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The Baking Life - Cherry Bakewell Bake

Cherry Bakewell Bake

BKC Mike
The classic cherry Bakewell tart recipe, a golden layer of shortcrust pastry filled with an almond cake, strawberry jam, and topped with icing and glacé cherries.
Prep Time 40 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Course Sweet
Servings 16

Ingredients
  

PASTRY

  • 115 g unsalted butter cold, cubed
  • 220 g plain flour
  • 1 large egg

FILLING

  • 8 tbsp strawberry jam seedless
  • 300 g unsalted butter softened
  • 300 g caster sugar
  • 6 medium eggs
  • 130 g ground almonds
  • 130 g self-raising flour
  • 2 tsp almond extract

ICING

  • 500 g icing sugar
  • 5 tbsp water
  • 8 glacé cherries halved

Instructions
 

PASTRY

  • In a large bowl, mix together the butter and flour until a fine crumb consistency is formed. Then add the sugar and mix until combined.
  • Add the egg and mix until a dough starts to form. Don’t over-mix otherwise the pastry will become stiff and brittle.
  • Turn the pastry out onto a lightly floured surface, and kneed it together until smooth and even. Form into a ball and flatten slightly, then wrap the pastry in clingfilm, and place in the fridge to rest for about 30 minutes.

FILLING

  • Preheat oven 180°C.
  • Line a 13x9-inch baking tray with baking paper.
  • On a lightly floured surface, roll out the pastry to fit in the base of the baking tray.
  • In a small bowl mix the jam with 2 tablespoons of warm water, then spread the jam over the pastry base.
  • Using a mixer, beat the butter and sugar together, until smooth and creamy. Then beat in the eggs, one at a time, adding 1 tablespoon of ground almonds after each addition.
  • Add the flour, remaining almonds, and almond extract, and stir well. Then, pour the mixture over the jam, spreading out to make an even layer.
  • Bake for 30 - 35 minutes until well risen, firm and golden. Remove from the oven and leave to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack.

ICING

  • In a medium sized bowl, mix together the icing sugar and 3 tablespoons of water, this will make a fairly thick icing
  • Once the bake is cool, pour the icing on top, spreading out evenly.
  • Decorate with glacé cherries, and leave to set (for added decor you could also spinkle with flaked almonds). Cut the bake into squares, serve, enjoy.
Keyword cherry bakewell, glacé cherries, pastry, strawberry jam, sweet, traybake