There is nothing I don’t love about a summer fruit galette: the sugared and golden crust, crisp and flaky throughout; the delicate ratio of fruit to pastry; the rustic look of dough enveloping fruit.
At the height of stone-fruit season, I love nothing more than making these free-form tarts, always with a layer of frangipane slicked over the pastry, the combination of almond cream, warm fruit and buttery pastry nothing short of perfection.
But if I were feeling nitpicky and had to find one fault with this dessert it would be its circular shape, which doesn’t lend itself to feeding a crowd. And in this season of backyard celebrations, the height of which is nearing, feeding the masses is the name of the game, one at which cobblers and crisps , in the fruit-dessert category at least, succeed in particular.
But if a pie can be made to feed a crowd , so too can a galette, in spirit if not form. This past Sunday, instead of dividing my favorite tart dough into two halves destined for free-form tarts, I rolled it into a large rectangle and tucked it in a jelly roll pan. After smearing the whole batch of frangipane over its surface and arranging half a dozen sliced peaches over top, I brushed the fruit with melted butter, sprinkled it with sugar, and threw the slab “galette” in the oven.
Forty minutes later, the tart emerged, slices of fruit glistening, frangipane bubbling through the crevices. In rectangular form, the tart lacks only an outer inch of pastry per serving, a small compromise for feeding the hungry masses, nothing a little extra scoop of vanilla ice cream can’t make up for. Have a happy Fourth, Everyone.
This tart dough basically follows the classic 3:2:1 (flour:fat:liquid) by-weight ratio with the additions of sugar and salt:
This is the only pastry dough I make — I use it for pies, galettes, tarts, any sweet dessert requiring some sort of pastry shell. You can make it in the food processor if you have one, but it is easy to make using just a fork and knife as well:
When made with almond flour, the frangipane will be a lovely pale yellow:
If you don’t feel like buying almond flour, you can grind your own almonds, which will make the frangipane darker in color and coarser in texture but the flavor will still be great:
- tart dough (recipe below)
- frangipane (recipe below)
- peaches, nectarines, apricots, plums* (any stone fruit really), halved and pitted
- 4 tablespoons melted butter
- 2 to 4 tablespoons sugar for sprinkling
- vanilla ice cream for serving
*I used 6 peaches and 2 nectarines, but depending on the size and on the fruit you use, you may need more or less.
- Line a rimmed baking sheet (a jelly roll pan) with parchment paper leaving a few overhanging inches on each short end of the pan (which will help you transfer the tart to a cooling rack or cutting board). On a lightly floured work surface, roll disk out into a large rectangle (just larger than the size of the sheet pan) using flour as needed to prevent sticking. Transfer dough to prepared pan. Trim overhanging dough (and reserve for making cinnamon snails ). Place pan in fridge for 10 minutes.
- Cut the fruit into ½-inch thick slices. Set aside.
- Spoon the frangipane in center of tart and spread all the way to the edges. Arrange the fruit over the frangipane in a single layer slightly overlapping each slice with the next until the surface of the pan is covered.
- Preheat the oven to 400ºF. Chill tart again in the refrigerator for 10 minutes. Brush fruit with butter and sprinkle sugar over entire tart. Place in the oven for 35-45 minutes or until crust is golden. Let cool for five minutes on tray then slide parchment paper and tart onto a cooling rack. Let cool for another 20 minutes before slicing.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
Description
Note: Tart dough can be made up to a week in advance.
- 2½ (11.25 oz | 320g) cups all-purpose flour
- 2 T. sugar
- ½ tsp . table salt
- 16 T. (8 oz | 227g) unsalted butter
- ½ C. + 2 T. ( 4 oz | 114 g + 1 oz | 28g ) ice water
- In a large bowl, whisk flour, sugar and salt together (or pulse in food processor). Cut butter into flour and using the back of a fork or a pastry cutter, incorporate butter into flour mixture until butter is in small pieces. (If using food processor, pulse at 1-second intervals until butter is the size of peas.) Add ice water and continue to stir with fork until mixture comes together to form a mass. Add more ice water if necessary, one tablespoon at a time. Gently form mass into a ball, flatten to form a disk and wrap in plastic wrap (or divide into two equal pieces if making galettes). Chill until ready to use.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
Description
Note: Frangipane can be made up to a week in advance.
- 1 scant cup almond flour (or finely ground almonds*)
- ¼ C. sugar
- pinch of salt
- 4 T. butter at room temperature
- 1 egg
- 1 T. rum, brandy or bourbon
*If you can’t find almond flour or don’t feel like paying for it or don’t have it on hand, you can pulse almonds (whole, sliced, slivered, whatever) in the food processor. The color of the frangipane will be brownish if you use whole almonds and the texture of the finished frangipane might not be as smooth but the taste will still be great.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer or food processor, combine almond flour, sugar, salt, butter and egg. Pulse until combined, then add alcohol if desired. Pulse until smooth. Transfer to a storage container and chill until ready to use.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
tart dough (recipe below)
frangipane (recipe below)
peaches, nectarines, apricots, plums* (any stone fruit really), halved and pitted
4 tablespoons melted butter
2 to 4 tablespoons sugar for sprinkling
vanilla ice cream for serving
*I used 6 peaches and 2 nectarines, but depending on the size and on the fruit you use, you may need more or less.
- Line a rimmed baking sheet (a jelly roll pan) with parchment paper leaving a few overhanging inches on each short end of the pan (which will help you transfer the tart to a cooling rack or cutting board). On a lightly floured work surface, roll disk out into a large rectangle (just larger than the size of the sheet pan) using flour as needed to prevent sticking. Transfer dough to prepared pan. Trim overhanging dough (and reserve for making cinnamon snails ). Place pan in fridge for 10 minutes.
- Cut the fruit into ½-inch thick slices. Set aside.
- Spoon the frangipane in center of tart and spread all the way to the edges. Arrange the fruit over the frangipane in a single layer slightly overlapping each slice with the next until the surface of the pan is covered.
- Preheat the oven to 400ºF. Chill tart again in the refrigerator for 10 minutes. Brush fruit with butter and sprinkle sugar over entire tart. Place in the oven for 35-45 minutes or until crust is golden. Let cool for five minutes on tray then slide parchment paper and tart onto a cooling rack. Let cool for another 20 minutes before slicing.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
Find it online : https://alexandracooks.com/2013/07/02/peach-frangipane-tart/
Description
Note: Tart dough can be made up to a week in advance.
- 2½ (11.25 oz | 320g) cups all-purpose flour
- 2 T. sugar
- ½ tsp . table salt
- 16 T. (8 oz | 227g) unsalted butter
- ½ C. + 2 T. ( 4 oz | 114 g + 1 oz | 28g ) ice water
- In a large bowl, whisk flour, sugar and salt together (or pulse in food processor). Cut butter into flour and using the back of a fork or a pastry cutter, incorporate butter into flour mixture until butter is in small pieces. (If using food processor, pulse at 1-second intervals until butter is the size of peas.) Add ice water and continue to stir with fork until mixture comes together to form a mass. Add more ice water if necessary, one tablespoon at a time. Gently form mass into a ball, flatten to form a disk and wrap in plastic wrap (or divide into two equal pieces if making galettes). Chill until ready to use.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
Find it online : https://alexandracooks.com/2013/07/02/peach-frangipane-tart/
Description
Note: Frangipane can be made up to a week in advance.
- 1 scant cup almond flour (or finely ground almonds*)
- ¼ C. sugar
- pinch of salt
- 4 T. butter at room temperature
- 1 egg
- 1 T. rum, brandy or bourbon
*If you can’t find almond flour or don’t feel like paying for it or don’t have it on hand, you can pulse almonds (whole, sliced, slivered, whatever) in the food processor. The color of the frangipane will be brownish if you use whole almonds and the texture of the finished frangipane might not be as smooth but the taste will still be great.
- In the bowl of a stand mixer or food processor, combine almond flour, sugar, salt, butter and egg. Pulse until combined, then add alcohol if desired. Pulse until smooth. Transfer to a storage container and chill until ready to use.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
Find it online : https://alexandracooks.com/2013/07/02/peach-frangipane-tart/
I have never considered myself a mixologist but for a gathering last Sunday, I found myself filling champagne flutes red Solo cups with peach-flavored liqueur, opening bottles of Cava, garnishing cocktails with diced peaches.
If I’m going the mixed-drink route, I tend not to stray from my gin and tonic, always with a lemon just as my British granny, affectionally known as Granny “Puff Puff” for allowing my sister and me puffs of her cigarettes as we wished, taught me. But after the warm reception of both the traditional sangria and the sangria Penedès I brought to last Sunday’s gathering, I think I could get into mixing it up in the drink’s department. I’ve never felt as equally proud as disappointed to see revelers return to the fridge searching for more of the “peach stuff,” which had long been polished off. Next time I’ll make a double batch.
Now, I understand that it is the Fourth and your liquor store might be closed, but go take a peek in your liquor cabinet. You might be surprised to find a bottle of peach schnapps collecting dust in the back corner, and many of you likely have bitters and grapefruit juice on hand. Mixing up the peach base for this sparkling cocktail takes no time, and if you happen to have some red, white or blue berries on hand, nothing could be more festive. Happy Fourth!
Description
Note: This is not a drink to feed a crowd. If you are looking to make 10 to 12 cocktails, definitely make a double batch of the peach syrup, and buy two bottles of Cava.
- 10 ounces Mathilde or other peach liqueur (I had peach schnapps on hand)
- 2 ounces fresh (or not) grapefruit juice
- 5 dashes Scrappy’s lavender (or not) bitters
- 2 ounces simple syrup
- 1 peach, diced into small cubes (or blueberries or raspberries)
- 1 bottle Cava
- In a pitcher or other container, combine peach liqueur, grapefruit juice, bitters and simple syrup.
- To serve, pour 1 1/2 ounces of the mixture into a champagne flute and top with Cava. Garnish with peach cubes.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
Description
- 2 bottles dry garnacha red wine
- 1 bottle rosé
- 12 ounces orange soda (I used Fanta)
- 1 ounce Torres orange liqueur or Triple Sec (I used Cointreau)
- 2 ounces brandy
- 1 tablespoon sugar, or to taste
- 2 apples, cored and diced, (or st one fruit such as peaches, plums, nectarines, etc)
- 2 oranges, cut into wedges (or st one fruit such as peaches, plums, nectarines, etc)
- In a large vessel, combine all liquid ingredients. Stir with a wooden spoon. Let rest for 5 minutes. Taste, and add sugar if desired, stirring to dissolve. Refrigerate for at least four hours, preferably overnight. (Note: I added all of the diced fruit at this step.)
- To serve, fill glasses with ice. Pour 5 ounces sangria into each glass and garnish with fruit.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
