This gorgeous rhubarb dessert will make you the envy of your guests! A sweet almond frangipane filling, resting on a buttery shortbread crust topped with thin slices of tart, seasonal rhubarb. While it will take some time to prepare 2 hours and 15 minutes in total, you will find this tart worth the effort. It’s beautiful and delicious.

Ingredients

 

FOR THE SHORTBREAD CRUST

 

• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 2/3 cup powdered sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 cup cold unsalted butter (1 stick), cut into cubes
• one egg yolk
• one tablespoon heavy cream
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla bean paste (extract can be substituted)

 

FOR THE FRANGIPANE FILLING

 

• one tablespoon of unsalted butter
• 3/4 cups almond meal
• 1/3 cup granulated sugar
• one large egg
• one tablespoon dark rum
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla bean paste (extract can be substituted)
• 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
• 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
• 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt

 

FOR THE RHUBARB LATTICE TOPPING

 

• 8 -10 stalks of fresh rhubarb
• 1 cup of water
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar

Instructions

 

TO MAKE THE SHORTBREAD CRUST

 

1. Place the flour, powdered sugar, and salt in the bowl of a food processor and pulse to combine.
2. Add the butter and process until the mixture resembles a coarse meal.
3. Combine the egg, cream, and vanilla in a small bowl and add to the flour/butter mixture while running the machine.
4. Continue to process until the dough comes together into a ball.
5. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for a minimum of 30 minutes.
6. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
7. Roll the dough to a thickness of about 3/16-inch.
8. Place it in the tart pan, trimming away any excess.
9. Line with foil and ceramic pie weights or dried beans.
10. Bake for 15 minutes or until just beginning to turn golden.

 

TO MAKE THE FRANGIPANE FILLING

 

1. Place the butter in a small pan and cook over medium heat until nutty-brown. Set aside to cool slightly.
2. Place the almond meal, sugar, egg, rum, vanilla, zest, almond extract, and salt in a bowl and stir to combine.
3. Mix in the browned butter, and transfer the mixture to the partially baked tart shell.
4. Bake for an additional 30 minutes, or until golden brown and set.
5. Cool completely and top with rhubarb lattice.

 

TO MAKE THE RHUBARB LATTICE TOPPING

 

1. Using a mandolin slicer or vegetable peeler, slice the rhubarb long-ways to a thickness of about 1/16 inch.
2. Place the water and sugar in a pot and bring to a boil.
3. Reduce to a bare simmer, and add 4 or 5 slices of rhubarb. Cook until slightly softened, then drain on paper towels. Repeat until all the rhubarb is cooked. Reserve the remaining syrup.
4. Line up slices of cooked rhubarb side-by-side on a sheet of parchment. Fold alternating slices up, and place perpendicular slices over in a lattice pattern. Repeat until the sheet of a lattice is big enough to cover the entire top of the tart.
5. Flip the sheet onto the top of the cooled tart, and peel the parchment away. Trim off any overhang with kitchen shears.
6. Using a silicone pastry brush, dab the remaining poaching liquid over the lattice to glaze.