Renowned baker Benjamina Ebuehi has released a new recipe for a raspberry, cardamom, and mascarpone tart, offering a versatile dessert option ideal for the summer months. The recipe, designed for both casual midweek baking and more formal dinner parties, emphasises a blend of textures and flavours to create a satisfying sweet treat.
Ebuehi highlights the convenience of using ready-rolled puff pastry, a staple she often keeps in her freezer for quick sweet or savoury creations. This particular tart features a crisp pastry base, a soft frangipane layer with slightly chewy edges, a crunchy demerara sugar crust, and a silky mascarpone topping, all complemented by fresh, 'squidgy' raspberries.
The preparation process is relatively swift, requiring just 10 minutes of hands-on time and approximately 50 minutes for cooking. The recipe serves eight, making it suitable for family gatherings or entertaining guests. Ingredients include a 320g sheet of ready-rolled puff pastry, two large eggs, 80g unsalted butter, 100g caster sugar, half a teaspoon of freshly crushed green cardamom, 100g ground almonds, 225g fresh raspberries, demerara sugar, double cream, mascarpone, vanilla extract, and icing sugar.
Instructions involve scoring and pricking the pastry before a preliminary bake to puff it up. A frangipane mixture, made from butter, sugar, cardamom, egg, and ground almonds, is then spread over the pastry and topped with most of the raspberries. A second egg wash and a sprinkle of demerara sugar create the crust before the tart returns to the oven. Once cooled, a whipped mixture of cream, mascarpone, vanilla, and icing sugar is spooned over the top, garnished with the remaining fresh raspberries.
This recipe provides a straightforward yet elegant option for those looking to create a homemade dessert without extensive effort. Its focus on readily available ingredients and a clear step-by-step process aims to make baking accessible to a wide audience, ensuring a delicious result that combines traditional flavours with a modern presentation.