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The dessert, Regional

Mirabelle plum tart

This mirabelle plum tart is a French dessert for 6, a shortcrust pastry topped with almond cream and tiny golden plums. It takes 40 minutes of active work, the dough is made the day before and the tart is finished the same morning. It's easy, costs about €1.60 per serving, and the key is packing the plums tightly onto the cream.

A mirabelle plum tart from Lorraine, small golden fruits melting over an almond cream, the taste of late summer.

Mirabelle plum tart
For
6 people
Work
40 min
Total time
2 h 10
Prep
Prepared the same day
Difficulty
Easy
Cost per person
€1.60
Calories per person
420 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach

Under a golden, lightly caramelized skin, mirabelle plums soften and release their juice into a soft almond cream sitting on crisp shortcrust pastry. There's no pastry cream or fussy assembly here, just a simple tart that smells like the last weeks of summer the moment it comes out of the oven.

It's the tart to bake for a family lunch in the garden, a dinner with friends in August, or a Sunday meal once mirabelle plums show up at the market. It closes a light menu nicely after a cold starter and a simple main, and it wins over kids and adults alike.

The schedule

What happens when, so you can be with your guests instead of in the kitchen.

  1. The day before 1 step, 15 min
  2. The same day 3 steps, 1 h 05
  3. Before the guests arrive 1 step
  4. When it's time to serve 1 step

The day before, make the shortcrust dough and let it rest in the fridge. The same morning, roll out the dough, make the almond cream, pit the plums and bake the tart, then let it sit at room temperature. Just before guests arrive, brush the warm tart with jam to make it shine, and slice it right when you serve dessert.

The ingredients

6 people

Pantry

  • Flouroften in the pantry 250 g
  • Granulated sugaroften in the pantry 160 g
  • Almond flour 100 g
  • Apricot jam 3 tbsp
  • Saltoften in the pantry 1 pinch

Dairy

  • Butter 205 g
  • Eggs 3

Fruits and vegetables

  • Mirabelle plums 800 g

Allergens Gluten, Lactose, Eggs, Tree nuts

The recipe, moment by moment

The day beforeWhat's better after resting overnight in the fridge.

  1. Rub 125 g cold butter into the flour with 50 g sugar and a pinch of salt, add 1 egg and a splash of water, shape into a ball and let it rest in the fridge. 15 min

    For a light pastry, avoid overworking the dough.

The same dayDuring the day, whenever you get a moment.

  1. Roll out the dough in a tart pan and prick the bottom with a fork. 10 min

    Put the pan in the freezer for 10 minutes so the pastry doesn't shrink while baking.

  2. Whisk 80 g softened butter with 80 g sugar, 2 eggs and the almond flour, then spread this cream over the tart base. 10 min

    Use soft butter and room temperature eggs for a smooth cream.

  3. Pit the mirabelle plums by cutting them in half, arrange them tightly on the cream and bake 40 minutes at 180°C. 45 min

    Pack the fruit close together, they shrink as they cook and take up less space.

Before the guests arriveThe last hour, right before the doorbell rings.

  1. Warm the apricot jam with a spoonful of water and brush it over the warm tart to make it shine.

    Pass the jam through a sieve first if it has chunks.

When it's time to serveThe final touches, right in front of your guests.

  1. Cut the tart into slices and serve warm or at room temperature.

    A scoop of vanilla ice cream goes very well with it.

Our tips to get it right

  • Pick plums that are ripe but still firm. Overripe ones release too much juice and make the almond cream soggy.
  • If your dough rested more than 12 hours in the fridge, let it sit out for 10 minutes before rolling, it will crack less.
  • For a more fragrant almond cream, add a few drops of bitter almond extract if you have some on hand.

The variations

  • Swap the mirabelle plums for damson plums or apricots depending on the season, this recipe works with any stone fruit.
  • For a nut free version, replace the almond flour with toasted hazelnut flour, or simply use more all purpose flour with a little extra butter.
  • For kids, dust the tart with powdered sugar once it's out of the oven instead of brushing it with apricot jam.

What to serve it with

  • A scoop of vanilla ice cream
  • A light coffee or tea
  • A summer fruit salad before dessert

Storage

The tart keeps for 2 days at room temperature under a cake dome, or 3 days in the fridge in a closed container. It doesn't freeze well once assembled, the plums release too much water when thawed.

Questions about this recipe

Can you make this tart with frozen mirabelle plums?

Yes, but thaw the plums and drain them well before arranging them on the cream. Otherwise they release too much water and the almond cream stays soggy.

Do you really need to pit each mirabelle plum by hand?

Yes, mirabelle plums are small and a cherry pitter usually damages the fruit. Cut them in half with a knife instead, it goes quickly once you get the hang of it.

Can almond flour be replaced with regular flour?

You can replace part of it with flour, but the cream loses its characteristic softness and almond flavor. This is mainly useful if someone has a nut allergy.

How do you know when the tart is fully baked?

The almond cream should look golden and slightly puffed, and the plums should have released a bit of juice that caramelizes at the edges. If the center still jiggles, bake a few more minutes.

Can a mirabelle plum tart be made ahead?

Yes, during the day. The recipe needs 40 min of work in total, split up like this, the day before, 1 step, the same day, 3 steps, before the guests arrive, 1 step, when it's time to serve, 1 step.

How long does it take to make a mirabelle plum tart?

Allow 2 h 10 in total, including resting and cooking time, of which 40 min is actual work. The recipe is rated "easy".

How many calories are in a mirabelle plum tart?

About 420 kcal per person, for a recipe meant for 6 people. The calories are calculated by Kiloach, your kilo coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does a mirabelle plum tart cost?

About €1.60 per person, that's €9.60 for 6 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains gluten, lactose, eggs, tree nuts. Remember to ask your guests about their allergies before putting your menu together.

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