Walnut and honey tart recipe

Try something different for dessert. This crisp pastry recipe with a sweet, nutty filling makes a delicious after dinner treat and will come in handy over the festive period

Ingredients

For the pastry:

• 175g (6oz) plain flour
• Pinch of salt
• 1tbsp caster sugar
• 100g (3½oz) chilled butter, in slivers
• 1 egg yolk

For the filling:

• 300g (10oz) walnut pieces
• 75g (2½oz) butter, softened
• 2tsp plain flour
• 75g (2½oz) clear honey (2 good tbsp)
• 75g (2½oz) caster sugar
• 3 medium eggs, beaten
• 2tbsp sherry
• Extra honey and some creme fraiche, to serve
• 23cm (9in) loose-based tart tin

Method

1. To make the pastry: Put the flour, salt, sugar and butter in a food processor and whizz to breadcrumb stage. With the motor running, add the egg yolk with 2tbsp cold water and whizz again until the mixture starts to come together. Knead lightly until just combined, wrap in cling film. Chill for 20 mins.
2. Roll out pastry to line the tin. Chill the pastry case while the oven heats up. (You will have some left over for tarts.)
3. Set the oven to gas mark 5 or 190°C. Heat up a baking sheet. Line pastry case with Bakewell paper. Add baking beans. Bake for 15 mins. Take out paper and beans and cook for 8 mins more.
4. To make the filling: Chop nuts roughly. Whisk the butter, flour, honey and sugar. Mix in eggs, a little at a time. Add sherry and all but a handful of the nuts. The mixture curdles, but don’t worry. Spread evenly over pastry case, then sprinkle with remaining nuts.
5. Bake for 20-25 mins or until almost set in the middle. Cool for 15 mins, then take out of tin. Slice and serve with extra honey in a jug and some creme fraiche.