Basque Blueberry Almond Cake Tart

A Rustic French Classic Reimagined 🍇✨

This Basque Blueberry Almond Cake Tart brings together everything people adore about a traditional gâteau Basque—buttery shortbread pastry, silky almond cream, and a beautifully jammy fruit centre—with a bold twist of wild blueberries for colour, aroma and depth.

It’s the kind of dessert that feels both rustic and elegant: crisp on top, tender inside, and irresistibly fragrant from almonds and slow-cooked berries. The contrast between the crumbly Basque shortbread and the glossy blueberry layer makes every bite unforgettable.

Why This Basque Cake Works So Well 💙

At its heart is the signature Basque shortbread dough, enriched with butter, brown sugar and ground almonds for a soft, melt-in-the-mouth texture. Rolling and chilling the dough ensures clean layers and a beautifully patterned top once baked.

Then comes a gentle layer of almond cream, adding richness without heaviness, followed by a generous amount of wild blueberry preserves. Using pectin helps create that perfect jammy consistency—spreadable yet stable once baked—while fresh berries added on top burst with moisture and flavour.

The result? A cake-tart hybrid that slices like a cake, tastes like a tart, and looks like something you’d find in a countryside French pâtisserie.

Flavour & Texture Highlights 🌿

• Buttery and crisp top crust with traditional fork scoring
• Soft almond cream base that lightly puffs during baking
• Deep purple blueberry centre that stays jammy, not runny
• Fresh berries baked into the filling for brightness
• Golden edges and a tender crumb that keeps well for days

Every slice delivers a balance of sweet, nutty and fruity notes—just the right amount of richness without feeling too sweet, especially if you use wild blueberries.

Tips for the Best Basque Cake 🎯

A few helpful techniques make this dessert shine:

• Chill the dough thoroughly before rolling so it stays firm and easy to handle. ❄️
• Don’t overmix once the flour goes in—this keeps the shortbread tender.
• Allow the preserves to thicken before assembly to prevent sogginess.
• Brush the top generously with egg yolk for that signature Basque golden shine. ⭐

This is also an excellent make-ahead dessert since it tastes even better the next day as the flavours settle and the centre sets beautifully.

A Dessert That Fits Any Occasion 🍰

Whether served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, or sliced cold with coffee, this cake-tart is dependable, elegant and comforting. It’s perfect for:

• weekend baking
• casual entertaining
• gifting
• potlucks
• or simply enjoying a slice with tea

Its sturdy structure, rich flavour, and crowd-pleasing blueberry filling make it a standout on any dessert table.

Storage & Make-Ahead Guide 📦

This Basque cake keeps exceptionally well:

• Room temperature: 2 days
• Refrigerated: up to 5 days
• Freezer: 1 month, tightly wrapped

The top stays crisp, and the centre remains beautifully soft, making it ideal for preparing a day before serving.

A French Comfort Bake You’ll Make Again 💛

If you love shortbread crusts, nutty fillings, or fruit-forward desserts, this twist on a classic gâteau Basque will quickly become a favourite. Its harmony of textures and flavours makes it a recipe worth returning to—beautifully simple yet deeply satisfying.

Enjoy every buttery, jammy slice! 🫐✨