Marzipan Cups With Currant Jelly Recipes

MARZIPAN CUPS WITH CURRANT JELLY

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs and vanilla. In another bowl, whisk flour and salt; gradually beat into creamed mixture. Refrigerate 1 hour or until firm., Preheat oven to 350°. Using well-floured hands, press tablespoonfuls of dough onto bottoms and up the sides of greased mini-muffin cups., For filling, in a small bowl, mix almond paste and sugar until blended. Add eggs and extract. Place 1/2 teaspoon jelly in each cup; top with 1 teaspoon almond mixture. Place one almond on top of each cup. Bake 15-18 minutes or until golden brown. Cool in pans 5 minutes. Remove to wire racks to cool completely.

RED CURRANT JELLY

Steps:

• Gather the ingredients.
• Wash the currants, and if the stems are on don't pick them. You'll get rid of stems and seeds later when you strain their juice.
• Place the washed currants in a nonreactive pot -no cast iron unless it is enameled, and no aluminum. Add the water.
• Cook, stirring, over medium-low heat until the red currants have released all of their juice, about 20 minutes. While they are cooking, gently crush the fruit with a potato masher or the bottom of a wine bottle; this will help the fruit release the juice.
• Drain the red currants and their liquid overnight by pouring the mixture into either a dampened jelly bag or by lining a colander with butter muslin or several layers of cheesecloth . Pick your method and place a large bowl or pot underneath the bag or colander. Do not squeeze the jelly bag, muslin, or cheesecloth because that will result in a cloudy jelly.
• Sterilize your canning jars .
• Once strained, measure the red currant juice. You should have about 2 1/2 cups.
• Pour the measured juice into a large, nonreactive pot and add an equal amount of sugar-for 2 1/2 cups of juice, add 2 1/2 cups of sugar.
• Bring the red currant juice and sugar to a boil over high heat, stirring constantly to dissolve the sugar. Continue to cook until the mixture reaches the gel point .
• If the jelly is ready before the jars are sterilized, simply remove the jelly from the heat until the jars are ready. Reheat the jelly just back to a simmer before filling the jars.
• Ladle the hot, liquid jelly into the sterilized jars, leaving 1/4 to 1/2 inch headspace.
• Screw on canning lids.
• Process in a boiling water bath for 5 minutes. Keep in mind that the jelly will still be hot and liquid when it comes out of the boiling water bath. It will gel as it cools.
• Once cooled, the jelly is ready to be used. Enjoy!

STRAWBERRY MARZIPAN TART

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• On a floured surface, roll the pastry 3/8-inch thick and line a 10-inch flan ring with it. Place the ring on a parchment paper lined baking sheet and chill it until needed.
• Cream the butter and sugar lightly in an electric mixer; don't let the butter get too soft. Add the eggs and mix lightly.
• Stir in the liqueur, zest, and almond extract, then mix in the ground almonds.
• Pour into the chilled pastry shell and bake for 1 hour to 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until the pastry and marzipan are a deep golden brown.
• Remove the tart from the oven and let cool to room temperature.
• Brush the top of the tart with the currant jelly. Cover the top of the tart with sliced strawberries arranged in concentric circles or in a flower petal design, making certain the whole top of the tart is covered.
• Remove the flan ring and transfer the tart to a flat serving platter. Cut into wedges.
• Sugar Dough: 1 pound unsalted butter, slightly softened 3 1/3 cups (12 ounces) pastry flour 3 1/3 cups (12 ounces) all-purpose flour Pinch salt 3/4 cup (6 ounces) sugar 3 egg yolks 2 to 4 tablespoons heavy cream
• Cut the butter into large pieces and place the pieces in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle or dough hook.
• Add the pastry and all-purpose flour, salt, and sugar. Mix on low speed until the butter is evenly distributed throughout the flour.
• Add the egg yolks and cream. Continue to mix on low speed until the dough pulls away from the sides of the bowl.
• Remove the dough and divide it into 2 pieces. Flatten each piece into a 6-inch round. Wrap in plastic and chill for at least 2 hours or overnight. Use as needed. The dough will remain fresh for 2 or 3 days in the refrigerator; or wrap securely in plastic, then in foil, and it will keep frozen for 2 to 3 months.
• Note: The dough may also be made in a food processor using the same technique, but make half a batch at a time for best results.
• To prepare the dough by hand, place the flours, sugar and salt in a large bowl or on a work surface. Mix together. Cut in the butter with your fingertips. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture. Pour in the egg yolks and cream. Using your fingertips, quickly work in the flour until the dough holds together. Form the dough into rounds, wrap it in plastic wrap and chill.
• Yield: 2 1/2 pounds