A challenge you say? Oh yes please!
When Stocking Fillers contacted me to ask if I could create a Christmas recipe with a summer twist for their August advent calendar a big smile spread across my face and my brain began to whirr!! They have contacted selected bloggers to create a selection of Christmas recipes with a summer twist to be revealed each day on their website.
Some form of plum pudding…only with fresh plums? An almond and plum tart? Eventually I decided upon these wonderful nectarine, summer berry and amaretto tarts with almond marzipan crust!
Who needs an excuse to guzzle on mince pies in the summer? Well if you do then this is the recipe for you. Not only is it low carb, but it is grain-free, gluten-free, dairy-free and refined sugar-free too! They are entirely sweetened with fruit and even I can eat them on the GAPS/SCD diet, although I doubt I will be on that for much longer…more on that another time.
I have to say these are incredibly easy to make and very moorish! If you have a glut of summer berries in the garden (lucky you!) then you could dehydrate them either in a dehydrator or spread out on a baking tray and dried in a very low oven for about 6 hours.
They are not pretty to look at since you cannot roll out the pie crust. Instead you just push the dough into the tart tin and ignore the scrappy edges!
As always if you make the recipe please let me know what you think…and if you take any photos then do post them!
Nectarine, Summer Berry & Amaretto Tarts
Ingredients
- For the 'pastry'
- 200 g ground almonds - or whole almonds ground in a food processor/coffee grinder or blender
- 10 g melted coconut oil
- 1 medium free range egg
- 1 tsp honey
- 1/2 tsp almond extract
- For the filling:
- 110 g nectarines stoned - peeled and finely chopped
- 75 g dried strawberries
- 25 g dried summer berries of choice - I used blueberry and blackcurrant
- 25 g coconut oil
- 40 g date paste* or finely chopped - pitted dates soaked in boiling water for 30 minutes
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tbsp amaretto
- For date paste - makes 2 small jars:
- 375 g pitted - chopped dates covered with water and simmered for 20 minutes before pureeing
Instructions
- If you want to make date paste for use in the place of sugar in other recipes then start by making that. Otherwise cover 40g of pitted, chopped dates in boiling water and leave to soak for 30 minutes while you make everything else
- Place the chopped nectarine, dried fruit, coconut oil, cinnamon and date paste (if made) in a small pan and slowly bring to the boil. Reduce the heat and keeping the lid on cook for approx. 15 minutes stirring frequently until thick and sticky.
- If you haven't made date paste, mash the softened dates into the soaking water and add to the sticky fruit mixture. Stir well
- While the filling is cooking make the marzipan pie crust by combining the ingredients together in a small bowl until a dough forms
- Remove a walnut sized piece of dough from the bowl and press into one hole of a greased, shallow, 12 hole tart tin
- Repeat with the remaining dough
- Place the pastry cases into a pre-heated oven at 170 degrees (150 degree fan, gas 3.5) for 10 - 15 minutes making sure they do not get burnt
- Remove from the oven and fill with the fruit filling
- Leave to cool for 5 - 10 minutes before removing them from the tin and serving them either hot or cold
This post was sponsored by Stocking Fillers.
Kate - glutenfreealchemist says
Love these! Especially the tart case!!!
Toni @ Gym Bunny Mummy says
Wow, these look amazing! Love them.
Mel says
Vicki, these look yummy. You have to open your own café! I’ll come for afternoon tea every time we’re in Devon xxx
Vicki Montague says
I’ll open up just for you!!!
Vicki Montague says
Let me know what you think. I think they are delicious!!
Clare says
These look very tasty. I will have a go at this recipe. Thanks.
Vicki Montague says
Great! Do let me know what you think!