Cherry Bakewell Slice

[cookie1]

Cherry Bakewell Slice
Makes 20 pieces
Ingredients
250g plain flour
75g icing sugar
175g cold, unsalted butter
1 egg
240g cherry jam
150g frozen cherries
Almond Topping
200g almonds
180g caster sugar
180g unsalted butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 lemon, zested
3 eggs
2 tablespoons flour
Method
Make icing sugar and caster sugar if you need to.
Grease and line a 20cm x 30cm slice tin.
To make base: Put flour, 75g icing sugar, butter and pinch salt into bowl. 20 seconds, speed 6.  Add egg speed 6 for 5 seconds.
Push into prepared pan and freeze for 15 minutes.
To make topping: Process almonds at speed 8 for 6 seconds. Add 80g sugar and pinch salt. Speed 4 for 2 seconds.
Add butter, vanilla, lemon zest and 100g sugar. Speed 6 for 5 seconds.
Add eggs and flour, speed 6 for 6 seconds. Transfer to a bowl and freeze for 15 minutes.
Bake base at 190 degrees for 25 minutes. Remove from oven and cool for 5 minutes.
Spread with conserve, then with topping. Place cherry halves cut side up on top.
Bake for 45 minutes until golden and firm.

This adapted from Masterchef Magazine October 2011.
I had some trouble sorting the sugar out for this so I made 125g icing sugar and 180g caster sugar and when that was gone I used nomore. This is rather rich but is very nice. I served it in smaller slices than the photo. Sorry the photo isn't the best.



Members' comments
Twitterpated - Everyone loved the slice Cookie. I thought it would be very sweet with the jam and sugar but the lemon zest sets off the sweet really nicely.

Chard onnay - Thanks for this recipe!  However, I found that the recommended time of 45 mins for final bake is way too much, my first attempt burned! 30 mins was better.

[Twitterpated]

Yum!!! I was just looking for something to bake this weekend as I usually take something I have baked to work on Mondays. It has now become a ritual and every week everyone waits to see if I have outdone the week before. I am going to try this one for next week. I'll let you know how I go.

BTW I don't remember ever seeing frozen cherries at the supermarket but I'm guessing that drained tinned will give the same result.

[cookie1]

I got my frozen cherries at Coles but I'm sure tinned ones would be fine. I got a bit muddled in following the method so I hope when I've changed it to TMX I sorted it out a bit.

[Twitterpated]

Ok, thanks cookie. Off to Coles shopping this week to find the frozen cherries. I had a read through th recipe and so far looks fine.

[Twitterpated]

Everyone loved the slice Cookie. I thought it would be very sweet with the jam and sugar but the lemon zest sets off the sweet really nicely. Kids were talking to me in the kitchen when I made it and somehow I managed to add the eggs before the butter step in the topping. All turned out fine with quite a few turning up for seconds.

BTW the ingredients say 125g icing sugar but you only add 75g in the method.

Thanks heaps - definitely be making this scrumptious but easy recipe again. 

[Rara1]

This looks like my nonna's crostata
Yum

[cookie1]

I'm glad it worked out well Twitterpated. I've changed the sugar amount, thanks for that.

[RPG33]

These look fantastic and I'd like to try making over the weekend. 

Sorry for the stupid question (I am very new to baking in general), but in the second last step 'spread with conserve, then with topping. Place cherry halves cut side up on top' is the 'conserve' the cherry jam, and the 'cherry halves' the frozen cherries??  Just want to make sure I do it right!

Also - I'll try it as per the recipe exactly for this time, but for another time - is there anything that I could substitute the almonds for do you think?  I'm not a nut fan myself.  This dish is for my hubby who will SALIVATE at the thought of it, but any ideas on how to make it something I could have a nibble at too?  Or maybe it's best for my hips that I just leave it as is

Thanks again - looks fantastic!

[cookie1]

Yes you are correct re the jam and cherry halves. Maybe you could substitute the almonds with coconut. That is purely a guess. Someone else may have a better idea. I love this but like you much watch the hips.They're coming out to meet me.

[RPG33]

Thanks Cookie - coconut is a great idea!  Yum yum yum!

Thermy is so very good for my time and the ingredients that we use, but not so good for those hips!

[cookie1]

I certainly know the problem.

[Chard onnay]

Thanks for thus recipe!  However, I found that the recommended time of 45 mins for final bake is way too much, my first attempt burned! 30 mins was better.

[cookie1]

Oops. I guess we all have to think about our ovens. My oven is quick so I usually put the time the actual recipe says. At least you know now.