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Categories:
walnuts flour sugar salt butter egg yolk water cream cheese goat cheese sugar eggs vanilla apricot candied walnuts walnuts sugar unsalted butter
Viewed: 60 - Published at: 2 years agoIngredients
- CRUST:
- 1 cup walnuts (about 4 ounces)
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 3 tablespoons sugar
- Salt
- 1 stick (4 ounces) chilled unsalted butter, cut into 1/2 -inch pieces
- 1 large egg yolk
- 2 tablespoons ice water
- FILLING:
- 1/2 pound cream cheese
- 6 ounces mild, soft goat cheese, such as Montrachet
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup apricot or raspberry preserves, melted and strained
- CANDIED WALNUTS:
- 3/4 cup walnuts (about 3 ounces)
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon unsalted butter
Method
- Make the crust: In a food processor, combine the walnuts, flour, sugar and a pinch of salt and pulse until finely ground. Add the butter and pulse until the mixture resembles coarse meal. In a small bowl, combine the egg yolk with the ice water, then add the mixture to the processor and continue pulsing just until the dough forms a ball. Transfer the dough to a work surface and shape into a 12-inch log. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 375°. Cut the dough into 8 equal pieces and flatten each piece slightly into a round. Using your fingers, press the dough into eight 4 1/2-inch tartlet pans with removable bottoms; the pans should be about 3/4 inch deep. Prick the bottoms a few times with a fork and bake the crusts directly on the oven rack for 15 to 18 minutes, or until golden and cooked through.
- Make the candied walnuts: In a medium nonstick skillet, cook the walnuts over moderately high heat, shaking the pan constantly, until toasted and fragrant, about 3 minutes. Add the sugar, lower the heat to moderate and cook, stirring constantly, until the sugar is melted and beginning to caramelize, about 2 minutes. Stir in the butter and immediately transfer the walnuts to a sheet of wax paper or parchment paper. Let cool completely, then break the clusters into smaller pieces.
- Make the filling: In a medium bowl, beat the cream cheese, goat cheese and sugar until smooth. Beat in the eggs and vanilla.
- Preheat the oven to 350°. Brush the tartlet bottoms with half of the preserves. Fill each tartlet with 1/4 cup of the custard and smooth the tops. Set the tartlets on a large baking sheet and bake in the lower third of the oven for about 15 minutes, or until the custard is just set. Transfer the tartlets to a rack and let cool for 30 minutes in their pans. Brush with the remaining melted preserves and sprinkle with the candied walnuts. Serve warm or at room temperature.
- Make Ahead: The recipe can be prepared to this point the day before. Let the crusts stand at room temperature; store the candied walnuts in an airtight container; and refrigerate the custard. Let the custard return to room temperature before baking.
