addition of a splash of amaretto liqueur.

Ingredients

• 250 g of shortcrust pastry (you can use ready-made shortcrust pastry or make it at home)
• 3-4 apples (Golden Delicious or Annurca)
• 100 g of granulated sugar
• 150 g of ground almonds (or almond flour)
• 50 g of butter
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
• 1 pinch of ground cinnamon (optional)
• Icing sugar for decorating (optional)
• 2 tablespoons of amaretto liqueur (optional)

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 180 °C.
2. If you are making the shortcrust pastry at home, work the soft butter with the sugar, add the egg, flour, and a pinch of salt until you get a homogeneous dough. Wrap in cling film and let it rest in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.
3. Roll out the shortcrust pastry into an even layer and line a previously buttered and floured tart tin.
4. In a bowl, mix the ground almonds with the sugar, egg, melted butter, vanilla, and, if desired, the cinnamon and amaretto until you get a smooth mixture.
5. Pour the almond mixture over the shortcrust pastry base in the tin.
6. Peel the apples, remove the core, and slice them thinly. Arrange the apple slices on top of the almond mixture, creating a fan pattern or as you like.
7. Bake the tart for about 40-45 minutes, until the surface is golden and the apples are soft.
8. Let it cool before dusting with icing sugar, if you wish.

For an even more Italian touch, you might serve the tart accompanied by a glass of Vinsanto or another sweet Italian wine.

Curiosity

Apple tarts are classics in pastry making, and the addition of chopped almonds gives a texture and rich flavor that matches perfectly with the sweetness of the apple. If you use the Annurca apple variety, highly appreciated in Italy, you will achieve a taste even more tied to the territory.