Florentine Apple and Almond Tart

Florentine Apple and Almond Tart
Serves 6-8

There is nothing better than this simple delicious tart absolutely bursting with apples. The delicious combination of almonds and the use of lemon zest is iconic of the types of simple desserts you will find over Florence and Tuscany in cake shops and well known pasticceria.

2 large delicious apples
1 large lemon
Zest of 1 orange
115g almonds, blanched
4 tblsp sugar
2 tblsp plain flour
½ cup milk
4 extra large eggs
Extra 2 tblsp of sugar
1 tblsp butter

Peel and core the apples, cutting them into quarters and then into very thin slices across the apple. Place the apples into a large bowl and squeeze over the juice of 1 lemon.

Place the blanched almonds, sugar, flour and orange zest into a food processor and blend until the almonds are very fine. Add in the milk and the eggs and blend again until a smooth batter.

Preheat the oven to 170c.

Transfer the batter into the apples and stir to combine. Heavily butter a 34 x 22cm tin or baking dish and sprinkle on the extra sugar. Pour in the batter spreading it evenly over the dish. Bake for 35 minutes until golden.

Allow the tart to cool for a few minutes before sprinkling it with icing sugar and serving it warm.