Hello hello! Happy 2019!
Here is the first dessert of the year – and I’m quite happy with it! C and I loved it; but then, we’re also fiercely fond of anything that is citrusy and tart, so it was an easy sell. Plus, cornmeal! Let’s not forget our joint obsession with that.
I love this tart for winter – meyer lemons are at their peak and are SO delicious, and the naturally bright yellow is just perfect for a bright midwinter dessert!
I did actually bake for NYE, but it was the ricotta cornmeal cake I’d made recently & my favorite cookies, and I didn’t want any repeat posts! Both were very well received :)
C and I had a lovely weekend – we did the tart for dessert first, with ice cream, and then again for… uh, if you eat your first meal of the day at 3 after a giant hike, is it still breakfast?! Anyway – great day out in Marin on the coastal trails by Rodeo beach, followed by tart and eggs and kale and all the usual things!
I hope your weekend was all kinds of delightful, and that your year is off to a great start!
Meyer Lemon Tart with a Cornmeal Almond Crust
Tart and bright – this is citrus at its best! It makes a difference to use meyer lemons – they are naturally sweeter than regular lemons. This is for those who like their desserts tart! Gluten free and refined sugar free. Yield: 1 9″ tart. A Wait are Those Cookies original.
For the crust:
1.5 c almond flour
1/4 c unsweetened shredded coconut
1/2 c cornmeal
heaping 1/4 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 tbsp pure maple syrup
6 tbsp coconut oil, melted
In a large bowl, stir together almond flour, shredded coconut, cornmeal, sea salt, and baking soda. Add in vanilla, maple, and melted coconut oil, and stir until completely combined. The dough will look crumbly, but you’ll be able to press it together with your fingers.
Preheat the oven to 350, and lightly grease a 9″ tart pan (w/ removable bottom) with coconut oil. Press the crust into the plate and up the sides with a spoon or your fingers, creating a smooth edge (or not, your call!). Poke the bottom with a fork a few times, and bake for 15 minutes. Remove and let cool for a few minutes. Increase oven temp to 375.
Maple Lemon Curd*:
2 whole eggs
3 egg yolks
1/3 c lemon juice
zest of 4 lemons
pinch of sea salt
2 tbsp maple syrup
4 tbsp butter
1 tsp vanilla
*I made a batch and a half for a higher curd to crust ratio – feel free to do like I did. If you do, use 3 whole eggs & 4 yolks + another half of all other ingredients listed except maple (I like my curd to be tart!)
I used a double boiler for this lemon curd, which is a game changer. Highly recommended! Heat water in the bottom of the double boiler until it’s at a high simmer. In the top of the double boiler, whisk together eggs, egg yolks, lemon zest and juice, sea salt, and maple syrup. Add in the butter one tbsp at a time, whisking continuously, not adding the next tbsp until the first is completely melted. Whisk in vanilla. Cook, stirring constantly, until the lemon curd thickens and will coat the back of a spoon (or your whisk leaves tracks) – usually around 5 to 8 minutes. It’s a noticeable change when it happens, so just watch the cooking magic! Remove from heat, strain through a fine mesh strainer, and store in a glass container in the fridge until ready for use.
Pour the curd into the crust and smooth the top. Bake at 375 for 8-12 minutes, until the curd is barely set. Cool completely before slicing and serving – store in the fridge until serving and keep leftovers covered in the fridge.
Wait...are those...cookies?! 