The lanes and fields are lined with blackberries and this is a perfect tart to showcase their beauty. I have picked loads and open froze them before popping into bags in the freezer to keep over the next few months. I love them in smoothies and they are great for enhancing  the taste of the more robust tasting green vegetables which are good to include but can be a challenge to get down. Best though to save the nice big ones for dessert like this delicious tart. It’s a a real winner, looks gorgeous, tastes great and is easy to make and if you are really not into making pastry, there are plenty of options in the supermarket – just buy the shortcrust type. So how is this conducive to a fit and healthy lifestyle…. to be honest, I love to bake but we really don’t eat dessert in our house any more than once a week and when we do, it is home made so we know the quality of the ingredients and where they came from. Baking gives me joy and I always think when you have put the effort into baking something and the family is sitting down together to enjoy it then it is a time for joy and happiness and not for guilt about eating something sweet.

Shortcrust pastry

6oz plain flour
pinch of salt
3ozoz chilled butter, cubed
60-70ml approx cold water

Tip flour butter and salt into a food processor and pulse gently until it resembles breadcrumbs.
Add the water and gently pulse again until it comes together
Wrap the dough in clingfilm and chill for at least 30 minutes.
Once rested, roll it out on a lighlty flour dusted surface to a 3mm thickness.
Line a 200mm tart ring or tart tin with removable bottom.
Trim any excess, line with parchment and baking beans and bake at 170C for approximately 10 minutes.
Remove the beans and cool.

Almond Filling
140gr butter
zest of a lemon
140gr icing sugar
140gr eggs (approx 3 but beat them together gently and weigh)
140gr almond flour (almond meal)
50gr plain flour – you can use gluten free if you wish

Beat the butter lemon zest and sugar together.
Add the eggs then the almond meal and flour and beat together until smooth and incorporated fully.
This keeps if you want to make a few days in advance – store in the fridge.

To complete the tart
300gr blackberries
3 tbsp blackberry jam
2 handfuls of almonds

Spoon 3 tbsp blackberry jam into the base of the partially cooked tart.
Spoon or pipe over the almond cream and arrange the blackberries on top of the cream pushing them in slightly. Sprinkle over the almonds then, bake at 170C for 20 minutes then reduce heat to 160C and bake for about 10 more minutes.
The tart is cooked when the tart is a light golden brown.
Enjoy warm with some cream and savour the taste of autumn.