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FEATURE RECIPE
Cinnamon-chocolate fruit mince tarts
Shards of bitter chocolate give these little tarts a much-needed edge of bitterness, cutting through the natural sweetness of the dried fruit. Use an assortment of small biscuit cutters to cut out the decorative tops – we used stars, Christmas trees, snowflakes and angels, but it’s entirely up to you. You’ll need to begin this recipe at least a day ahead.
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Serves
24
Cooking Time
Prep time 40 mins, cook 15 mins (plus chilling, soaking, resting, cooling)
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270 gm
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dark brown sugar
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200 gm each
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raisins, sultanas and currants
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100 ml
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muscat
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100 gm
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unsalted butter, melted
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100 gm
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glacé orange, finely chopped
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2
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Granny Smith apples, coarsely grated
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1
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orange, finely grated rind and juice only
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½ tsp
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ground cinnamon
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¼ tsp each
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of mixed spice, ground cloves and finely grated nutmeg
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100 gm
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dark chocolate (70% cocoa solids), coarsely chopped
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20 gm
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demerara sugar mixed with ¼ tsp ground cinnamon, for scattering
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| Cinnamon pastry |
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180 gm
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softened unsalted butter
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200 gm
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pure icing sugar
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1 tbsp
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ground cinnamon
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4
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eggs
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500 gm
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(3 1/3 cups) plain flour
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1
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Combine all ingredients except chocolate and demerara sugar in a large bowl, stir to combine, then spoon into sterilised jars and refrigerate for at least 1 day or up to 2 weeks, inverting jar occasionally. Makes about 5 cups of fruit mince.
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2
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For cinnamon pastry, beat butter, sugar and cinnamon in an electric mixer until light and creamy (4-5 minutes). Add eggs one at a time and beat until well combined. Beat in flour and a pinch of sea salt, turn onto a lightly floured surface and knead lightly until just smooth, then divide pastry in half, wrap each half in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 3 hours to rest. Roll out each pastry half on a lightly floured surface to 3mm thick, cut out 11cm-diameter rounds with a pastry cutter, place on a tray and refrigerate until required. Cut out small stars or other decorative shapes from the pastry scraps, place on a tray lined with baking paper and refrigerate until required. Re-roll any remaining scraps to 3mm thick, refrigerate until firm (30 minutes), then cut out more rounds and decorative shapes with small biscuit cutters and add shapes to tray. Line 24 125ml-capacity muffin tins with rounds and refrigerate until required.
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3
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Preheat oven to 180C. Add chocolate to fruit mince mixture, stir to combine. Spoon fruit mince mixture into each pastry-lined pan, leaving a 5mm gap at top. Top each with a pastry shape, brush lightly with water, scatter with demerara sugar mixture and bake until pastry is golden and crisp (12-15 minutes). Cool completely in tins, then remove. Fruit mince tarts will keep stored in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
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This recipe is from the December 2009 issue of Australian Gourmet Traveller magazine.
RECIPE Emma Knowles
PHOTOGRAPHY William Meppem
STYLING Emma Knowles
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