The Lord of the Rings: Prancing Pony’s Blackberry Tart

The Lord of the Rings: Blackberry Tart from Prancing Pony

yield: 5 tarts (2 1/4″ x 4 1/4″)      prep time: 35 minutes      total time: 2 hours

ingredients:

     crust –

• 250g / 2 cups – All purpose flour
• 1 tsp – salt
• 1 tsp – granulated sugar
• 160g / 1 stick + 1 tbsp – cold, unsalted butter
• 10g – vegetable shortening
• 115g – ice cold water, or as needed

     pastry cream –

• 340g milk
• 3 large yolks
• 45g granulated sugar
• 15g all purpose flour
• 15g cornstach
• 1tsp salt
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 pint fresh blackberries

directions:

1. In a mixing bowl, combine your four, salt, sugar, and shortening.  With your fingers, or in a stand mixer with a paddle attachment, work the shortening into the flour.  You’ll want the shortening to create a clumpy sand texture with the flour. Next, add your cold butter.  Slicing the butter will help incorporate into the flour easier but cubes of butter will work as well.  Work the butter into the flour until it creates hazelnut size pieces.  Add the ice cold water and mix just until the flour is hydrated.  Wrap with plastic wrap and place it into the refrigerate for 20 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, prepare your pastry cream by heating the milk on medium heat until it comes to a simmer.  In mixing bowl, combine your egg yolks, vanilla extract, sugar, salt, flour, and cornstarch.  Mix until combined.  Once the milk comes to a simmer, pour a quarter of it into the yolk mixture.  Immediately stir to combine. Continue to temper the yolks with the hot milk.  Once that is done, pour the mixture back into the pot over medium heat.  Continue to whisk the mixture as it thickens.  Let it come to a boil for a minute or two to ensure that the flour has been cooked through.  Strain and cover directly with plastic wrap.  Place it into an ice bath and let it cool down.
3. While the pastry cream is cooling, preheat your oven to 350F and place your dough on a lightly floured surface.  Cut the dough into five equal pieces.  Take one piece and roll it out.  Try to keep it as rectangular as possible or with whatever shape you are deciding to use.  Transfer the dough into the tart pan and gently press in the edges and corners.  Dock with a fork and continue the same process with the rest of the tarts.  Bake at 350F for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown.  Let the tart shells cool after baking.
4. Once the pastry cream is cool, loosen it with a spatula or in a mixing bowl with a paddle attachment.  If you find the cream is too thick, you can loosen it with heavy cream.  Fill the tart shells with the cream and garnish with sliced blackberries.

Notes: Make sure to bake your tarts until it is golden brown because that will help ensure the crust will hold up to the pastry cream over time.  Some use an apricot glaze to layer the bottom to help with that issue.