A “Gluten Free” Fig and Frangipane Tart with a Peach Amaretto Glaze on an Almond Shortbread Crust

A “Gluten Free” Fig and Frangipane Tart with a Peach Amaretto Glaze on an Almond Shortbread Crust

Does anyone else long for the time of year that figs are in season? I adore this fruit! I have a special affinity with figs.. growing up we had plenty of them, a fig tree right outside my bedroom window in our backyard. When ripe, this fruit would produce the most plump, gorgeous, raspberry colored, juicy fruit EVER!!!!

Unfortunately, I haven't had as much luck with fruit trees as my parents did.. 'I'm still waiting for my apple tree, after having it now for three years, to bear fruit'. So when at the market recently eyeing these luscious gems I quickly snapped up a dozen.. only to be disappointed with the lack of flavor and sweetness. I needed some idea to make this tart more fragrant so that's when I decided to glaze the fruits with the peach amaretto jelly. It was a beautiful save!

I also have been using an almond shortbread crust for tarts, pecan pies and cheesecakes now for quite a few years. Adapting this recipe to Gluten Free didn't change the taste or texture one bit. The almond shortbread crust is actually a cookie.. but one time I had a pecan torte with a regular shortbread cookie crust and have been hooked on "shortbread" as pie bases ever since.

What You’ll Need..
6-9 Figs cleaned, tips removed and sliced four ways lengthwise
Gluten Free Almond Shortbread Crust
Gluten Free Frangipane
Peach Amaretto Jelly
Recipes Follow;

Almond Shortbread Crust
1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
1/4 cup granulated white sugar
1/2 tsp. bourbon vanilla extract
2/3 cup “gluten free” *all purpose flour
1/3 cup blanched almonds or almond flour (meal)
2 tablespoons brown rice flour or cornstarch
1/8 teaspoon salt

Pre-Heat the oven to 300 degrees. Pulse almonds with sugar in a food processor till finely ground, add rice flour, gluten free flour and salt. Pulse till well combined. Add butter and vanilla, mix just enough for the dough to start gathering together. Lightly butter the bottom of a tart pan or a cheesecake pan and up the sides a quarter of an inch. Press the shortbread mixture on the bottom. Pierce with a fork. Bake the crust in the pre-heated oven for 20 minutes. (It will cook again once the frangipane and figs are on top)

Frangipane
Adapted from the Foodie Handbook by Pim Techamuanvivit
½ cup blanched almonds
1/8 cup granulated sugar
¼ cup confectioner’s
7 tbsp. butter at room temperature
1 large egg
1 tsp. Amaretto

Preheat the oven to 350°. Spread the almonds evenly on a baking sheet and place them in the oven. Roast them for about 7-10 minutes,(kepp an eye on them) or until slightly toasted and fragrant. Transfer to a plate and let cool to room temperature.

Put the cooled almonds and the sugar’s into a food processor and process until fine. Add the butter, egg and amaretto, pulse until well combined. Leftovers can be wrapped with plastic and left in the refrigerator for a few days and in the freezer for up to one month.

Peach Amaretto Jelly
½ cup peach jam or homemade peach preserves
2-3 Tbsp. Amaretto
1 rounded tsp. honey


Mix the honey and amaretto in a small bowl, add the peach preserves and blend well. The mixture should be thin enough to brush on the figs, if it is still to thick, add a bit of water till the consistency is just right.


Putting It All Together

Pre-heat oven to 350°
Lay the fig slices on a tray. Lightly glaze the figs with the peach amaretto jelly.
Spread the frangipane over the top of the prepared par-baked Almond Shortbread Crust.
Layer the figs on top of each other starting on the outside going in so that the last figs will sit higher and create a flower type look. Drizzle the top lightly with more of the peach amaretto jelly so the crust and the frangipane have some of it as well.
Bake the tart in the pre-heated oven for 30-40 minutes.


*The recipe below is a blend to make your own gluten free all-purpose flour at home.

I buy mine pre packaged by Bob’s Red Mill.. only because it’s convenient at my local grocers.. but check out the link I provided for you below.. Living Without Magazine has a variety of flour blend recipes you can make at home.. Including a Gluten Free Pastry Flour blend!

Gluten Free All Purpose Flour
source Living Without Magazine

1/2 cup rice flour
1/4 cup tapioca starch/flour
1/4 cup cornstarch or potato starch

Two Toned Cocoa and Amaretto Pizzelles

Pizzelles.. they are the quintessential Italian treat that look wonderful plated at an elegant dessert table with it's beautiful floral lace pattern and it's crisp texture. It is a quick an easy cookie to prepare that is the talk of the room at many school parties or family get-together's.

The traditional recipe calls for anise and anise seeds..yes, like my Spungna Di Biscotti Cake.. but also like the Biscotti, it works well with many flavorings. During the holidays I'll give Pizzelle cookies as gift's, side-dipped in a chocolate coating and for more of a festive look sometimes sprinkled with fine glittery candies.

Here I made a two toned pizzelle with cocoa on one side and a dousing of Amaretto in the lighter version. Oh so yummy and flavorful,
and according to my husband, addictive.

Amaretto Pizzelles
(Makes about 2-3 dozen)

3 eggs, room temperature
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon amaretto liqueur
1-3/4 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder

In a large bowl, beat together the eggs and sugar.
Add the butter, vanilla, and amaretto.
Add the flour and baking powder and mix well.
The batter should be stiff enough to be dropped by spoon.
The batter can also be refrigerated for later use.

Cocoa Pizzelles
(Makes about 30)

2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled
1 cup sugar
3 eggs, room temperature
1/2 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Sift the flour, baking powder, and cocoa together in a bowl.
In another bowl, whisk together the butter and sugar.
Add the eggs, milk, and vanilla. Whisk until combined.
Add the flour mixture and blend until smooth.

*Heat the pizzelle baker and follow the directions for How to Make a Pizzelle.
Put half a teaspoon of each, cocoa and amaretto, side by side onto the iron to achieve the two toned affect. It takes practice.. but the result is beautiful and delicious!