This tarte aux figues is a wonderful way to make use of an abundance of fresh figs. It features a buttery pâte sucrée (sweet tart dough), a layer of fig jam, creme d'amande (almond cream) and a beautiful display of fresh figs. Baked until golden brown and caramelized, this French fig tart is bursting with fig flavor!
Prepare pâte sucrée recipe for a 9.5 inch (24 cm) tart pan. Follow steps 1-11. Do not dock or bake crust. Place into freezer to chill.
Remove from the freezer. Spread fig jam on the entire base of the fig tart. Place back in freezer to firm up for 10 minutes.
120 grams fig jam
Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (177° Celsius, Gas mark 4) with rack in center of oven. Meanwhile, make the creme d'amande filling.
In the bowl of a food processor, add the almond flour, flour, sugar, salt, vanilla, ground anise seed and eggs. Scatter the butter over the top. Process until well mixed. Scrape down sides to ensure all ingredients are fully blended.
150 grams almond flour, 15 grams all purpose flour, 150 grams granulated sugar, ¼ teaspoon kosher salt, 5 mL vanilla extract, ½ teaspoon anise seeds, 2 large eggs, 45 grams unsalted butter
Remove tart from freezer. Scoop creme d'amande into tart shell and spread in an even layer over the fig jam.
Beginning at outer edge, place figs in a circle (thicker base facing out, thinner tip facing in) around the tart. Repeat with inner circle. Depending on size of figs, you may need a third circle in the middle, or to fill in the middle with a few figs.
9 - 12 fresh figs
Place tart onto a baking sheet and bake in oven for 60-70 minutes, until frangipane puffs up and is golden brown, and pastry crust is also golden brown.You may need to add a pie shield to protect the crust starting around the 35 minute mark.
Remove from oven and cool on a baking rack.
Notes
When testing the recipe, one tart used 7 large figs, and another needed 10 smaller figs. Buy a few extra to make sure you have enough!Find detailed photos and instructions for the sweet tart dough in my pâte sucrée recipe. IMPORTANT NOTE - Prepare the tart dough as written through steps 1-11 (skip docking in step 12). Do not bake it without the fillings.For easy reference when planning your shopping list, pâte sucrée ingredients listed below: