Rustic Autumn Fruit Tart Recipe

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 large apples, peeled and thinly sliced
• 1 medium pear, peeled and thinly sliced
• 4-1/2 teaspoons cornstarch
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 cup orange juice
• 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup apricot jam, warmed

Directions

• In a small bowl, beat butter and cream cheese until smooth. Gradually add flour, beating just until mixture forms a ball. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour.
• In a large bowl, combine apples and pear. In a small bowl, combine cornstarch and spices; stir in orange juice until smooth. Stir in brown sugar until blended. Add to apple mixture and stir gently to coat.
• On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough into a 14-in. circle. Transfer to a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Spoon filling over the pastry to within 2 in. of edges. Fold up edges of pastry over filling, leaving center uncovered.
• Bake at 375° for 40-45 minutes or until crust is golden and filling is bubbly. Spread with apricot jam. Using parchment paper, slide tart onto a wire rack to cool. Yield: 6 servings.

Rustic Autumn Fruit Tart published in Taste of Home October/November 2008, p53