Blueberry Cornmeal Tart

 

For those who don’t bake and for those that do, for those who like their desserts on the less-sweet side, the crunchy side, the unfussy side, this dessert is for you. I can’t stress enough how infallible it is, virtually unable to mess up.

The buttery cornmeal crust doubles as a crumble topping for texture on both sides for maximum crunchiness, the key to my heart. As for the fruit, while a stonefruit moment may tempt you, this is truly a moment for berries. Blueberries are hard to beat for their juiciness and rich-in-pectin jammy texture, but feel free to mix in blackberries, raspberries or mulberries/huckleberries (if you’re lucky to find either).

This recipe is also a prime candidate for baking in “whatever you have around.” Tart pan, pie plate, square baking dish; It is also easily doubled to make in a 9x13 for more of a “bar” and less of a “tart.”

YIELD — 1 9-inch tart, 6-8 servings

 

Ingredients

For the Crust & Topping

  • 1 ½ cups/225g all-purpose flour

  • ⅓ cup/55 grams cornmeal

  • ⅓ cup/50 grams confectioners’ sugar

  • ¼ cup/55 grams light brown sugar

  • 1 teaspoon/ 4 grams baking powder

  • 1 teaspoon/ 3 grams kosher salt

  • ¾ cup/170 grams unsalted butter (1 1/2 sticks), melted and cooled slightly

    For the Filling

  • 1 pound/455 grams blueberries, or combination of blueberries, blackberries and raspberries

  • ½ cup/110 grams light brown sugar

  • 2 tablespoons/ 28 grams apple cider vinegar or fresh lemon or lime juice

  • 2 tablespoons/ 18 grams all-purpose flour

  • Pinch of kosher salt

Directions

1. Make the crust and topping: Preheat oven to 350°. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cornmeal, confectioners’ sugar, brown sugar, baking powder and salt. Add melted butter, then use your hands or a wooden spoon to combine ingredients until a coarse little dough comes together, with no obviously dry spots. 

2. Press 3/4 of the cornmeal mixture into a 9-inch tart pan with a removable bottom (alternatively, use a 9-inch cake pan or springform pan, or 8x8 pan lined with parchment), making sure the mixture is evenly pressed on the bottom and about 1/2 inch up the sides. (Using something large and flat, like the bottom of a measuring cup, will be helpful.) Place the shell on a rimmed baking sheet; pop the tart shell and remaining mixture into the fridge while you prepare the filling. 

3. Make the filling: Toss blueberries, brown sugar, vinegar, flour and salt together in a medium bowl. Pour the fruit into the crust.

4. Crumble the remaining cornmeal mixture over the blueberries, pressing bits of the mixture together into large clumps as you go, as you would with a crisp or coffee-cake topping (note that it won’t cover the top entirely, more just create a nice sporadic covering, still allowing the blueberries and their juices to poke through).

5. Bake tart until the blueberry filling is bubbly and thickened, and both the crust and top are nicely browned, 50–55 minutes.

6. Let tart cool completely before slicing into triangles and serving. The tart can be baked up to 2 days ahead and stored tightly wrapped at room temperature or refrigerated (especially if your kitchen is hot or humid).

EAT WITH: vanilla ice cream would be too obvious, but I don’t care. 

DO AHEAD: tart can be baked 4 days ahead, stored wrapped in plastic at room temperature, or refrigerated. This tart is good all the ways. 

newsletter, sweets / baked things, sweet enoughAlison RomanComment