Lemon frangipane tart

There’ someone you all know that is so obsessed with lemons that when she’s not making lemon cookies or lemon cakes there’s a lemon tart coming out of her oven. :D

Maybe because I am crazy for lemons I did not think this tart was lemony enough, but a friend of mine loved it and felt the lemon flavor even though I did not tell her there was any in the dessert. Now it’s up to you: if you’re like me, add a little lemon zest in the filling as well. ;)

Lemon frangipane tart
from Donna Hay magazine

Pastry:
1 ½ cups + 1 ½ tablespoons (225g) all purpose flour
½ cup + 1 tablespoon (127g) unsalted butter, chilled and cut into cubes
½ cup + 1 tablespoon (78g) icing sugar
pinch of salt
1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
3 egg yolks
1 tablespoon iced water

Filling:
100g unsalted butter, softened
½ cup + 1 tablespoon (112g) caster sugar
1 egg
1 egg yolk
1 ¼ cups (125g) almond meal (finely ground almonds)
¼ cup (35g) all purpose flour
¼ cup flaked almonds

Place the flour, butter, sugar, salt and zest in the bowl of a food processor. Process in short bursts until mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.
While the motor is running, add the egg yolks and water. Process just until the dough comes together. Turn dough into a lightly floured surface and gently bring together to form a ball. Using your hands, flatten into a disk, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour.
Roll dough between two sheets of lightly floured baking paper – if dough gets too soft, refrigerate for 5 minutes. Line a lightly buttered 22cm loose-bottomed tart pan with the pastry. Trim edges with a knife and prick the base with a fork. Freeze for 30 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F. Line the pastry with a piece of buttered foil and fill with baking weights/dried beans. Bake for 15 minutes, carefully remove the weights/beans and the foil, then bake for another 10 minutes or until the pastry is light golden.
Make the filling: place the butter and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer and beat until light and creamy. Gradually add the egg and egg yolk and beat until smooth. Stir through the almond meal and flour until well combined. Spoon mixture into pastry case and smooth the top. Sprinkle with the almonds and bake for 30-35 minutes or until the filling has puffed and turned golden. Allow to cool in the pan.

Serves 6-8 – I made 2/3 of the recipe above and used a 30x10cm (12x4in) pan