Cranberry Linzer Tart with its bright deep red, vibrant, cranberry filling is a variation of the Viennese Linzer Tart with raspberry filling. The spiced Linzer pastry is a perfect partner with the cranberries. It is best made ahead so the flavors can blend making this a natural for the holiday season. It can also be baked and frozen until needed.
Often pastry crusts are simply carriers for whatever it holds, Linzer tart pastry is as important as the filling. There are several ways to get the lattice top on the tart, the one used is quick and easy.
Cranberries have a huge amount of natural pectin which allows the filling to set up firmly without a thickener. However, it is important that it not be overcooked. This filling is great as a jam for biscuits and scones also. It lasts for weeks in the refrigerator so can be made well in advance.
So if you thought a Linzer tart is out of reach for you, this really easy Cranberry Linzer Tart will brighten your holidays.
Cranberry Filling
1 bag fresh or frozen cranberries (340 grams or 12 ounces)
1 cup sugar (200 grams or 7 ounces)
⅓ cup water
Place the cranberries in a jellyroll pan and pick over them removing any that have seen better days. Add the water to a saucepan, the sugar, and the cranberries. Bring to a boil over low heat, stirring very frequently until the cranberries start supplying additional liquid as they break.
Lower the heat and cook until thickened, stirring often – about 5 to 10 minutes. Cover the top directly with plastic wrap. Cool completely before using the filling.
Cranberry Linzer Pastry
5 ounces toasted almonds, hazelnuts or a combination of the two (155 grams)
1 ½ cups all-purpose flour (210 grams or 7 ⅓ ounces)
¾ teaspoon cinnamon
¾ cup unsalted butter, refrigerated (1 ½ sticks or 170 grams or 6 ounces)
¾ cup sugar (150 grams or 5 ⅓ ounces)
2 egg yolks
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly spray a 9”x¾” tart pan with a removable bottom.
Place the nuts, flour, and cinnamon in the processor and
process until the nuts are powdered. Cut the butter into small pieces and add to the processor.
Process until the butter is indistinguishable.
Add the sugar and process until mixed.
Lastly, add the yolks and
process until it forms a ball. Do not be impatient as this may take 1 to 1 ½ minutes. Redistributing the dough helps it come together.
Assembly of Cranberry Linzer Tart
Remove ¾ cup (200 grams or 7 ounces) and set aside. Divide the remaining piece in half (280 grams each or 10 ounces each). Set one half aside and divide the remaining piece in half again (140 grams or 5 ounces). Roll one piece into a 12" rope and place it half-way around the inside edge of the pan.
Repeat with the second piece.
Before continuing, press together the two edges of the pastry where they meet so no line is
visable.
Press the pastry firmly and evenly around the edge.
The pastry will be very thick. Work some of it down into the bottom of the pan.
Press the remaining piece evenly into the bottom of the pan.
Seal the edges by pressing firmly together so no line is visible.
Spread the filling evenly over the crust.
Roll the ¾ cup pastry into a ten inch rope.
Cut it into ten 1" pieces.
Roll into balls and
then into 9" ropes. Place 5 evenly spaced across the tart. Lay the first rpe in the middle of the tart. Place the end ropes on and divide the space between for the final ropes.
Place the next 5 ropes diagonally across the tart in the same manner. Seal the edges of the lattice to the crust by pressing down.
Place on a baking sheet and bake for 35 to 45 minutes. Cool completely, remove from the pan. If the edge of the pan does not easily slip down, turn the tart upside down and slip a small metal spatula under the rim of the tart pan all the way around. The side should lift off.
To remove the bottom, slip a larger straight metal spatula between the bottom of the pan and the tart being careful not to dig into the tart.
Lift the bottom off.
Turn the Cranberry Linzer Tart right side up.
It is best at this point to either freeze it, well wrapped, until needed or wrap it in foil and store it for up to a week at room temperature. When ready to serve, sprinkle with powdered sugar.
If you sprinkle it several hours before serving, leaving it uncovered, the powdered sugar on the filling only will melt making a more striking looking Linzer Tart.
Note: If freezing, do not sprinkle with powdered sugar until it is completely thawed.
All Cranberries All the Time
Cranberries are one of my most loved foods and I use it in a variety of ways from muffins, to cakes to jams.
Cranberry Vanilla Muffins
Cranberry Curd Tart - Our most requested tart recipe
Chocolate Cranberry Quick Bread - easy and perfect for breakfast, brunch or a snack
Cranberry Strawberry Jam
Cranapple Tart
Orange Cranberry Cake
Terry says
Hi Helen,
Could almond flour be subbed for the flour and nuts in the recipe? If so, how much would it take?
Thanks!
Terry
hfletcher says
Hi Terry, I can't really say because I haven't tried it. I would imagine you could sub the almond flour for all-purpose and keep the nuts but as I said, I haven't tried it.
sallybr says
Helen what a cool tip to sprinkle powdered sugar hours ahead... it does change the look completely, you are always so full of tricks that make a diference! I need to get a folder in my computer and call it Helen's Wisdom Tips!
hfletcher says
Hi Sally - as with many things in baking and pastry (indeed in life), I stumbled upon this one day when I sprinkled it but didn't get back to photograph it. When I came back, the sugar had melted and the tart was oh so much prettier. I am looking forward to December 12th.
vivien shelanski says
This is an excellent tutorial. Thank you.
hfletcher says
Thanks Vivien. Linzer tarts are easy to make and the cranberry filling makes it more special.
I Wilkerson says
Great instructions--and love the holiday treatment with the cranberries!
hfletcher says
Thank you. I am a fanatic when it comes to cranberries. This Thanksgiving I got two more converts who said they didn't like them and ended up going back to get more Cranberry Relish.
Micki says
I've searched your Baking Hints but can't find the answer to my question.
Please help. When you say semi-sweet chocolate are you referring only to "real chocolate " or can chocolate chips be used? Just don't want to make a mistake making your delicious Chocolate Cranberry Curd Tart.
Being new to your posts makes me spend too much time reading your delicious recipes....this will take forever and I can't wait to start. Thank You so much.
hfletcher says
Hi Micki, Welcome to the blog. Semisweet chocolate refers to real chocolate. My recipes will refer to "chocolate chips" if those are what are to be used. The chocolate I use looks like chips but are Callebaut callets and are real chocolate. They are easy to use and don't require chopping bars of chocolate into meltable pieces. Here is a link to the same chocolate I use - https://www.amazon.com/Belgian-Couverture-Chocolate-Semisweet-Callets. The semisweet chocolate I use is 54.5% which refers to the amount of pure cacao beans used to make the chocolate.