Rustic Apple Tart and Raspberry Jam | The Hobbit; An Unexpected Party
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Bilbo Baggins’ Rustic Apple Tart and Raspberry Jam | The Hobbit; An Unexpected Party
Honor Bilbo Baggins this Hobbit Day, September 22nd, with a dish worthy of the Shire—a rustic apple tart inspired by his pantry. Simple to make, this recipe combines the raspberry jam into the apple tart that Bifur requests in The Unexpected Party.
What’s the Difference Between an Apple Tart and an Apple Pie?
One simple variation: while similar, apple tarts lack an upper crust.
Preparing in Advance for Hobbit Day
Planning ahead is the key to any successful Hobbit gathering! Prepare the pie dough a few days early—1-2 days in the refrigerator is ideal, although freezing for up to a week is also possible.
RECIPE tiP
An update to this recipe since first publishing in 2013 includes cooking the apples whole before baking. This simple step reduces their moisture content to make sure your tart is perfectly baked with minimal excess liquid. And don’t discard the syrupy elixir left from cooking the apples! Pour it into mugs, top with boiling water, and enjoy a warm, spiced drink that tastes like autumn in the Shire.
Heritage Apple Varieties of Historical England & the Shire
To truly embrace the spirit of a Hobbit, use a heritage apple variety that would have been familiar to J.R.R. Tolkien himself—the Bramley’s Seedling apple. A quintessentially British apple, these apples, large, green, and slightly blushed with red, were preserved by local producers like Starkey Bramley, who safeguarded them from a destructive fungus. Supporting local producers who preserve heirloom varieties prevents these varieties from becoming lost.
Perfect Pairing: Apple Tart and Cheese
While many people may be familiar with cream or ice cream as a side to apple pie or apple tart, the traditional British way is with a serving of cheese. Fortunately, Bofur has already requested some when he asks for mince pies, so there will already be cheese on your Hobbit table! Try pairing with aged cheddar, Derby, or Wensleydale cheese.
Quote
“And raspberry jam and apple tart,” said Bifur.
-An Unexpected Party, The Hobbit, J.R.R. Tolkien
Recipe Variation
In The Hobbit, the apple tart and raspberry jam requested by Bifur during An Unexpected Party seem to be served separately. However, blending the two flavors in this recipe creates a delicious combination I couldn’t resist! However, you can omit the jam from the tart or just serve the jam on the table to go with the bread or scones.
Apple and Raspberry Tart | The Hobbit
Ingredients
Raspberry Jam
- 2 cups raspberries
- 1 cup white sugar
- 1 tsp lemon juice
Apple Tart
- 1 ½ cup plain flour (8oz)
- ¼ tsp salt
- 115 g cold butter (4oz)
- cold water
- Raspberry jam
- 3 medium-sized apples
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
Instructions
Raspberry Jam
- In a saucepan, add in raspberries, white sugar and lemon juice, over medium heat.
- Stir with a wooden spoon, keeping the mixture moving to make sure it doesn’t burn.
- Slowly it’ll break down and mix together, and come to a boil.
- Keep the slow boil going, stirring slowly, for about 10-15 minutes, until thickened.
- Turn off the stove, place the jam into clean glass jars and pop into the fridge.
Apple Tart
- Start by taking your whole apples and placing them in a pot of water. Boil for half an hour, then remove the whole apples and let cool.
- Sift together the flour and salt, before cutting the cold butter into the flour.
- Mix the flour and butter together until it resembles breadcrumbs.
- Then add cold water, drop by drop, and mix until a dry dough is formed.
- If you make it too wet, add more flour.
- Roll out the dough thinly and use to line pie shells.
- Spoon in raspberry jam and spread until the pie shell base is covered.
- Core and slice your apples, then layer the slices in an appealing way.
- Sprinkle with brown sugar between apple layers.
- Preheat oven to 220C/ 425F, place apple tart in the oven. Reduce heat to 175C/350F after 15 minutes and let cook for another 30-40 minutes until apples are cooked/soft and pastry is browned.
Video
Notes
References
- Smith, Andrew F. The Oxford Companion to American Food and Drink. 2nd ed., Oxford University Press, 2009.
- White, F. Good Things in England: A Practical Cookery Book for Everyday Use, Containing Traditional and Regional Recipes Suited to Modern Tastes, Contributed by English Men and Women Between 1399 and 1932. J. Cape, 1932.
- Woman’s Own Cookbook. Tower House, 1964.
- Wynne, P. Apples; History, Folklore, Horticulture and Gastronomy. Hawthorn Books, 1975.
- Sheppard, Emma. ‘After Brexit people will fall in love with English apples again’, The Guardian, 28 April 2017
Good job. But just give one picture of the finished product!