How to make Bakewell Tarts: Easy recipe for kids

What have you baked during the coronavirus lockdown? 

During the lockdown, we've really been getting into baking. Our best discovery is that Bakewell tarts don't have to be shop bought, as they are pretty easy to bake at home. It's a recipe that is also easy to get the kids involved with making. 

To see how we made a variety of Bakewells tarts, big and small read on ...

How to make Bakewell Tarts: 

An Easy recipe for kids

A nation of lockdown bakers

Our enforced homeschooling during the coronavirus in the UK has included a weekly cookery class. It has been fun and a great way to break up the online lessons and learning platforms - as well as providing tasty treats for the whole family. 

It seems we are not the only ones to increase the amount of baking we do. With supermarket shelves empty of flour for weeks the BBC reported that figures from market researchers Nielsen show that sales of baking products were up by almost two-thirds over the same period when compared with 2019.

I'd always thought Bakewell Tarts would be quite difficult to make and therefore easier to buy, however, that is not the case. Essentially they are just Jam Tarts with some extra toppings. First, you make the pastry, shortcrust which easy for kids to make. Then add a layer of jam, topped with a layer of the filling and finished with almonds before baking. They really didn't last very long once they were out of the oven and cooled.

Bakewell Tart Recipes

There are a number of recipes online from favourites such as Mary Berry, Jamie Oliver, Paul Hollywood and The Hairy Bikers amongst many.

When we first made the large Bakewell tart we couldn't buy flaked almonds in the supermarket so instead, we used whole almonds. By the time we'd made the individual tarts we'd found flaked almonds and then on the third baking of  Bakewell Tart we topped it flaked almonds covered with icing sugar and cherries - so became a Bakewell Tart & Cherry Bakewell hybrid. I can happily report that all three are delicious!

Ingredients

Short-crust pastry

• 175g/6oz plain flour
• 2-3 tbsp cold water
• 75g/2½oz chilled margarine or butter (we used dairy-free which was fine)

Filling

• Raspberry jam
• 125g/4½oz margarine or butter (we used dairy-free which was fine)
• 125g/4½oz caster sugar
• 125g/4½oz ground almonds
• 1 free-range egg, beaten
• ½ tsp vanilla extract (this should have been almond except we didn't have any and could not source any during lockdown)
• 100g/4oz whole almonds or 50g/2oz flaked almonds

Icing

• Icing sugar
• Water
• Glace Cherries (optional)

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas 6 (180C fan)
2. Use an 8" round baking tin (mine has a detachable base which makes it easier when removing the tart) or baking tray for 12 individual cakes - line or grease to prevent sticking.
3. Make the short-crust pastry by rubbing the butter or marg into the flour. This is great to get the kids to do but you may find pastry mix right up to their wrists rather than just on their fingertips. Cold hands are best for this to prevent the marg/butter melting too much.
4. Once it resembles breadcrumbs it is time to mix in a small amount of water - just take a tablespoon at a time - and stop when there is enough to form a dough which is not too dry or too sticky. Since I learnt to cook at school I've mixed my pastry with a metal knife - it still seems to work.
5. Roll out the pastry until 1/2 cm thick then either cut 12 individuals rounds or cover the whole tin when making a sharing tart.
6. Bake blind for about 15 minutes. Most recipes call for the pastry to be baked blind. This is probably best but we didn't have any baking beans so improvised by placing a baking tin of the same size on top of the pastry to prevent it rising when cooking. Then remove either the beans or empty tin and bake for a further 5 minutes. Once you have removed the tart(s) Reduce oven to 180C/Fan 160/gas 4.
7. Spread raspberry jam generously over the pastry at the bottom of the tart - kids will love doing this part bit do be careful of the tin is still hot to touch.
8. To mix the frangipane filling melt the marg/butter - either in a pan or in the microwave, then add the sugar, ground almonds, Vanilla or almond extract and the egg.
9. Spread this mixture on top of the raspberry jam and top with either flaked almonds or whole almonds.
10. Bake for about 35 minutes at 180C/Fan 160/gas 4.
11. Once cooled mix icing sugar with water - be very sparing with the water and either drizzle over the tart(s) or alternatively cover the tarts and add cherries to the top.
12. Serve to very happy people.

What is a Bakewell Tart?

A Bakewell tart is an English recipe which consists of a shortcrust pastry shell beneath layers of jam, frangipane, and a topping of flaked almonds. It is a variant of the Bakewell pudding, and according to Wikipedia is closely associated with the town of Bakewell in Derbyshire

What are the nutritional benefits of almonds?

Almonds contain lots of healthy fats, fibre, protein, magnesium and vitamin E. The health benefits of almonds include lower blood sugar levels, reduced blood pressure and lower cholesterol levels. They can also reduce hunger and promote weight loss. Almonds are rich in vitamin-E, which nourishes and softens the skin and also contain good amounts of magnesium, a nutrient which is linked to hair growth and thickness.

Deb x

To be kept up to date with events, new openings, recipes, things to do and child-friendly places to take the kids, plus giveaways then follow My Boys Club on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter too.

Or why not pin this on Pinterest?