DessertBritish

Bakewell Tart

Name: Bakewell Tart
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: British
Ingredients: 175g/6oz plain flour; 75g/2½oz chilled butter; 2-3 tbsp cold water; 1 tbsp raspberry jam; 125g/4½oz butter; 125g/4½oz caster sugar; 125g/4½oz ground almonds; 1 free-range egg, beaten; ½ tsp almond extract; 50g/1¾oz flaked almonds

Bakewell Tart is a classic British dessert that holds a distinguished place in traditional cooking. Celebrated for its wholesome ingredients and time-honored preparation, this dish brings authentic regional character to the home kitchen.

Carefully baked or prepared featuring plain flour, chilled butter, cold water, raspberry jam, butter, caster sugar, ground almonds, free-range egg, beaten, almond extract and flaked almonds, the components balance delicate sweetness and satisfying texture.

Enjoy warm or chilled alongside fresh vanilla custard, whipped cream, or a freshly brewed cup of coffee or tea for a comforting finish to your meal.

If you enjoy authentic British cooking, be sure to also explore our recipe for Apple & Blackberry Crumble.

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Ingredients

plain flour175g/6oz
chilled butter75g/2½oz
cold water2-3 tbsp
raspberry jam1 tbsp
butter125g/4½oz
caster sugar125g/4½oz
ground almonds125g/4½oz
free-range egg, beaten1
almond extract½ tsp
flaked almonds50g/1¾oz

Step-by-Step Instructions

13 steps

Interactive Cook Mode: Click any step or circle to check it off as you cook.

Step 1

To make the pastry, measure the flour into a bowl and rub in the butter with your fingertips until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.

Step 2

Add the water, mixing to form a soft dough.

Step 3

Roll out the dough on a lightly floured work surface and use to line a 20cm/8in flan tin.

Step 4⏱️ 30 minutes

Leave in the fridge to chill for 30 minutes.

Step 5🔥 Preheat

Preheat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas 6 (180C fan).

Step 6

Line the pastry case with foil and fill with baking beans.

Step 7🥧 Bake⏱️ 15 minutes

Bake blind for about 15 minutes, then remove the beans and foil and cook for a further five minutes to dry out the base.

Step 8

For the filing, spread the base of the flan generously with raspberry jam.

Step 9🥄 Mix

Melt the butter in a pan, take off the heat and then stir in the sugar.

Step 10

Add ground almonds, egg and almond extract.

Step 11✨ Serve

Pour into the flan tin and sprinkle over the flaked almonds.

Step 12🥧 Bake⏱️ 35 minutes

Bake for about 35 minutes.

Step 13

If the almonds seem to be browning too quickly, cover the tart loosely with foil to prevent them burning.

👨‍🍳 Chef's Culinary Notes

Cultural Heritage

Bakewell Tart reflects the timeless heritage of traditional British home cooking, satisfying, traditional, and highlighting slow-simmered savory gravies. Prepared for generations for family gatherings and celebrations, it represents the heart of regional culinary identity.

Dietary Substitutions

If using instant dry yeast instead of active dry yeast, you can mix it directly into the dry ingredients without proofing first, reducing wait time by 15 minutes.

Chef Technique Tips

Always ensure liquids used to activate the yeast are comfortably lukewarm (around 38°C–42°C / 100°F–108°F); liquid that is too hot will kill the yeast, while cold liquid delays proofing. Keep the dough in a warm, draft-free spot to rise.

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