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Italian Cherry and Almond Tart (Dairy & Gluten Free)

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Italian Cherry and Almond Tart (Dairy & Gluten Free)

“Stop! Did you see that?” Alec pulls my hand pointing at a beautiful Italian Cherry and Almond Tart behind the glass of our favorite pastry shop window. “Let’s go buy one. It’s the first one I have seen this season”!

It’s a bustling Saturday morning in Italy. Everybody is out taking a stroll in the historic city center enjoying the nice weather and our newly found freedom after spending the first part of spring on lockdown…

Italian Cherry and Almond Tart (Dairy & Gluten Free)

Cherry season just started. The Italian outdoor markets overflow with beautiful, fresh cherries. And so do the pastry shops, which display the most enticing and mouthwatering cherry based treats and desserts. One of the most popular is definitely the good-old Italian Cherry Almond Tart, also known as a Cherry Frangipane Tart.

This delicious pie, features three layers of deliciousness: a crumbly shortbread crust, a delectable cherry jam and fresh fruit filling, and a spongy frangipane top scattered with a few more cherries and nuts.

Italian Cherry and Almond Tart (Dairy & Gluten Free)

If you have never heard of “frangipane”, it’s a sweet and nutty filling for pies and tarts that was invented in Italy and dates back to the 1600. In its original version, frangipane can be a bit on the heavy side, as it’s intended as an almond flavored custard that usually involves lots of butter and sugar in its preparation.

As it ends up happening most of the time, I talked Alec into making our own, healthy version of this Cherry Frangipane Tart … and one that I could enjoy as well, since the pastry shop version of this pie is definitely not gluten free nor dairy free for that matter.

Italian Cherry and Almond Tart (Dairy & Gluten Free)

How to Make a Healthy Italian Cherry and Almond Tart:

Italian Cherry and Almond Tart (Dairy & Gluten Free)
Italian Cherry and Almond Tart (Dairy & Gluten Free)

After we bought a full bag of fresh cherries at the outdoor market, we headed back home and to start putting together this gluten free cherry and almond tart.

I washed the cherries, cut them in half and remove the pit. And after I turned on the oven to preheat it to 180 C (350 F), I started combining all ingredients for the shortbread crust in my food processor. Once a nice ball of dough formed, I flattened it out with a rolling pin over a sheet, then transferred the shortbread crust in a baking pan, spread a layer of cherry jam on top and baked it alone for 10 minutes.

Paleo AIP Italian Cookbook Bundle
Italian Cherry and Almond Tart (Dairy & Gluten Free)

While the gluten free crust was pre-baking, I started preparing the frangipane filling for my Cherry and Almond Tart. I combined egg whites and coconut sugar in a glass bowl and beat them with a hand mixer for a couple of minutes, until soft peaks formed.

I then added in the almond flour, together with the vanilla extract and coconut milk and rhum, and mixed them in very slowly, moving my fork from the bottom to the top, always in the same direction.

Lastly, chop 1/3 of the cherries I previously cut in half and I added them in the frangipani mixture together with the baking powder, folding both ingredients in gently.

Italian Cherry and Almond Tart (Dairy & Gluten Free)
Italian Cherry and Almond Tart (Dairy & Gluten Free)
Italian Cherry and Almond Tart (Dairy & Gluten Free)

After 10 minutes, I took the gluten free shortbread crust out of the oven, covered it with cherry halves and filled it with the cherry and almond tart mixture. Lastly, I added some more cherry halves on top, together with some pine nuts (flaked almonds would be a better toppings, but I ran out).

Italian Cherry and Almond Tart (Dairy & Gluten Free)
Italian Cherry and Almond Tart (Dairy & Gluten Free)
Italian Cherry and Almond Tart (Dairy & Gluten Free)

The recipe also called for gluten free oats, rich fiber, thiamin, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, manganese, selenium, and iron.

And if you are wondering if gluten free oatmeal si actually gluten free, please take a look at this recipe for my favorite porridge, where I address this question in the middle of the article.

Italian Cherry and Almond Tart (Dairy & Gluten Free)

After 35 to 40 minutes, a delicious smell started oozing out of the oven. That was the sign that my gluten free Italian cherry and almond tart was ready! I made sure to let it cool down completely before taking it out of the baking pan and transfer it on a serving plate (if you take it out while still hot, most likely the crust will crack).

And if there’s one thing you can be sure of is that we NEVER eat a food while it’s still hot… because doing a photoshoot is quite time consuming! 😉 But, hey, that’s definitely worth it if it means that I can share the recipe of my Italian Cherry and Almond Tart with you guys! 🙂

Italian Cherry and Almond Tart (Dairy & Gluten Free)
Italian Cherry and Almond Tart (Dairy & Gluten Free)
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5 from 2 votes

Italian Cherry and Almond Tart (Dairy & Gluten Free)

This healthy, Italian Cherry and Almond Tart is a dairy and gluten free version of the popular Cherry Frangipane Tart only made with wholesome ingreddients.
Servings: 8 slices
Prep Time30 minutes
Cook Time45 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 cups Cherries

For the Gluten Free Shortbread Crust:

For the Frangipane Filling:

Toppings:

Instructions

  • Wash the cherries, cut them in half and remove the pit
  • Preheat the oven to 180 C (350 F)
  • Combine all ingredients for the shortbread crust (except for the jam) in a food processor and pulse until you a nice ball of dough.
  • With a rolling pin, roll out the dough on a sheet of parchment paper until 8 mm (1/3”) thick.
  • Transfer the shortbread crust in a baking pan (18 cm / 7 inch diameter), poke it with a fork and spread a layer of cherry jam on top.
  • Bake for 10 minutes while you prepare the frangipane layer.
  • Combine the egg whites with the coconut sugar in a bowl and beat with a hand mixer until soft peaks form (this will take 1 or 2 minutes).
  • Add in the almond or hazelnut flour, together with the vanilla extract and coconut milk, and mix them in very slowly, moving your fork from the bottom to the top, always going in the same direction.
  • Lastly, chop 1/3 of the cherries you halved and add them in the frangipani mixture together with the baking powder and fold them in gently.
  • Take the shortbread crust out of the oven (it only needs to pre-bake for 10 minutes) and cover it with cherry halves.
  • Pour the frangipane mixture on top of your Italian cherry and almond pie, decorate with the leftover cherry halves (optionally you can sprinkle some more coconut sugar and some pine nuts on top), and bake your gluten free cherry pie for 35 more minutes.
  • Enjoy!

Notes

NOTE: I added the Amazon links of all the items so that you understand exactly what I used, but I encourage you to shop locally and purchase these items from your favorite organic or health food store. Remember, we always 'vote' with the money we spend 😉

Nutrition

Serving: 1slice
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: Cherry Almond Tart, Cherry Tart, Frangipane Tart, Gluten Free Cherry Tart
DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?Leave a comment below and share a photo on Instagram. Tag @littlebitesofbeauty and hashtag it #littlebitesofbeauty!

I am excited to see your recreations of my Italian Cherry and Almond Tart (or Cherry Frangipani Tart), so make sure to take a photo and tag me when you share it on Instagram!! Don’t forget to share this recipe with your friends on Facebook, save it on your favorite Pinterest board and subscribe to my weekly newsletter so that you never miss a post!!

Lots of love from Italy and I will catch you at the next recipe!

Ambra

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Italian Cherry and Almond Tart (Dairy & Gluten Free)
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Ambra Torelli
Born and raised in Italy, Ambra visited over 20 countries and now she divides her time in between Italy and the US, where her husband is from and where she moved in 2011 work as university professor of Italian Literature. She writes about food, travel and things that inspire her! more about ambra

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3 Comments

  • Trish June 17, 2020 7:30 pm

    Hi there, I am interested in trying this new recipe as cherries are out every in the grocery stores here. However, I was wondering if there is something I can sub for the rhum. we don’t really drink and don’t have that on hand. Thanks

    • ambra June 18, 2020 1:48 am

      Hi Trish! Yes, you can definitely omit the rhum! I don’t drink either and I only use it for baking as the alcohol evaporates and it infuses the pie with a really really nice hint, but it’s no problem if you live it out.

      • Trisha June 18, 2020 4:38 am

        Thank you so much for getting back to me. I can’t wait to try this recipe.

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