Beyond Sweet and Savory

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Baking

Pistachio olive oil strawberry cake

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This pistachio olive oil strawberry cake is extra moist and complemented by a delightful tangy yogurt frosting layered with sweet strawberries.  It’s pure spring bliss with every bite.

strawberries for pistachio olive oil strawberry cake

How is it that spring is almost over!  A week to be exact! To celebrate spring I partnered with Wonderful Pistachios to share a delicious recipe for a pistachio olive oil strawberry cake.  I normally reserve cakes for special occasions but caught the cake bug after I saw Claire Ptak’s insanely beautiful lemon elderflower cake for the royal wedding.  When it comes to baking, I’m inspired by the seasons and strawberry is the perfect fruit to pay homage to spring.

ingredients for pistachio olive oil strawberry cake

Making a cake is all about having fun and experimenting with different flavors and textures.  I’ve been using Wonderful Pistachios in desserts like this cake and panna cotta for years and couldn’t be more excited when the No Shells pistachios recently became available which save me a lot of prep time without sacrificing taste.  Pistachio flour keeps the cake moist and delicious while offering more nutritionally than all purpose flour.  To make the pistachio flour, I simply grind pistachios to a fine crumb in my food processor.  Don’t over do it or you’ll get pistachio butter, although tasty, would be disastrous for this cake.  I also added olive oil as an emulsifier to augment the moisture and texture of the cake. Use a high quality olive oil that is fruity instead of grassy to ensure the best taste.  The floral and slightly sweet flavor of pistachios also pairs well with the olive oil.

pistachio olive oil strawberry cake

When it comes to frosting, I envisioned something lighter instead of buttercream and went with a tangy yogurt frosting to complement the cake’s nuttiness.  As luck would have it, I found the most amazing strawberries, called musk strawberries from Pudwill Berry Farms at the farmers market that were perfect for this cake.  These musk strawberries have the most beautiful aroma and intense flavor. With every bite, you get a bit of cake, fruit, and frosting.

pistachio olive oil strawberry cake

You can decorate the cake anyway you like but I kept things simple and swiped on the frosting with an offset spatula then smoothed it out with a bench scraper.  I added additional chopped pistachios at the bottom to add color and texture and whole strawberries on top.

pistachio olive oil strawberry cake

This pistachio olive oil strawberry cake is extra moist and complemented by a delightful tangy yogurt frosting layered with sweet strawberries.  It’s pure spring bliss with every bite. If you’re in need of a delicious and beautiful cake for your next dinner party or gathering, look no further than this delightful, springy cake.

pistachio olive oil cake

Thank you Wonderful Pistachios for sponsoring this post. And as always all opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that support Beyond Sweet and Savory.

If you try this recipe, please let us know how you like it! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo #beyondsweetandsavory on Instagram.  We truly appreciate your feedback and incorporate them to continually improve our recipes.

5 from 2 votes
pistachio olive oil strawberry cake
Print
Pistachio olive oil cake
Prep Time
30 mins
Cook Time
30 mins
Total Time
1 hr
 

This pistachio olive oil strawberry cake is extra moist and complemented by a delightful tangy yogurt frosting layered with sweet strawberries.

Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: cake, olive oil cake, pistachio cake
Servings: 8 servings
Ingredients
Yogurt frosting
  • 2 pints organic strawberries, hulled and sliced
  • 1 1/2 cups organic heavy cream
  • 3/4 cup Greek yogurt
  • 2 tbsps honey
  • remaining whole strawberries for garnish
  • 2 tbsps pistachios, whole strawberries for garnish
Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease tree 6 inch cake pans with olive oil and line with the bottom with parchment paper.

  2. In a mixing bowl, whisk together the flours, baking powder, and baking soda then set aside.

  3. In a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat the eggs, olive oil, yogurt, honey, and lemon zest on low speed until well combined. 

  4. Add the dry ingredients into the yogurt mixture.

  5. Divide the cake mixture between the pans and level out the top with an offset spatula.

  6. Bake the cakes in the middle rack in the oven for 30 minutes until golden on top and a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow the cakes to cool in the pan for an hour.

  7. While the cakes are cooling, make the yogurt frosting.

  8. Whip the heavy cream with honey until soft peaks form. Gently fold in the yogurt until well combined. Refrigerate the frosting for 30 minutes to firm up.

  9. Hull two thirds of the strawberries and slice them lengthwise if they are big.  

  10. If the cakes are uneven, trim the tops so you have a nice flat surface to decorate. 

  11. Place one cake layer on a serving plate and spread ½ cup of yogurt on top. Arrange the strawberries over the cream. Repeat with the next layer. 

  12. Place one cake layer on a serving plate and spread ½ cup of yogurt on top. Arrange the strawberries over the cream. Repeat with the next layer. 

  13. Place the third layer on top cut side down.

  14. Cover the entire cake with a thin layer of frosting to seal the crumbs and refrigerate for 20 minutes.

  15. Spread the remaining frosting all over the cake with an offset spatula.

  16. Add a thin layer of chopped pistachios near the bottom and garnish the top with whole strawberries. 

Rhubarb polenta cake

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This rhubarb polenta cake has a delicious tartness that shines  against the moist, pleasantly crumbly, and grainy texture of polenta. 

rhubarb polenta cake with sifter

How is it that it’s June already?!!  May was an intense month for me with photography project deadlines, being on our local TV channel (I’ll share more in another post), and traveling to the Bay Area for a friend’s wedding.  Work and traveling left me mentally exhausted so I took some time off to recharge. I’m back and excited to post my first recipe for June, a rhubarb polenta cake that I have been waiting for two years to share.  Yes, you read that right! TWO years!

cut rhubarb polenta cake with sifter

Two years ago I grew rhubarb from seeds and they flourished and survived the blazing summer heat of San Diego.  Thank you garden god! We couldn’t eat them fast enough. They went into many crumbles, pies, cakes, and ice cream.  Then came baby Dillon, a period of adjustment to life with a toddler and a baby (still adjusting by the way), and a hiatus from blogging.  I didn’t want another year to go by and not share this recipe with you.

rhubarb polenta cake

This rhubarb polenta cake is a family favorite.  It’s a simple cake that heralds spring. The tartness of rhubarb shines against the moist, pleasantly crumbly, and grainy texture of polenta.  Vu is all about chocolate cakes but this particular one he loves, especially warm from the oven with vanilla ice cream. It’s such a cliche but we enjoy a lot of our baked goods with vanilla ice cream. If there’s any leftovers, I reheat it the next day for a minute in the oven and enjoy it with a cup of tea.  

a plate with slice of rhubarb polenta cake and cake pan

I do have to warn you that this rhubarb polenta cake is not for the faint of heart.  The tartness of rhubarb does scare some people. If you’re not keen on rhubarb, you can always replace half of the rhubarb with strawberries and it will be as delicious. When I bring it to work, there are two camps–people who grew up with rhubarb and have fond memories of something their grandmas and moms made and will demolish this in seconds.  But the other group doesn’t want to to eat a veggie cake. Rhubarb is a vegetable after all. If you like rhubarb and polenta, this cake is for you!

two plates of rhubarb polenta cake

If you like rhubarb, check out these recipes: strawberry rhubarb mascarpone galette, strawberry rhubarb mascarpone handpies, and orange blossom panna cotta with baked rhubarb,

If you try this recipe, please let us know how you like it! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo #beyondsweetandsavory on Instagram.  We truly appreciate your feedback and incorporate them to continually improve our recipes.

5 from 2 votes
rhubarb polenta cake
Print
Rhubarb polenta cake
Prep Time
30 mins
Cook Time
55 mins
Total Time
1 hr 25 mins
 

This rhubarb polenta cake is a simple cake that heralds spring. The tartness of rhubarb shines against the moist, pleasantly crumbly, and grainy texture of polenta.  

Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: cake, polenta, rhubarb
Servings: 8 servings
Ingredients
  • 3/4 cup all purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup polenta
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1 stick unsalted butter
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 medium egg
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • zest of one Meyer lemon
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 10 oz rhubarb, cut into batons
  • 1/4 cup sliced almonds
  • 1 tbsp turbinado sugar
  • confectioner's sugar for serving
  • vanilla ice cream for serving
Instructions

  1. In a mixing bowl, whisk together flour, polenta, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.  Set aside.

  2. Trim rhubarb into batons to fit the pan. Cut any thick stems in half along the length.

  3. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. 

  4. Grease a 9 inch round cake pan or spring form pan.

  5. In a stand mixer, fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar together until pale and fluffy.

  6. Add the egg, vanilla, and lemon zest and beat until well combined.

  7. Add half the milk and half the flour mixture and beat until well combined, scraping down the sides as needed to incorporate any chunks.

  8. Repeat with the remaining milk and flour mixture.

  9. Scrape the mixture into the prepared cake pan, smooth the top with a palette knife.

  10. Place the rhubarb batons on top.

  11. Place the cake in the oven in the middle rack and bake for 30 minutes.

  12. Remove the cake from the oven, sprinkle the sliced almonds around the edges and turbinado sugar on top.

  13. Bake in the oven for an additional 20-25 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.

  14. Remove the cake from the oven and allow to cool for 15 minutes.

  15. Dust the cake with confectioners's sugar and serve immediately with vanilla ice cream.

Recipe Notes

The cake will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two days.

Strawberry rhubarb mascarpone galette

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This strawberry rhubarb mascarpone galette has a delicious sweet tart flavor wrapped up in a flaky, nutty spelt crust.

strawberry rhubarb mascarpone galette with cutting knife and strawberries

Every spring I find myself making a strawberry rhubarb mascarpone galette.  Not just once or twice but almost every week. Desserts like galette speak to my heart–imperfect and rustic. No fancy lattice work. No crimping. And no blind baking.  Simply roll out the dough, add your favorite fruit filling, and fold over the edges to form a delicious tart.

strawberry rhubarb mascarpone galette with cutting knife and strawberries

The foundation of a great galette is its crust. After years of making galettes, I have discovered Rosy Levy Beranbaum’s genius addition of cream cheese to the dough gives the crust the most tender yet flaky texture.  The fats and milk solids in the cream cheese inhibit gluten formation making the dough more pliable and easy to roll.

strawberry rhubarb mascarpone galette with cutting knife and strawberries

I also used a combination of spelt flour and almond meal to create a nuttier crust.  Adding a layer of mascarpone and almond meal also gives a subtle richness to the galette. If you’re making this galette on a particularly warm day, try to keep the equipment and dough cool otherwise the dough will stick like crazy to the rolling pin and work surface.      

strawberry rhubarb mascarpone galette with cutting knife and strawberries

After fifty minutes in the oven, you get to experience spring’s perfect pairing wrapped in a flaky, tender crust with their juices oozing all over the sheet pan.  I love the classic sweet tart combination of this strawberry rhubarb mascarpone galette, best served still warm from the oven with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream.  If left alone, I might be tempted to polish off the whole thing. This strawberry and rhubarb mascarpone galette is the perfect celebration of spring, humble, delicious, and moreish.

strawberry rhubarb mascarpone galette with cutting knife and strawberries

If you like galettes, check out these recipes: blueberry and mascarpone galette, pink pearl apple galette, and salted caramel apple galette.   

If you try this recipe, please let us know how you like it! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo #beyondsweetandsavory on Instagram.  We truly appreciate your feedback and incorporate them to continually improve our recipes.

5 from 4 votes
strawberry rhubarb mascarpone galette with cutting knife and strawberries
Print
Strawberry rhubarb mascarpone galette
Prep Time
30 mins
Cook Time
50 mins
Inactive time
1 hr 30 mins
Total Time
1 hr 20 mins
 

This strawberry rhubarb mascarpone galette has a delicious sweet tart flavor wrapped up in a flaky, nutty spelt crust.

Course: Dessert
Cuisine: French, Seasonal
Servings: 8 servings
Ingredients
  • 2 cups organic strawberries, hulled and halved
  • 1 cup rhubarb, cut into ½ inch batons
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tbsp cornstarch
  • zest of 1 lemon
  • 1/4 cup mascarpone cheese
  • 2 tbsps almond meal
Egg wash
  • 1 egg, lightly beaten
  • 1 tbsps heavy cream
  • 1 tbsp turbinado sugar
Cream cheese pastry dough
  • 3/4 cup white spelt flour
  • 1/4 cup almond meal
  • 2 tbsps confectioner’s sugar
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 4 tbsps unsalted butter, cubed and cold
  • 4 tbsps cream cheese, cubed and cold
  • 3 tbsps ice cold water
  • 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
Instructions

  1. Sift the flours together. 

  2. To make the pastry crust, place the flours, sugar, salt, cream cheese, and butter in a food processor and process until the mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs, about 20 seconds.

  3. In a small cup, combine the water and vinegar. While the mixture is being processed, gradually add the water vinegar mixture until the dough comes together.

  4. Turn the dough onto a floured surface and knead gently.

  5. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and chill for 60 minutes before rolling.

  6. In a bowl, add the strawberries, rhubarb, lemon zest, sugar, and cornstarch. Toss with your hands to combine. Set aside.

  7. Remove the dough from the fridge. Roll it out on a lightly floured surface to a circle of about 12 inches wide and ¼ inch thick. Move the dough onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

  8. Spread the mascarpone cheese on the dough and leave about 1 ½ inch border. Sprinkle 2 tbsps of almond meal on top of the mascarpone cheese.

  9. Arrange the strawberry rhubarb mixture in the center of the dough leaving a one and a half inch border uncovered. Fold the dough edges over the filling pleating it loosely and leaving the galette open in the center. Patch the dough together if it breaks. Pour the juice into the galette.  Refrigerate the galette for 30 minutes.

  10. Preheat the oven to 375°F.

  11. For the glaze, whisk the egg with heavy cream in a bowl. Brush the dough with the egg mixture and sprinkle the turbinado sugar over the whole galette. 

  12. When ready to serve, cut the galette into eight pieces, transfer them to a serving plate, and top with vanilla ice cream.

Strawberry rhubarb mascarpone hand pies

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These strawberry rhubarb mascarpone hand pies are fruity, buttery, and nutty all in the same bite.

bowl of strawberry and rhubarb filling for strawberry rhubarb mascarpone hand pies

Seeing rhubarb at the farmers was a beautiful sign but seeing strawberries was even better! Normally strawberries don’t make their entrance until late spring which is around June.  I don’t know how the farmers from JR Organics did it but they had three different types of strawberries at their stand last weekend–Gaviota, Patricia, and Albion. Our favorite is the Gaviota variety which is the sweetest, juicy, and so flavorful.  We bought a whole flat, ate most of them fresh, and saved the bruised ones for baked good. I combined the strawberries with some leftover rhubarb to make strawberry rhubarb mascarpone hand pies.

kitchen towel and baking sheet with bowl of strawberry and rhubarb filling for strawberry rhubarb mascarpone hand pies

These strawberry rhubarb mascarpone hand pies are perfect for a lazy baker like me! Actually, let me correct myself! I’m not a lazy baker but having kids make those involved and complicated baking projects exponentially harder to complete.  Forget the beautiful pies with intricate lattice or four layer cakes that require hours to bake and decorate. Now it’s all about creating something quick and delicious before they wake up from their naps.

baking sheet with bowl of strawberry and rhubarb filling for strawberry rhubarb mascarpone hand pies

I love the simplicity and ease of these strawberry rhubarb hand pies.  Store bought puff pastry, a mixture of fruit, some sliced almonds, sugar, and an egg wash are all you need.  I feel no shame in using good quality store bought puff pastry. Make sure you get the butter puff pastry and not margarine or oil based ones.  The hardest step is filling the pastry and sealing the edges together so they don’t burst while baking. After twenty minutes in the oven you’re rewarded with these buttery and fruity hand pies.  I usually make an extra batch and freeze them for a quick breakfast. I love the sweet tart flavor from the strawberry rhubarb mixture, buttery taste of the puff pastry, and crunch from the almonds.  These strawberry rhubarb mascarpone hand pies are perfect for breakfast, snacking, and sharing with family and friends.

close up of bowl of strawberry and rhubarb filling for strawberry rhubarb mascarpone hand pies

If you try this recipe, please let us know how you like it! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo #beyondsweetandsavory on Instagram.  We truly appreciate your feedback and incorporate them to continually improve our recipes.

5 from 4 votes
baking sheet with bowl of strawberry and rhubarb filling for strawberry rhubarb mascarpone hand pies
Print
Strawberry rhubarb mascarpone hand pies
Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Freezing time
10 mins
Total Time
40 mins
 

These strawberry rhubarb mascarpone hand pies are fruity, buttery, and nutty all in the same bite.

Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American, Pastry
Servings: 6 servings
Ingredients
  • 6 5x5 squares of good quality puff pastry
  • 1 cup organic strawberries, hulled and roughly chopped into small pieces
  • 1/2 cup organic rhubarb, sliced into ½ inch pieces
  • Finely grated zest of 1 lemon
  • 2 tbsps granulated sugar
  • 1 tbsp cornstarch
  • 6 tbsps mascarpone cheese
  • 1 egg egg, lightly beaten
  • 2 tbsps sliced almonds
  • 1 tbsp turbinado sugar
Instructions

  1. In a mixing bowl, add strawberries, rhubarb, lemon zest, sugar, and cornstarch and let them macerate for 15 minutes.

  2. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

  3. Thaw the puff pastry squares on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

  4. When the pastry squares have thawed but are still cold, spread one tablespoon of mascarpone cheese in a triangular pattern on half of the square, leaving a half inch border.

  5. Divide the filling evenly among the pasty squares.

  6. Brush the edges with the egg, fold up the pastry to form a triangle, then press the edges together with a fork. Put the folded hand pies in the freezer for 10 minutes.

  7. Remove the hand pies from the freezer, brush the top with the egg, scatter the sliced almonds, and sprinkle the turbinado sugar.

  8. Place in the middle rack of the oven and bake for 20 minutes until golden.

  9. Let the hand pies cool for 10 minutes before serving.

Recipe Notes

If you can't find mascarpone cheese, you can substitute it with cream cheese.

Blueberry and Meyer lemon scones

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These blueberry and Meyer lemon scones are airy and buttery with a burst of blueberries and an addicting tangy lemon glaze.

plates of Meyer lemons

When Meyer lemons are in season, many lemon goodies are on repeat–Meyer lemon bars, bostocks, and lemon cake.  I might have gone overboard last weekend and bought at least five pounds of Meyer lemons. Some went to my friend Gail, others were preserved and jammed, and the rest still sitting on my kitchen counter.  I went through my repertoire of recipes to see what else to bake and decided to update Vu’s favorite scone recipe. I turned Vu’s blueberry scones into blueberry and Meyer lemon scones.

blueberry and Meyer lemon scones on baking sheet

I was never a scone person until we had afternoon tea at the Orangery in Kensington Palace eight years ago.  It was my first time having afternoon tea and wasn’t sure what to expect. The server brought out a selection of scones, butter, and jam. I vividly remember my first bite of the orange scone–light, airy, and buttery with a lovely orange flavor.  I was blown away by how good they were, forewent the sweets, and asked for a second serving of scones.

blueberry and Meyer lemon scones with Meyer lemons and a bowl of glaze

From that moment, I made a resolution to replicate the texture of those scones.  We can definitely learn a few things about making proper scones from the Brits.  Over the years, I have learned a few tricks to avoid making dense, sandpapery scones.  The most important one is not overworking the dough. Using a folding motion to bring the dough together will get the mixture moistened evenly.  Stirring the dough until it becomes wet will result in dense and heavy scones. Meyer lemon zest is used in the batter to impart that distinguishable lovely Meyer lemon aroma while fresh blueberries are used to create jammy pockets of blueberries.  Once the scones are cooled, they’re drizzled with a tangy glaze made with lemon juice, zest, and confectioners’ sugar. Making the glaze is an extra step but it brings everything together. These blueberry and Meyer lemon scones have become a favorite in our family, surpassing even the cranberry and orange scones that we often make with leftover cranberries after Thanksgiving.    

glazed blueberry and Meyer lemon scones on baking sheet

These blueberry and Meyer lemon scones are perfect for breakfast with coffee or tea, a snack, or a little pick me up.  With Easter and Mother’s Day coming up, they would be the perfect addition to brunch. Your guests will love these airy and buttery scones with a burst of blueberries and addicting tangy lemon glaze.  We always make an extra batch to freeze and throw in the oven on days when the scone craving hits.

If you need more breakfast inspiration, check out the recipes for Meyer lemon bostocks, orange and cranberry scones, and Dutch baby pancake.

If you try this recipe, please let us know how you like it! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo #beyondsweetandsavory on Instagram.  We truly appreciate your feedback and incorporate them to continually improve our recipes.

4.41 from 5 votes
glazed blueberry and Meyer lemon scones on baking sheet
Print
Blueberry and Meyer lemon scones
Prep Time
25 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
40 mins
 

These blueberry and Meyer lemon scones are airy and buttery with a burst of blueberries and an addicting tangy lemon glaze.

Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: British
Servings: 16 scones
Ingredients
  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tbsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1 stick of unsalted butter, cold and cut into small pieces
  • 1 1/2 cups organic fresh blueberries
  • Zest of 1 Meyer lemon
  • 1 cup organic heavy cream plus extra for brushing
  • 1 organic medium egg, cold
  • 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 2 tbsps sanding sugar
Meyer lemon glaze
  • 1 cup confectioners' sugar
  • 2 tbsps freshly squeezed Meyer lemon juice
Instructions

  1. Sift flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt into a mixing bowl.

  2. In a food processor, add the dry ingredients and butter and pulse about 10-12 times. The mixture should resemble coarse bread crumbs with some small pieces of butter.

  3. Transfer the flour mixture to a large mixing bowl. Add the blueberries and lemon zest and toss gently to coat.

  4. In another mixing bowl, combine cream, egg, vanilla, and whisk to combine.

  5. Pour a little of the cream mixture at a time into the flour mixture and use a spatula or your hands to work the cream into the flour mixture as you gradually rotate the bowl in a folding motion, not a stirring motion. Mix just until the dough comes together.

  6. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.

  7. Line a half-sheet pan with parchment paper.

  8. Use a 2 ½ inch diameter ice cream scoop, portion the dough, rounded side up, onto the parchment paper about 1 inch apart.

  9. Brush the top of the scones with cream and sprinkle the sanding sugar on top.

  10. Place the baking sheet on the middle rack and bake for 10 minutes. Rotate the pan and bake for another 5-7 minutes until light golden brown or a toothpick inserted into the center of the scone comes out clean.

  11. Remove the scones from the oven and let them rest for 5 minutes on the baking sheet before transferring to a wire rack to cool.

  12. To make the lemon glaze, in a bowl add the confectioners’ sugar, lemon juice and zest and stir until well combined.  

  13. Drizzle the glaze of the warm scones. If the glaze is too thick, add a few drops of lemon juice.

Recipe Notes

Freeze unbaked scones on parchment lined baking sheet, then transfer the scones to freezer bags and freeze up to 3 months.  If baking from frozen, preheat the oven to 425 degrees F and bake for 20-25 minutes.

Meyer lemon bars with almond shortcrust recipe

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These Meyer lemon bars have a delicious filling with burst of lemon flavor and a buttery crust that barely holds together.

white bowl of two Meyer lemons with knife resting on top and two lemons sitting next to bowl

Up until recently, I had a love hate relationship with lemon bars.  Every time I made lemon bars, they always turned out awful and ended up in the trash.  The filling was either too eggy or sour and the crust too crispy or soggy. Yes, I’m a bit particular about lemon bars.  I love lemon bars with just the right amount of tang and a buttery crumbly crust. Countless trials later, I’m excited to share my recipe for these delicious Meyer lemon bars with an almond shortbread crust.

Plate of Meyer lemon bars

Before we planted a Meyer lemon tree in our garden, I used Eureka lemons which always turned out too tart.  After I switched to Meyer lemons, I have never gone back. Since Meyer lemon is a cross between a lemon and a mandarin, it has a beautiful burst of lemon flavor without the acidic edge.  Their aromatic delicate skin also adds another dimension of lemon flavor to the filling.

Plate of Meyer lemon bars

One of the most important lessons I learned from my failed attempts is pouring the filling directly onto the hot crust prevents it from becoming soggy.  Once I made the mistake of removing the crust from the oven so I could bake something else, poured the filling onto the cooled crust only to find out that the filling had sunk into the crust and created a soggy mess.  If you were running behind and didn’t make the filling in time, put the cooled crust back into the oven for a few minutes will solve your problem. For the crust, I also added almond meal to create a nuttier base.

 Plate of Meyer lemon bars

These Meyer lemon bars don’t last very long when we bring them to potlucks or serve them at the end of a casual meal.  They are slightly tart, sweet, and delicate all in the same bite. I love the luscious filling with burst of lemon flavor and buttery crust that barely holds together.  Peak season for Meyer lemons runs from November until March so grab them while you can and make these delicious lemon bars.

If you like lemon desserts, check out the recipes for Meyer lemon bostocks, Meyer lemon yogurt and pistachio cake, or lemon poppy seed cake.

If you try this recipe, please let us know how you like it! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo #beyondsweetandsavory on Instagram.  We truly appreciate your feedback and incorporate them to continually improve our recipes.

4.58 from 7 votes
Print
Meyer lemon bars with almond shortcrust
Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
40 mins
Inactive time
2 hrs 30 mins
Total Time
55 mins
 

These Meyer lemon bars have a delicious filling with burst of lemon flavor and buttery crust that barely holds together

Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Servings: 24 small squares
Ingredients
  • 1 stick of unsalted butter
  • 3/4 cup cup all purpose flour
  • 6 tbsps almond meal
  • 1/4 cup confectioners' sugar
  • 1/2 tsp salt
Filling
  • 3 organic eggs
  • pinch of salt
  • 3/4 cup freshly squeezed Meyer lemon juice
  • 3/4 cup cup granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup all purpose flour
  • Zests of 2 Meyer lemons
Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

  2. Butter a 6 by 12 inch baking pan. Line base and sides with parchment paper, extending the paper about an inch over the sides which will help you lift the bars from the pan.

  3. In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter, confectioners’ sugar, flour, almond meal, and salt on medium speed until the mixture comes together.

  4. Press the dough evenly over the base of the pan with your fingers then use the bottom of a measuring cup or glass to help compact it.

  5. Bake for 20-22 minutes in the middle rack of the oven until the edges are golden brown.

  6. Prepare the filling while the base is baking. In a large mixing bowl, whisk the eggs with a pinch of salt. Add the granulated sugar, lemon juice, and all purpose flour and whisk until well combined. 

  7. Strain the egg mixture into another bowl to remove any lumps. Whisk in the lemon zest.

  8. Pour the egg mixture over the hot base and bake for another 20 minutes until the edges of the bars are set but the middle still jiggly.

  9. Let the bars cool completely in the pan on a wire rack then cover and refrigerate for 2 hours. 

  10. When ready to serve, lift the bars from the pan using the overhanging parchment paper and transfer to a cutting board. Cut the bars with a sharp knife into 2 inch squares and wipe the knife clean in between cuts.

  11. Dust the bars with confectioners’ sugar and serve immediately.

Recipe Notes

Leftover lemon bars will keep in the refrigerator if covered in a container for up to 3 days.

Cranberry and orange scones with orange glaze

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Almost every Thanksgiving, I find myself with a lot of leftover cranberries. This stemmed from not making enough cranberry sauce one year and having to resort to canned cranberries which turned out terrible. Since then I always buy two bags of cranberries in case I have to make another batch of cranberry sauce on the fly. With my leftover cranberries, I would make cranberry and orange scones the following morning for out of town guests. 

These are not your typical dry, dense scones but more airy and moist. A drizzle of orange glaze adds a beautiful flavor to them.  Fresh cranberries make these scones a bit tart but a knob of butter and spoon of jam should mellow out the tartness.  They’re perfect with a cup of coffee or tea.

Cranberry and orange scones
2 ½ cups of flour
1 tbsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
¼ cup sugar
½ tsp salt
8 tbsps cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
1 cup fresh cranberries
Zest of 1 medium to large orange (reserve 1 tsp for the glaze)
1 cup of organic heavy cream and extra for brushing
2 cold, small organic eggs
1 tbsp sanding sugar


Orange glaze
1 tsp of orange zest
2 tbsps freshly squeezed orange juice
1 cup of icing sugar

1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. In a mixing bowl, whisk flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

3. To make the dough, in a food processor, add the flour mixture and butter pieces and pulse about 10 times to combine.  Don’t over process them.

4. Transfer the flour mixture back to the mixing bowl, add the cranberries and gently toss to coat.

5. In another mixing bowl, add heavy cream, egg, and orange zest and whisk to combine.

6. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture.  Pour the cream mixture into the well and use a wooden spoon to work the cream into the flour mixture, rotating the bowl and use a folding motion as you go, not a stirring motion.

7. When the dough begins to come together, use a spatula or your hands to gently work the dough into a ball. Add in one teaspoon of cream at a time if there’s a lot of loose flour in the bottom of the bowl until you fully incorporate them.

8. Transfer the dough onto a floured surface and gently pat it into a 7 to 8 inch circle. Use a chef knife to cut the circle into 8 wedges.

9. Place the scones on the lined baking sheet about 1 inch apart. Brush the top with cream and sprinkle with sanding sugar.

10. Place the sheet on the middle rack and bake for 10 minutes. Rotate the pan and bake for another 10-12 minutes until golden and a toothpick inserted into the center of a scone comes out clean.

10. Let the scones rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.

11. To make the orange glaze, in a small bowl, whisk together orange juice, zest, and icing sugar until smooth.

12.When ready to serve, drizzle the glaze on the scones.

Notes: these scones are better eaten the day of or stored in an airtight container until the next day. Rewarm them in the oven if you plan on eating them the next day. You can also freeze the unbaked scones in the freezer for up to a month.

Strawberry and basil mascarpone tart

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Somehow this past winter felt like the longest winter ever. As much as I love the cooler weather, I was ready for the temperature to warm up and work on my garden. I had planned on adding a few more garden boxes for a lot of veggies and fruits, in particular alpine strawberries. It will be my third attempt growing them from seed. It takes anywhere from a few weeks to almost two months for the seeds to germinate and a whole year before the first harvest happens. Wish me luck! In the meantime, I’m content with buying strawberries from the farmers market, enjoying them fresh, showcasing them in tarts and galettes, and the most refreshing treat of all, ice cream! 


 

Before we get to the ice cream (recipe coming soon I promise!), let’s talk about tarts! It’s been years since I posted a recipe for strawberry tart, so we’re overdue! With strawberries, their flavor is so delicate, I try not to do too much otherwise they lose their sweetness.  I also added some basil leaves to the cream to provide some contrast to the mild flavor of the tart.  Strawberries and basil make such a tasty combination anyway!  This tart can be made the day before your gathering so it will be a bit less stressful while you’re running around trying to prepare dinner.  We’ve been enjoying this tart since strawberry season started and will be making it often until the end of summer!  We hope you enjoy it as much as we do!




Strawberry and basil mascarpone tart

1 quantity of pastry dough
12 oz of strawberries, hulled and halved (leave about 4-5 strawberries unhulled for garnish)
2 tbsps icing sugar
¾ cup of organic heavy whipping cream
4 oz of mascarpone cheese
¼ cup of icing sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tbsp of Genovese basil leaves, finely chopped
Icing sugar and a few baby basil leaves for garnish

For the pastry dough
½ cup of spelt flour (if you don’t have spelt flour, you can replace with another wheat flour or all purpose flour)
½ cup of almond meal
6 tbsps of butter, chopped into cubes
2 tbsp of icing sugar
pinch of salt
3-4 tbsps of ice-cold water

1. Sift the flours together. To make the pastry crust, place the flours, sugar, salt, and butter in a food processor and process until the mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs.

2. While the mixture is being processed, gradually add cold water until the dough comes together.

3. Turn the dough onto a floured surface and knead gently.

4. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and chill for 60 minutes before rolling.

5. Remove the dough from the fridge. Roll it out on a lightly floured surface to a circle of about 10 inches wide and ¼ inch thick and line an 8-inch tart pan. Trim off the excess dough. You can save the extra dough for up to one month in the freezer.

6. Prick the tart base with a fork, cover with plastic wrap, and chill for another 30 minutes.

7. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

8. Remove the tart base from the fridge, line with parchment paper and fill with baking weights (you can use rice or beans if you do not have any baking weights).

9. Bake for 15 minutes. Remove the weights and bake for another 10 minutes until the pastry is golden. Let it cool to room temperature.

10. While the tart base is baking, prepare the filling. In a stand mixer with the whisk attachment, whisk together the heavy cream, mascarpone, icing sugar, and vanilla until thick.

11. Gently fold the chopped basil into the cream mixture. Put the cream mixture in the fridge while the tart base is cooling.

12. Place strawberries in a bowl and toss with the icing sugar. Refrigerate the strawberries if the tart base is still cooling.

13. When the tart shell is ready, fill the tart shell with the basil cream and arrange the strawberries on top.

14. Before serving the tart, garnish with baby basil leaves and a dusting of icing sugar.

Hidden Rose Apple Tart

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I could hardly believe that December is here and in a blink of an eye the new year will be upon us. I’m not ready for fall to be over let alone for 2017 to arrive. So many fall dishes still on my list to cook and bake. Another squash and apple soup. A pear and chocolate tart. Chicken stewed in apple cider. A savory fig and goat cheese tart. Butternut squash and ricotta ravioli. And many more apple cakes and tarts. I’m like that little girl that kept on asking for one more song at the end of the party. One dessert that I was really happy to cross off my list was this hidden rose apple tart. These hidden rose apples came all the way from Oregon and are famous for their deep red fresh and crisp with balanced flavor of tart and sweet. I was lucky enough to get my hands on them soon after they arrived at Specialty Produce.

When it comes to desserts, I kept things simple to enhance the flavor of these delicious apples. Paired with puff pastry for a shell and flavored with a touch of cinnamon were all they required.

 

Not too long after the tart came out of the oven, my little guy caught sight of it and demanded to try it. So there we sat in the kitchen, just the two of us, and polished off this tart. He picked off the best part, the apples and crunchy crust, but I didn’t mind one bit. He liked it so much that I made it again the next day. And hopefully again next year when these apples are in season.

Hidden Rose Apple Tart

½ pound of puff pastry
2 hidden rose apples, sliced thinly
Freshly squeezed juice of one lemon
2 tbsps granulated sugar
2 tbsps almond meal
1 small egg, lightly beaten
1 tbsp turbinado sugar
¼ tsp Saigon cinnamon
powdered sugar for dusting
vanilla ice cream or creme fraiche for serving

1. Place the lemon juice in a large mixing bowl and set aside.

2. Peel, core, and slice apples into ⅛ inch with a mandoline. Gently toss with the lemon juice to prevent the apples from discoloring.

3. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

4. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

5. On a floured surface, roll out the puff pastry to about 5mm thick and trim it into a 10 inch circle.

6. Sprinkle the sugar and almond meal over the top, leaving a 1 inch border.

7. Arrange the apple slices on top of the dough with slight overlap, leaving a 1 inch border around the edges.

8. Fold the edges of the puff pastry over the apple slices and press gently to seal. Pop the baking sheet in the freezer and freeze for 15 minutes or until the dough is firm.

9. Mix the the turbinado and cinnamon until combined.

10. Brush the dough with egg wash and sprinkle the cinnamon sugar mixture over the apple slices and edges.

11. Bake the tart for 30-40 minute on the middle rack, turning halfway through to ensure even baking.

12. Remove the tart from the oven and let it cool for 10 minutes before serving.

13. When ready to serve, dust with powdered sugar.  Slice the apple tart and serve warm with vanilla ice cream or creme fraiche.

14.The tart will keep for another day in an airtight container.

Salted Caramel Quince Tarte Tatin

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A few weeks ago, I took a short trip to Seattle and fell in love with the Emerald City all over again. I had forgotten how gorgeous fall in Seattle is with all the red, orange, and ochre foliage lining streets and city parks. The rain, fog, and its melancholy made me miss the bay area, where I grew up. I spent a lot of time meandering different parts of Seattle, from Pioneer Square, Belltown, Capitol Hill to Ballard, popping in random shops and restaurants.  My favorite meal was at Lark where I indulged in oysters and ended the night with a delicious quince tarte tatin, smothered in salted caramel sauce and topped with old fashion vanilla ice cream.  It was probably the best thing I ate on that trip!

 The next day, I drove around Seattle for looking for quinces and totally lucked out on my way to the airport. I stopped by a gas station and spied a small market across the street. With three hours to spare, I made my way to the market.  It had a nice selection of fruits and to my delight a huge bin of pineapple quinces. I probably bought about five pounds and carefully stuffed them in my carry on. Instead of taking a nap on the plane, my thoughts were occupied with how to recreate the salted caramel tarte tatin from Lark.


When I came home, I left the quinces in my kitchen and let their heavenly fragrance fill my favorite space. After a few days, I dug out an old recipe for apple tarte tatin and substituted the quince for the apple. I altered the cooking time for my tarte tatin since quinces are virtually inedible raw and required a little more cooking than apples. It’s a bit of work to make this classic French upside-down dessert but worth every bite. The quince tarte tatin that I had at Lark was paired with vanilla ice cream and I wouldn’t eat it any other way. Enjoy!

 


Salted Caramel Tarte Tatin 

4 small quinces, peeled, cored, and halved
¼ tsp salt
½ cup of sugar
2 tbsps of water
½ stick of unsalted butter, cubed
1 lb all butter puff pastry
All purpose flour for dusting
Vanilla ice cream for serving
One 8” flameproof tart pan or heavy-based, oven proof pan

1. In a flameproof tart pan, on low heat, add water, salt and sugar, and cook gently until sugar has dissolved.

2. Increase heat to medium and bring to boil. Cook without stirring for 7 minutes or until light golden.

3. Add the butter and stir until melted and well combined.

4. Put the quinces, cut side up, into the pan. Return to low heat and cook for 10 minutes.

5. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

6. Using a rolling pin, roll the pastry on a floured surface. Cut a round circle slightly bigger than the pan.

7. Place the pastry circle over the quinces and fold the edges under to tuck in the apples. Use a small knife, make 3 small slits in the center of the pastry.

8. Bake for 25-30 minutes until the pastry is golden.

9. Let the tarte tatin stand for 10 minutes. Use a knife to loosen the edges and carefully turn out the tarte tatin onto a serving plate.

10. Serve immediately with vanilla ice cream. The tart is best eaten on the day of baking but will keep for 1 day.