Mary Berry Red Frangipane Tart

Mary Berry Red Frangipane Tart

The first time I made this tart, I had a fridge full of berries on their last legs and the nerve to think โ€œthisโ€™ll be simple.โ€ Readerโ€”it was not. I overmixed the frangipane, didnโ€™t drain the fruit properly, and skipped chilling the pastry. The result? A soggy-bottomed sponge puddle in a tart tin. Still edible (itโ€™s Mary, after all), but not something Iโ€™d serve to guests.

Second time, I slowed down. Chilled the pastry, drained the berries, didnโ€™t rush the layering. And it worked. The pastry held its shape, the frangipane baked up soft but not dense, and the berries gave little bursts of tartness under a golden almond top. Let me show you how I fixed itโ€”and why this oneโ€™s now a proper showstopper in my rotation.

WHAT MAKES THIS RECIPE SPECIAL

Most berry-and-frangipane bakes sink into a mushy mess. This one holds togetherโ€”and itโ€™s got proper layers: buttery base, soft almond filling, jammy fruit, and a little lemony drizzle over the top.

  • Layeredโ€”not stirred togetherโ€”so you get contrast in every bite.
  • Cooked-down fruitโ€”keeps the berries from leaking too much juice.
  • Almond extractโ€”tiny bit, big payoff. Smells incredible while it bakes.

INGREDIENTS + WHY THEY MATTER

SHORTCRUST PASTRY

  • Plain flour (225g) โ€“ A light, neutral base. Gives you structure without overpowering the filling.
  • Cold butter (125g) โ€“ Must be fridge-cold. Thatโ€™s what makes the crust flaky.
  • Icing sugar (25g) โ€“ Gives it a finer, crumbly texture than caster sugar.
  • Egg (1) โ€“ Binds the dough. I use a medium egg, straight from the fridge.

FRUIT FILLING

  • Caster sugar (100g) โ€“ For cooking down the berries and making a syrup.
  • Blackberries, blueberries, raspberries (150g each) โ€“ Use fresh if you can. Frozen berries will leak too much liquid.
  • Cornflour (2 tbsp) โ€“ Thickens the fruit syrup so it doesnโ€™t soak the base.
  • Flaked almonds (25g) โ€“ Toast on top. Adds texture and looks gorgeous.
  • Icing sugar (25g) โ€“ For the drizzle. Make it thick enough to hold its shape.

FRANGIPANE

  • Butter (175g) โ€“ Softened, not melted. Creams best at room temperature.
  • Caster sugar (175g) โ€“ Sweetens without grittiness.
  • Eggs (4) โ€“ Helps the sponge rise. Room temperature works best.
  • Ground almonds (175g) โ€“ The heart of the frangipane. Gives it that moist, rich texture.
  • Almond extract (1 tsp) โ€“ Just enough to give warmth without tasting fake.

MAKING IT YOURS (WITHOUT RUINING IT)

Want to change up the fruit?

  • Swap the raspberries for chopped cherries (fresh or jarred) for a black forest sort of twist.
  • Strawberries go too mushyโ€”skip those.

Nut-free?

  • Sadly, not with this one. The almond is essential.

Gluten-free?

  • Works with a good GF shortcrust pastry base (I tested with Doves Farm blend). Everything else is naturally gluten-free.

MISTAKES Iโ€™VE MADE (AND HOW TO AVOID THEM)

WHAT WENT WRONGWHY IT HAPPENSHOW TO FIX IT
Pastry shrank and crackedDidnโ€™t chill it before bakingAlways chill for 20 mins after lining tin
Fruit leaked everywhereDidnโ€™t drain berries properlyDrain and thicken the syrup before filling
Frangipane too denseOvermixed or cold butterCream butter and sugar lightlyโ€”donโ€™t overbeat
Top burned, middle rawOven too hot or overbakedBake at 180ยฐC and tent with foil if needed

HOW TO MAKE MARY BERRYโ€™S RED FRANGIPANE TART

Make the Pastry
Blend flour, butter, and icing sugar in a food processor (or by hand) until crumbly. Add beaten egg and 1 tbsp cold water. Mix until it forms a soft dough.

Roll out on a lightly floured surface to the thickness of a ยฃ1 coin. Line a 28cm tart tin. Trim the edges and chill for 20 mins.

Blind Bake the Pastry
Preheat oven to 200ยฐC / 180ยฐC fan / Gas 6. Prick base with a fork. Line with baking paper and fill with baking beans. Bake 15 mins. Remove beans and paper, bake another 5 mins until golden.

Cook the Fruit
In a saucepan, gently heat caster sugar and 2 tbsp water until dissolved. Add blackberries and blueberries. Stir for 3โ€“4 mins until softened. Remove from heat, stir in raspberries.

Drain fruit through a sieve and keep the syrup.

Thicken the Syrup
Mix cornflour with 2 tbsp cold water. Whisk into the syrup. Heat gently until thick enough to coat the back of a spoon. Stir the softened fruit back in. Let cool.

Make the Frangipane
Cream butter and sugar until pale and fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time. Fold in ground almonds and almond extract.

Assemble the Tart
Spoon fruit mixture evenly into the pastry case. Carefully dollop frangipane over the topโ€”spread gently so you donโ€™t mix them. Sprinkle with flaked almonds.

Bake the Tart
Bake at 180ยฐC fan for 30 mins, or until golden and just set in the middle.

Finish the Tart
Cool slightly. Mix icing sugar with a little water to a thick drizzle. Zigzag over the tart. Remove from tin and serve.

TIPS FROM MY KITCHEN

  • I always toast the flaked almonds in a dry pan before sprinklingโ€”they taste richer that way.
  • If your fruit looks overly juicy, spoon less syrup into the tartโ€”save it to drizzle after.
  • My oven runs hot, so I check at 25 minutes and loosely cover the top with foil if itโ€™s browning too fast.
  • Let it cool fully before slicingโ€”it cuts much cleaner.

STORAGE + SERVING

Fridge: Keeps 2โ€“3 days in an airtight container.
Freezer: Slice, wrap, and freeze for up to 1 month.
Reheat: Bring to room temp or warm in a low oven.
Serve With: Crรจme fraรฎche, Greek yoghurt, or thick cream.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q: Can I make it the day before?
Yesโ€”and it slices even better the next day. Drizzle icing just before serving.

Q: Can I use frozen berries?
You can, but theyโ€™ll be wetter. Thaw and drain very well before using.

Q: What if I donโ€™t have a tart tin?
A shallow pie dish worksโ€”just donโ€™t make the base too thick.

Q: Can I skip the drizzle?
Technically yes. But I find it balances the richness and gives it that extra finish.

Try More Recipes:

Mary Berry Red Frangipane Tart

Course: DessertsCuisine: BritishDifficulty: Easy
Servings

10

servings
Prep time

20

minutes
Cooking time

45

minutes
Calories

350

kcal

A buttery shortcrust base filled with soft almond sponge and a layer of syrupy berries. The frangipane is rich and light at the same time, and the fruit cuts through perfectly. A real โ€œlooks fancy, bakes easyโ€ kind of tart.

Ingredients

  • Fruit Filling
  • 100g caster sugar

  • 150g blackberries

  • 150g blueberries

  • 150g raspberries

  • 2 tbsp cornflour

  • 25g flaked almonds

  • 25g icing sugar

  • Shortcrust Pastry
  • 225g plain flour

  • 125g cold butter, cubed

  • 25g icing sugar

  • 1 egg, beaten

  • Frangipane
  • 175g butter, softened

  • 175g caster sugar

  • 4 eggs

  • 175g ground almonds

  • 1 tsp almond extract

Directions

  • Make pastry: Blend flour, butter, and icing sugar. Add egg + water to form dough. Chill 20 mins.
  • Roll out and line a 28cm tart tin. Chill again if needed.
  • Blind bake at 200ยฐC for 15 mins with baking beans, then 5 mins without.
  • Cook berries with sugar and water. Drain. Thicken syrup with cornflour mix. Combine and cool.
  • Cream butter and sugar. Beat in eggs, then almonds and extract.
  • Spoon fruit into tart shell. Top gently with frangipane. Sprinkle almonds.
  • Bake at 180ยฐC fan for 30 mins until golden. Cool.
  • Drizzle icing over and serve.

Notes

  • I chill the pastry after lining the tinโ€”it shrinks less and bakes crisp.
  • Donโ€™t swirl the frangipane into the fruitโ€”just spread it gently across the top.
  • If your fruit is very ripe, hold back a spoonful or two of syrup so it doesnโ€™t flood the sponge.
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