Leon's cherry bakewell tart
Mr Selfridge star and master baker Leon Ockenden is back in the kitchen whipping up a delicious summer treat for us - a cherry bakewell tart!
Ingredients
Serves 8
For the cake
150g butter, softened150g caster sugar150g self-raising flour150g ground almonds2 large eggs1tsp almond extract3 tablespoons black cherry jam200g fresh cherries, pitted and halved and soaked in a splash of amaretto100g flaked almonds
For the icing
100g icing sugarJuice ½ lemon
Method
Preheat the oven to 180°C/fan 160°C/gas 4. Base line a 23 cm (8½-9½in) spring clip cake tin with baking parchment.
Using a food processor or an electric whisk; beat the butter, sugar, flour, ground almonds, eggs and almond extract together.
Spoon half of the batter into the lined cake tin and smooth it over.
Dot the jam, half a teaspoon at a time all over the batter and scatter with the fresh cherries.
With the remainder of the cake mix, drop some over the fruit to cover it, if it’s a bit messy - don’t worry as the batter will spread as it cooks.
Scatter the flaked almonds over and bake for 45-50 minutes until well-risen and golden brown. Leave to stand for 5 minutes in the tin then remove by running a knife around, unclip and slide the cake onto a wire rack.
For the icing: Sift the icing sugar into a large bowl. Add the lemon juice, and then stir until smooth and thick. Drizzle over the cooked cake and stand for 30 minutes before serving.
With thanks to Lower Hope Farm, Herefordshire for supplying the cherries
Flare Path tour dates
Flare Path kicks off a national tour on 18 August
18 – 29 August Devonshire Park Theatre, Eastbourne1 – 5 SeptemberRichmond Theatre7 – 12 September Theatre Royal, Bath15 – 19 September Festival Theatre, Malvern22 – 26 September Exeter Northcott Theatre28 September – 3 October Cambridge Arts Theatre5 – 10 October Salisbury Playhouse12 – 17 October Theatre Royal Winchester19 – 24 October The New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich3 – 7 November The Belgrade Theatre, Coventry10 – 14 November Liverpool Playhouse16-21 November The Palace Theatre, Southend23 – 28 November Yvonne Arnaud, Guildford