Giada de Laurentiis and her aunt Raffy bake a fig and almond tart, a classic Italian dessert.
In this episode of Giada at Home, the de Laurentiis women show us that baking doesn’t always have to be an exact science—and it certainly doesn’t have to be hard!
Figs are a great winter fruit that can be eaten raw, made into jam, or baked into a delicious fruit tart like Giada de Laurentiis does in this installment of Giada at Home.
First, Giada and her aunt Raffy show us how to make a simple crust for the tart—a very similar recipe to a pie crust. If you’re in a hurry and want to skip this step, you can always use a pre-made pie crust bought from the store. (Don’t worry, we won’t tell you secret!)
Then they mix up a rich and creamy filling of almond paste, mascarpone cheese, vanilla, and a touch of honey. Spread the mixture in the center of the pie crust, making sure to leave a 2-inch border around the edges.
Top the mixture with sliced fresh figs, and fold up the sides to make a delicate crust border. You can also use dried figs if fresh figs are not available.
Bake this easy treat, and serve it as a simple yet sweet dessert during the holidays. You can also save it as a nice snack with your afternoon coffee.
Fig & Almond Tart Ingredients:
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons sugar, plus 1 tablespoon
- 1 lemon, zested
- ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
- 10 tablespoons unsalted butter, chilled and cut into ½ inch pieces
- 3 tablespoons ice water
- 3 ½ ounces almond paste, at room temperature
- 1/3 cup mascarpone cheese, at room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 6 large or 12 small fresh figs, sliced
- ¼ cup apricot jam
