You don’t have a heart-shaped pan, only a round one, but you want to make a romantic tart for your sweetheart? Then this recipe is for you, and with a little trick, you’ll prepare a heart-shaped dessert that will amaze your partner! Also, do you have something to tell them for a while, but you never found the courage or the occasion? Write it with a fun crossword puzzle, it will surely have an effect! The filling of the tart is apricot and peach-pear jam, a combination I found absolutely delicious.

Difficulty: Easy
Cost: Inexpensive
Rest time: 30 Minutes
Preparation time: 45 Minutes
Portions: 8People
Cooking methods: Oven
Cuisine: Italian
Seasonality: Valentine's Day

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/4 cups cornstarch (maizena)
2/3 cup butter
3/4 cup powdered sugar
2 egg whites egg whites (from 2 small eggs)
as needed butter (for greasing the pan)
as needed all-purpose flour (for flouring the pan)
1 pear (weighing about 7 oz.)
1 1/4 cups apricot jam (and peach if you prefer just apricot)
as needed lemon juice
3/4 cup powdered sugar
1 large egg white egg white (from a medium/large egg)
1/3 cup apricot jam
as needed red food coloring (gel for writing)

Steps

On a pastry board, place the flour in a mound, add the softened butter in pieces, and start to rub in the butter. Now add the sugar and egg whites and knead well.
You need to achieve a soft, malleable dough that is easy to roll out. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and place it in the fridge for about half an hour.
Now divide the dough into two parts, one slightly smaller. Roll out the larger part with a rolling pin on a floured surface.
Cover the bottom of the pan with the rolled-out dough, using a cutter to level the height so it is even throughout.
Roll out the other piece of dough with a rolling pin, also on a floured surface.
Spread the jam on the tart base.
Wash, peel, and core the pear. Slice it and place the slices over the jam layer. Pour lemon juice over it.
Place the other layer of dough over the pears.
Level the edges, removing excess dough, and seal the edges well with a fork.
Beat the egg whites with the powdered sugar until stiff. If you prefer it less sweet, reduce the sugar amount slightly.
Cover the top layer of dough with the beaten egg whites.
Now, with a syringe or piping bag filled with apricot jam, decorate the surface of the cake.
Draw lines as in the image below.
Bake at 350°F for about 30 minutes.
Let the tart cool. Put the food coloring in a container, if it is too thick, dilute with very little water, just a few drops. With a brush, write the words you want to communicate to your partner!