Friday 12 December 2008

Quince Linzertorte

I have attained the age where almost my entire peergroup is having babies. No one is getting engaged anymore, it is all about the Christening parties. So it wasn't completely out of the norm last weekend for us to pack up a little something wrapped with a pink ribbon and some baked goods and head off to pay tribute to a newborn. A bit like the nativity but with less myrrh and the infinitely practical satnav instead of a guiding star.

I'd had it in mind for a while to bake a linzertorte and this seemed like a good excuse. It is very transportable, delicious, and would use some of my quince marmalade (my only gripe with a traditional linzertorte is that the raspberry jam tends to be too sweet to provide a contrast with the sweet, nutty crust).

I followed this recipe. Hardly any variations at all! As my nifty new hand blender set isn't quite big enough to make a whole quantity of pastry, I just blended the nuts, sugar and butter together and then added it to the flour and spices. And the nuts were still hot from the oven so the butter melted. And I used wholemeal flour instead of white. And of course, I used a lavish amount of quince marmalade instead of the raspberry.

Worked like a charm! The pastry was divinely sweet and spicy and nutty, the quince jam a tart and juicy foil to it. We enjoyed several cups of tea and admired beautiful baby Clarissa. I think cake is much more practical than frankincense.

18 comments:

NKP said...

I have never had a linzertorte before. Do I have to have another baby to get one?
It looks delish, I bet it is great with coffee, hold the baby.

kat said...

I always think of linzer as cookies, it looks great. We are in the same point as you, we've gone to two baby showers back in california this month

Esi said...

This is gorgeous!! For me the engagements are slowing down, and the babymaking is speeding up. UGH! haha

Heather said...

Linzertorte is infinitely more useful than myrrh. Smells just as good, too.

And gah, I hear you on the breeding thing. Everyone assumes I'm knocked up if I mention anything about feeling "off".

Anonymous said...

I've never heard of that dish before! Looks great though!

alexandra's kitchen said...

I love the idea of using your homemade quince jam in place of raspberry for this tart. I totally agree about jam being too sweet. This looks like a lovely gift!

Alicia Foodycat said...

Natashya - I will make you one without a baby! Definitely good with coffee.

Kat - I only recently heard of linzer cookies!

Esi - sure sign of age.

Heather - oh yeah. If I say I am tired or anything I hear the comments.

biz - it's an Austrian thing, but really popular with the Swiss part of my family.

Ali - and the beautiful part about cake as a gift is that they offer you a bit to take home with you!ta

Sam said...

It sounds delicious, that pastry looks really good.

mscrankypants said...

I'm in a weird pause where no one's getting married, separated, giving birth or adopting -- but there's always room to celebrate such a gorgeous torte. I can almost smell it from here.

Peter M said...

Lattice work on pies always gets me and you score points for working the word Frankincense in the post!

Alicia Foodycat said...

Sam - somehow with the spices and nuts it smells very Christmassy, even though I don't think it is a Christmas specialty.

Cranky - you could have it without having to get married or have babies!

Peter - thanks! The lattice work gave me some grief so it is nice that you noticed it!

Bettina Douglas said...

Well to defend the Swiss side - Linz, Austria is not that far from the Swiss border and the border was very fluid until recently. And the Austrian empire very imperial.

Linzertorte features in the previously cited Berner Kochbuch - a Swiss schoolgirl standard of the 1960s.

Laurie said...

I love all the unique foods you make and this is no exception.

Yes, cake is a much better gift for a baby than Frankincense.

The baby shower age is a really great one! Wish I was still there, but my baby is 13.

It made Christmas shopping a little less fun this year, but I bought a fun present to donate to Toys for Tots. Even if my kids are grown, there are plenty of children to shop for at Christmas...

Alicia Foodycat said...

And the cakes are good, so why shouldn't the Swiss adopt them?

Laurie - that is a great idea!

Deb in Hawaii said...

What a beautiful torte--love the quince jam idea--what a nice way to change it up! Great crust work too!

Alicia Foodycat said...

CitC - you should give it a go - sort of tastes like a friand but with a totally different texture.

Deb - it is a forgiving pastry!

grace said...

interesting use for quince! it sounds delicious all-around, and i think that crust is amazing.

puppymomma said...

I was just at Joy of Baking the other day looking for Christmas cookie recipes. I saw that linzer torte in one of the slideshows and oohed and ahhed in my mind, thinking about how good it must be.

I admire you for finding a perfect occasion to make it, and using your own marmelade. That's quite impressive!

Meryl

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