Tags: cookery school, cooking classes, Italian cooking, learn to cook, pasta making

Forget every commercial Bakewell you’ve ever tried, cheapened with strong almond flavours and oily fillings. When done properly, using quality ingredients, Bakewell Tart is sublime. Make it this weekend and let me know what you think.

Bakewell tart on a plate.
Bakewell tart on a sideplate with whipped cream.
Pastry:
  • 180g flour
  • 2tbsp icing sugar
  • 100g very cold butter, cut into cubes
  • 1 egg lightly beaten
Filling:
  • Good quality high fruit content raspberry or strawberry jam (homemade if you have it)
  • 200g ground almonds
  • 200g caster sugar
  • 200g butter, room temperature
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 drops almond essence
  • Flaked almonds
  • Icing sugar to decorate

23cm fluted loose bottom quiche / tart tin

Method:
  1. Preheat oven 180C fan, Gas 6. Butter the tart tin.
  2. I use a food processor for the pastry as the less hand contact the better the finish. Put the flour, icing sugar & butter in food processor and blitz until combined. Carefully add the beaten egg until the mix just comes together. Empty contents onto a floured worktop and gently knead for a few seconds. Wrap in clingfilm and chill in fridge for at least 1 hour.
  3. When chilled, remove and roll out, then line the prepared tin. Place sheet of baking parchment over pastry and fill with baking beans or dried pulses. Bake in preheated oven for 15 mins then carefully remove the paper & beans, baking for a further 5-10 Minutes until base is light in colour but crisp.
  4. Spread a good layer of the jam over the base of the prepared pastry case.
  5. To make the Bakewell filling, put the sugar, ground almonds and butter in a bowl. Beat together until light & fluffy (use an electric mixer or wooden spoon, whatever you prefer). Add the eggs one at a time, beating in well then finally add the almond essence and combine.
  6. Spread the filling over the jam in the pastry case and sprinkle the flaked almonds over the top.
  7. Return tart to preheated oven and bake for a further 30-35 minutes until golden and springy.
  8. Cool slightly before dusting with icing sugar and serve with whipped cream or creme fraiche.

"A Magical West Cork Escape"

We stayed at Dunowen House for a long weekend and genuinely didn’t want to leave. From the moment we arrived, we were blown away by the beauty of the house and its surroundings – the views, the gardens, the quiet… it’s pure magic. The house itself is full of character and history but still feels incredibly cosy and luxurious.

We loved having our morning coffee overlooking the sea and strolling down to the nearby coves. It was the perfect mix of relaxation and adventure. Clonakilty is only a few minutes away too, so we had some lovely meals out and picked up bits from the local markets.

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We were blown away with the unmatched beauty of Dunowen – the set- ting, the people and all the details make it come to life. We feel so blessed to have had our wedding here and so grateful for Kela and Stephen for making this the most special day of our lives. We are leaving a piece of our hearts here so we will absolutely have to come back again. All our love

"An Unforgettable Celebration of Love"

I could not have imagined a more beautiful stay and wedding. We took a chance and put our trust in Kela and Stephen, booking Dunowen sight un- seen! What a wonderful experience to celebrate our love with the people we care about most without having to worry about the details. The flow- ers, the food and the accommodations were unforgettable. Thank you for giving us the space to create lifetime memories! Dunowen will have a piece of our heart. We hope to come back and do it again!

"A Perfect Stay"

Kela and Stephen. Thank you for our wonderful stay at Dunowen House and letting us enjoy the beauty of West Cork in your wonderful home and surroundings. We absolutely loved it.

"Another Unforgettable Stay"

Thank you Kela & Stephen for another amazing stay. When you’ve stayed in Dunowen it’s impossible to stay elsewhere. Your house is per- fection!

"A Perfect 70th Celebration"

Many thanks Kela and Stephen for a wonderful stay at Dunowen House. The house is so spacious, especially for our smallish family group who helped me celebrate my 70th birthday. Thanks for the beautiful flowers throughout and all the home baking. We loved the location.

"Surrounded by Dunowen’s Gardens and Coastal Beauty"

Thank you for a wonderful week. Everything was perfect and we loved being able to walk to the beach and sit in the beautiful gardens. Hope to come again.

"A Perfect 80th Birthday Celebration"

The end of a fabulous week celebrating my 80th birthday. It has been a brilliant stay with everything we needed. Just perfect. Thank you so much Kela & Stephen for your thought and kindness. All the best for the future and perhaps we will see you again!

The Ultimate 5-Star Escape

Bravo! You have created the perfect backdrop for a 5 star vacation. Our group of 18 could not have imagined a more comfortable and luxe week. I’ll see you on Instagram and we will all see you again in person next va- cation.

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