This recipe for gin-infused lemon Bakewell tarts is a spin on the traditional recipe for the classic teatime treat. Our version replaces the cherry or strawberry jam that you would usually find in a Bakewell tart recipe with a layer of lemon-flavoured frangipane and luscious, tangy lemon curd that has been spiked with a generous glug of gin.

Easy to make and delicious to eat, this gin-infused lemon Bakewell tart recipe is a delightful treat for summer days. 

What do you have with this Bakewell tart recipe? Well, we recommend our Bakewell Flute cocktail - it’s a bubbly, pink prosecco and gin cocktail that’s full of cherry and almond flavours to match this dessert.

Gin & Lemon Bakewell Tarts

Ingredients

For the Sweet Pastry
170g Unsalted Butter, at room temperature
Zest of 1 Lemon
100g Icing Sugar
2 Egg Yolk
400g Plain Flour, plus extra for dusting
1 tsp Almond Essence (optional)

For the Gin Lemon Curd
4 unwaxed Lemons, zest and juice
200g Caster Sugar
100g Unsalted Butter, cubed
3 Eggs, plus 1 Egg Yolk
35ml Gin

For the Filling
Zest of 2 Lemons
200g Unsalted Butter, at room temperature
200g Caster Sugar
4 large Eggs
190g Ground Almonds
25g Plain Flour
50g Flaked Almonds

Preparation Time – 50 minutes
Baking Time – 15-20 minutes
Makes – Four 10 x 2cm Tarts

Directions

Preheat the oven to 200C/180C fan. 

To make the pastry, place the butter and lemon zest in a food mixer and blitz until soft. Sieve in the icing sugar and mix until light and creamy. Mix in the egg yolks with 2 tbsp water, then add in the flour until the mixture begins to clump.

On a lightly floured surface, bring the pastry together into a ball, then wrap in cling film and flatten lightly to form a disc. Chill in the fridge for 30 minutes.

Whilst the pastry chills, make the lemon curd by adding the lemon zest and juice, the sugar and the butter into a heatproof bowl. Stir the owl over a pan of lightly simmer water until all of the butter has melted. 

Lightly whisk the eggs and egg yolk and stir them into the lemon mixture. Whisk until all the ingredients are well combined, then add the gin. Leave the mixture to cook for 12-15 minutes until the mixture is creamy and thick enough to coat the back of a spoon. Remove the lemon curd from the heat and set aside to cool, stirring occasionally as it cools.

Once the pastry has chilled, roll out the pastry to the thickness of a £1 coin and use to line four 10x2cm loose-bottom tart tins trimming off any excess. If the pastry breaks of cracks, patch up with any trimmings. Put back in the fridge whilst you make the filling.

To make the tart filling, beat together the lemon zest, butter and caster sugar until light and creamy. Add the eggs one at a time, including a spoonful of the ground almonds with each addition. When all the egg has been added, mix in the remaining ground almonds and flour. 

Remove the pastry from the oven and spread a generous amount of the lemon curd over the bases of the tart cases. Spoon or pipe over the filling and smooth with a palette knife or spatula. Scatter over the flaked almonds and place tarts on a baking tray. Place in the centre of the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes until lightly golden. 

Remove the tarts from the tin and allow to cool. Decorate with either a dusting of icing sugar or, if you’re a fan of the Mr Kpiling-style thick layer of icing, mix a little icing sugar with a splash of gin and stir until you have a boozy icing to drizzle over the top of your tarts! 

Serve alongside the Bakewell Flute raspberry gin cocktail!

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