To start, let’s talk about the shortcrust pastry. This pastry is made with flour, butter, sugar, and ground almonds. The almond flavor adds a depth of nuttiness to the pastry that traditional shortcrust pastry lacks. To make the pastry, mix together the flour, sugar, and ground almonds in a bowl. Then, cut in the butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add in a little bit of ice water and knead the dough until it comes together. Once the dough is formed, wrap it in plastic wrap and chill for at least 30 minutes.
While the pastry is chilling, it’s time to make the pastry cream. This cream is made with milk, egg yolks, sugar, and cornstarch. The milk is heated in a saucepan until it is hot but not boiling. In a separate bowl, whisk together the egg yolks, sugar, and cornstarch. Slowly pour the hot milk into the egg mixture, whisking constantly. Return the mixture to the saucepan and cook, whisking constantly, until it thickens. Once the pastry cream is thickened, remove it from the heat and add in a little bit of vanilla extract. Allow the pastry cream to cool to room temperature.
Now it’s time to prepare the peaches. You’ll need fresh peaches, sugar, and water for the syrup. Peel and slice the peaches into wedges. In a separate saucepan, combine the sugar and water and heat until the sugar has dissolved. Add in the peaches and cook until they are tender and the syrup has thickened. Remove the peaches from the syrup and allow them to cool to room temperature.
Once all of the components are prepped, it’s time to assemble the dessert. Roll out the chilled pastry into a circle and place it in a tart pan. Bake the pastry shell in a preheated oven until it is golden brown. Let the pastry cool for a few minutes before filling it with the pastry cream. Arrange the syrupy peaches on top of the pastry cream in a decorative pattern.
And there you have it – a recipe for almond shortcrust pastry with pastry cream and syrupy peaches. This dessert is perfect for any special occasion or dinner party, and it is sure to impress your guests. The nutty flavor of the almond shortcrust pastry pairs perfectly with the sweet and syrupy peaches, and the pastry cream adds a creamy layer of richness. Give this recipe a try and you won’t be disappointed.