Rustic Rum Walnut Tart (with video)

Rustic Rum Walnut Tart, encased in a leftover puff pastry with a creamy mascarpone rum filling and lots of walnuts is simple, yet Patisserie tasting. 

Rustic Rum Walnut Tart With Puff Pastry
Rustic Rum Walnut Tart With Puff Pastry

Why Is This Rum Walnut Tart Rustic?

The holidays have just passed and I’ve been busy for months making fancy, complex or specialty desserts. 

Now, I just wanted something simple, not too sweet and a way to use up many leftover ingredients I bought throughout the season. 

Rustic, to me, denotes ‘not fancy’ yet just as comforting to eat, sometimes even more. 

It doesn’t sit up high, it isn’t made with a homemade crust, it isn’t colorful or chocolatey. 

It is, however, the perfect quiet nibble for an afternoon tea on a January day, or a not-so-sweet dessert while decluttering holiday decorations. 

simple. rustic. delicious.
Simple. Rustic. Delicious.

Creamy Rum Tart

I have found that the easiest, and quickest custard to mix for a tart or custard pie is simply:

  • Mascarpone – A creamier, less acidic choice over cream cheese.
  • Eggs – Just a few to hold the custard together (or egg substitutes).
  • Sugar – Not much, just a tablespoon. 
  • Rum – The sweetest of a booze, in my opinion, without dipping into liqueurs.

That’s it! Whisk these together, pour into any crust (or no crust and just a ramekin cup), add whatever you want on top and bake. 

If nuts are not your thing, apples, pears, or any dried fruit is lovely with this custard as well. 

Pecan Almond or Walnut Tart

Having grown up in a Mediterranean influenced home, where many recipes are made with nuts, I usually gravitate to using them in sweet or savory dishes:

  • Baklawa (Baklava) – Layers of nuts, between phyllo dough and drizzled with honey
  • Grandma’s Bourbon Pecan Pie – Pecans, being very American, my mom still managed to give them a Mediterranean twist in both the crust and the filling
  • Fesenjan Chicken Walnut Stew – A savory Persian richly steeped in both flavor and tradition

For this reason, while my pantry lacks canned goods (preferring fresh), I always have a large assortment of nuts and flours made from nuts. 

Rustic Bourbon Pecan Pie or Tarts
Rustic Bourbon Pecan Pie or Tarts

Nutty Pie Crusts

When I am making the crust for a tart or pie, I usually use crushed pecans, almonds or walnuts in my homemade crusts. 

My blog collection of recipes for pie or tart crusts if filled with nut additions:

How To Make Rustic Rum Walnut Tart

First we need a tart crust and for this recipe I am using a puff pastry, simply because when you thaw them, often there are two in the package. 

Store Bought Puff Pastry
Store Bought Puff Pastry

I had that second pastry sitting in my fridge waiting to be used, so I rolled it out and plopped it into a small sheet pan, lined with parchment paper. 

Secondly, I whisked the mascarpone, eggs, sugar and rum together and set it aside. 

rum in my custard
Rum In My Custard

Then, I smashed some walnuts, stirred in a little sugar, mace and cardamom and whisked it into the creamy mixture. 

Spiced Walnut Tart
Spiced Walnut Tart

Lastly, simply pour the mixture into the pastry, bake, slice and dust a little confection sugar on top. A light dusting of snow on a January day, I like to call it!

Equipment Needed

  • Parchment paper
  • Small sheet pan
  • Rolling pin
  • Medium bowl
  • Whisk
  • Zip bag – to crush the nuts
  • Measuring spoons
  • Knife
  • Oven
Whisk. Pour. Bake
Whisk. Pour. Bake.

Ingredients Needed

  • Puff pastry
  • Mascarpone
  • Eggs
  • Sugar
  • Rum
  • Walnuts
  • Mace
  • Cardamom
  • Dusting sugar
Easy Rustic Rum Walnut Tart
Easy Rustic Rum Walnut Tart
Rustic Rum Walnut Tart

Rustic Rum Walnut Tart

Rustic Rum Walnut Tart, encased in a leftover puff pastry with a creamy mascarpone rum filling and lots of walnuts is simple, yet Patisserie tasting. 
5 from 1 vote
Print Pin Rate
Course: Pastries
Cuisine: Mediterranean Fusion
Keyword: Rustic Rum Walnut Tart
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Servings: 4 servings

Equipment

  • Sheet pan
  • Parchment paper

Ingredients

  • 1 Puff pastry sheet
  • 8 oz Mascarpone or cream cheese
  • 2 Eggs
  • 2 tbsp Sugar
  • 1 shot Rum (3 tbsp)
  • 1/2 cup Walnuts
  • 1/4 tsp Mace or nutmeg
  • 1/2 tsp Cardamom
  • 1 tbsp Powdered sugar for dusting

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400
  • Roll out the thawed puff pastry on a sheet of parchment paper, almost to the edges.
    Place the parchment paper, with the pastry, onto a sheet pan.
    Fold about an inch of the edges around the pastry, and pinch them to form an edge that sits up about half inch.
  • In a zip bag or dish towel, place the walnuts and crush them a little, or simply roll over them with the rolling pin to break them into pieces.
    Place the rough chopped walnuts into a small bowl along with 1 tablespoon of sugar and set aside.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk the mascarpone, eggs, remaining sugar and rum together until creamy.
    Pour the walnut mixture into the creamy mixture and give a stir.
    Pour this mixture into the prepared pastry and place in the hot oven for 5 minutes.
  • Turn down the oven to 350 and finish baking until the crust is golden and the filling is firm, about another 20 minutes.
  • Once cooled, slice and dust with powdered sugar.

Video

Rustic Rum Walnut Tart
Rustic Rum Walnut Tart
Robin
5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)
Subscribe
Notify of
guest

2 Comments
Oldest
Newest
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments