360g (12½ oz/1¾ cups) caster (superfine) sugar
700ml (1¼ pints/generous 3 cups) water
1 vanilla pod (bean) spilt lengthways
500g (1lb 2oz) fresh or frozen apricot halves
For the filling:
250g (9oz/generous 2 cups) ground almonds sifted
250g (9oz/1¾ cups) icing (powdered) sugar sifted, plus extra for dusting
300g (10½oz) whole eggs (about 6 eggs)
150g (5 ½ / 2/3 cup) unsalted butter, melted
You will also need:
A 10 cm (4 inch) pastry (cookie) cutter
Eighteen 7 cm (2 ¾ inch) diameter, 3 cm (1 ¼ inch) depth pomponette moulds
First prepare the pastry:
Prepare the pastry, then chill as instructed. Place the rested pastry on a lightly floured surface and roll out to 3 mm (1/8 inch) thick. Use a 10 cm (4 inch) pastry (cookie) cutter to cut out 18 discs. Line each pomponette mould with pastry (see page 44-45), then place back the fridge to rest for 30 minutes.
Next, make the poached apricots:
Put the sugar, water and vanilla in the saucepan and bring it the boil. Add the apricot halves, cover with the silicone baking paper cartouche (see page 32) and cook over a low heat for 3-5 minutes until the apricots are cooked and soft. Leave to cool.
Then the filling:
Mix the ground almonds and sugar together in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a whisk attachment. Add the whole eggs and mix on a medium speed until the mixture turns pale and thickens. Gently fold in the melted butter. Leave to thicken for 20 minutes.
To assemble & finish:
- Preheat the oven to 160C (313F/Gas 2-3). Place 2 cooked apricot halves into the base of each of the prepared tart cases. (1)
- Spoon the filling into a piping (pastry) bag and pipe it into each case until almost full. (2) Dust each tart generously with icing (powdered) sugar, then set aside for 10 minutes for the icing (powdered) sugar to melt. (3) Generously dust with sugar again, then use your finger to wipe the sugar from to edge of the tart. (4) Bake for 25-30 minutes, then leave to cool.
Best served fresh, but can be stored in an airtight container for up to 2 days.