Rustic Peach Tart

Sweet juicy peaches tossed with just a touch of almond, nutmeg and fresh lemon then tucked inside a butter and almond pastry crust – baked until the fruit is hot and bubbly and the crust is crisp and flaky. It’s a delicious way to bundle up one of summer’s most luscious fruits!

If you were really lucky you grew up with fresh peaches at your disposal and women in the family who could make magic with them. Pies, cobblers, fruit dumplings and crisps – there was no end to the creative ways to turn fresh peaches into a glorious dessert.

Pies and cobblers were favorites. That combination of juicy peaches baked with tender pastry dough was hard to resist. And rustic tarts spark a perfect balance between peaches and a crispy crust!

I frequently make rustic tarts, also known as galettes or crostatas depending on the origin and the country of influence. This is my “go to” pastry dough for this type of tart. It’s easy to whip up –really easy – plus there’s no need to chill the dough before you roll it out making it quick to assemble. And the results are always amazing.

You can add nuts or spices to the dough to bring another flavor element to your dessert. For this tart, almonds seemed to be a great fit. Peaches and almonds pair beautifully. Add a splash of pure almond extract to the fruit plus tuck a generous handful of toasted almonds into the crust. With a touch of spice from freshly grated nutmeg and a bit of lemon to brighten things up, it’s just enough to showcase summer’s best!

Gorgeous to the eye and a pleasure to the palate!

Rustic Peach Tart

For the pastry:

1-½ cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for rolling out the dough

½ cup toasted slivered almonds

⅛  teaspoon kosher salt

1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon sugar, divided

¾ cup unsalted butter, 1-½ sticks

⅓ cup cold water

1 egg

1 tablespoon milk

Cut the butter into cubes and chill in the freezer for about 30 minutes.

Combine the flour, toasted almonds, kosher salt, and 1 tablespoon of the sugar into the bowl of a food processor. Process the flour mixture for about 15 to 20 seconds or until the almonds are finely ground.

Scatter the cold butter cubes on top of the flour mixture and pulse about 10 times, just until the butter is the size of peas.

Pour the cold water over the top of the flour and butter then process for about 10-15 seconds or just until the pastry starts to come together. It will still be crumbly but don’t over process or your pastry will be tough.

Turn the pastry dough out onto a lightly floured surface and lightly dust your hands with flour. Gently pull the dough together and divide it in half for two small tarts. Gently press each half into a disc. Roll the dough into rounds, each about 10” to 12” in diameter and about 1/8” thick. Turn the dough occasionally and lightly dust the surface as needed to keep the dough from sticking. You can also make one large tart, rolling the dough out to about 15” to 16” in diameter. Wrap the dough around the rolling pin and gently unroll onto a parchment lined baking sheet.

For the peach filling:

2 tablespoons cornstarch

½ cup sugar

3-½ to 4 cups peeled and sliced fresh peaches, about 4 large peaches or 6 to 7 small peaches

½ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

½ teaspoon almond extract

2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice

¼ cup apricot or peach preserves

In a small bowl whisk the cornstarch and sugar together.

Toss the sliced peaches into a large mixing bowl. Stir the cornstarch and sugar into the peaches along with the nutmeg, almond extract and lemon juice.

Using a slotted spoon or your hands scoop up the sliced peaches and pile them into the center of the pastry dough. There will be a fair amount of juice after you mix the peaches with the sugar – you want to limit the amount of liquid placed on top of the pastry dough. Leave about 2” to 3” around the edge.

Turn the edge of the pastry dough up over the peaches, folding as you go.

Whisk the egg and 1 tablespoon milk together. Using a pastry brush, lightly brush the egg wash over the pastry dough. Sprinkle the top of the dough with the remaining 1 teaspoon of sugar.

Bake the tarts in a 375-degree for 45 minutes or until the crust is golden brown. Warm the preserves in a small pan over medium heat until they are very loose. You can also warm them in the microwave for about 30 seconds. Brush the exposed fruit with the warmed preserves. Let the tart cool slightly before slicing to allow the juices to set.

Makes two 8” tarts or one 12” to 14” tart.

If you need to peel a lot of peaches, blanching is a quick way to handle this task. Using a sharp knife cut an “X” across the bottom of the peach, just cutting through the skin.

Then drop the peaches into boiling water for 1 minute.

Transfer them to an ice bath to stop the cooking.

The skin will peel right off!