Maids Of Honour

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Servings: 12 servings Difficulty: Advanced
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Elegant individual custard tarts with flaky pastry, jam, and almond glaze
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Maids Of Honour

Author: chefs-mate Cooking Method: Cuisine: Courses:
Difficulty: Advanced
Servings: 12 servings Calories: 171

Description

Maids of Honour are delicate, individual custard tarts that offer a perfect balance of textures and flavors. The base is a rich, buttery shortcrust pastry lined with a layer of sweet jam, topped with a creamy cottage cheese and egg custard studded with golden raisins and almonds. Finished with a sweet almond icing glaze, these tarts are both visually appealing and delicious. They are a wonderful dessert for afternoon tea, special occasions, or as an elegant ending to a dinner party.

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 450°F (230°C).
  2. In a bowl, sift together the flour and salt.
  3. Add the cold butter pieces to the flour mixture and rub in with your fingertips until the mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs.
  4. Sprinkle in cold water, one tablespoon at a time, mixing gently until the dough comes together into a cohesive ball. Do not overwork.
  5. Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface into an oblong shape.
  6. Cut the dough into three equal strips.
  7. Take one strip, dot with small pieces of cold butter, and fold the other two strips over it like an envelope to enclose the butter.
  8. Roll out the folded dough again into an oblong, keeping the open end facing you.
  9. Repeat the butter-dotting and folding process two more times to create layers.
  10. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
  11. Roll out the chilled dough until it is wafer-thin.
  12. Cut out 12-15 circles large enough to line a standard 3-inch muffin tin.
  13. Press the pastry circles gently into the muffin tin cups, ensuring they cover the bottom and sides.
  14. Place about 1 teaspoon of jam into the bottom of each pastry-lined cup.
  15. In a separate bowl, beat the eggs, then mix in the sieved cottage cheese, almond extract, golden raisins, and chopped almonds until well combined.
  16. Spoon the custard mixture into the pastry tins over the jam, filling them almost to the top.
  17. Bake in the preheated oven at 450°F (232°C) for 10 minutes.
  18. Reduce oven temperature to 350°F (175°C) and continue baking for another 15 minutes, or until the custard is set and golden.
  19. Remove from oven and allow to cool in the tin for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
  20. For the topping, blend the confectioners sugar with enough water to create a thin, flowing glaze.
  21. Stir in the remaining almond extract.
  22. Spoon a small amount of the glaze over each cooled tart and let it set to harden before serving.

Nutrition Facts

Servings 12 servings

Amount Per Serving
Calories 171kcal
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 7.2g12%
Saturated Fat 2.3g12%
Cholesterol 35mg12%
Sodium 135mg6%
Total Carbohydrate 22.9g8%
Dietary Fiber 0.8g4%
Sugars 12.5g
Protein 3.0g6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

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