Pumpkin Cheesecake Tart with Cranberry Gelee

Pastry:
6 TBS blanched almonds 1 ½ cup s plus
1 TBS all-purpose flour 1
½ sticks (6ozs) unsalted butter, at room temperature
¾ cup plus 2 tbs confectioners sugar
1 large egg
¾ tsp pure vanilla extract
pinch of salt

Filling:
12 ozs cream cheese, at room temperature
½ cup packed light brown sugar
½ tsp cinnamon
¼ tsp ground ginger
1/8 tsp ground allspice
1/8 tsp ground cardamom
18 tsp ground cloves
Pins of freshly ground white pepper
Pinch of freshly grated nutmeg
Pinch of salt
1 ¼ cups canned pumpkin puree (10 ozs)
¼ cup heavy cream
3 tbls pure maple syrup
1 ½ tsp pure vanilla extract
2 large eggs, at room temperature

Gelee:
2 cups fresh cranberries (1/20pound)
1/2 cup sugar
¼ cup orange juice
1 ½ tsp unflavored gelatin

1. MAKE THE PASTRY: In the KitchenAid food processor, pulse the almonds until coarsely ground. Add ½ cup fo the flour and process to a fine powder; transfer to a bowl. In the food processor, pulse the butter and confectioners sugar until creamy. Pulse in the egg and vanilla.
2. Pulse in the remaining 1 cup plus 1 tbs of flour, the almond flour and the salt until a soft dough forms. Pat the pastry in a disk, wrap in plastic and refrigerate until firm, at least 1 hour.
3. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the pastry to a 14-inch round about 1/8 inch thick. Roll the pastry onto the rolling pin and unroll it over an 11 ½ inch fluted tart pan with a removable bottom. Gently press the pastry into the rim. Fold in the overhanging dough and press to reinforce the side; the side should be twice as thick as the bottom. Trim off any excess pastry and refrigerate until firm.
4. Line the pastry with parchment paper and fill with pie weights or dried beans. Bake the pastry for about 25 minutes, or until set. Remove the parchment and weights and bake for 10 minutes longer, until the crust I s golden and cooked through Let cool slightly.

MEANWHILE, MAKE THE FILLING; In a large bowl, combined ehte cram cheese, brown sugar, ground spices, nutmeg and salt. Using the Kitcheaid Pro series mixer, beat at medium spend until smooth. Beat in the pumpkin puree until smooth. Bet in the cream, maple syrup , vanilla and eggs at low speed until blended.
5. Put the crust on a large, sturdy baking sheet and set it in the oven. Pour the pumpkin custard into the crust. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until the custard is just set but still slightly jiggly in the center. Cover the edge with foil if the crust starts to brown to o much. Transfer to a rack and let cool completely.

6. MEANWHLE, MAKE THE GELEE; In a medium saucepan, combine the cranberries with ½ cup of water and cook over moderate heat until they begin to pop, about 5 minutes. Let cool. Transfer to a blender and puree until smooth. Strain the puree thru a fine sieve. Rinse out the saucepan.
7. Add the sugar and ¼ cup of water to the saucepan and bring to a boil, stirring, until dissolve. Let cool. Stir in the orange juice and cranberry puree.
8. In a small bowl, sprinkle the gelatin over 2 tbs of water and let stand until softened, 5 minutes. Microwave for 10 seconds, or until completely melted. Whisk the gelatin into the cranberry mixture and pour the gelee over the pumpkin custard; shake it gently to even it out. Refrigerate the tart until set at least 1 hour and up to 2 days. Remove the tart ring and serve.

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