Individual Strawberry Tart Recipes

FRESH MINI STRAWBERRY TARTS

Steps:

• Combine flour, sugar, and salt in a food processor. Add butter and process until it looks like a cross between oatmeal and coarse cornmeal.
• Combine egg yolk, heavy cream, and vanilla extract. Process until most of the dough rolls into a ball. If necessary, sparingly add drops of cream to make it come together.
• Press dough into a roll like refrigerated cookie dough. Wrap in plastic and chill 30 minutes
• Spray molds generously with Baker's Secret or something like it. (Baker's Secret is an aerosol spray mix of flour and oil.) If using silicone molds, no greasing is necessary.
• Slice your roll of dough into 12 pieces. Using a rolling pin, roll the dough between two pieces of plastic wrap into a circle slightly larger than tart molds. Press into a mold with fingers being careful to keep the thickness consistent. Use a knife to trim off any extra at the top. Freeze for at least 30 minutes, overnight or up to a month. (See video for this step.)
• Freeze tarts for at least 30 minutes. Lay nonstick foil or butter on the shiny side of aluminum foil and fit flat but snugly inside of the crust. Bake in a 375˚F oven for 30-35 minutes. Remove foil for the last 8 minutes of bake time. Gently push the crust down if you see it has begun to puff when you remove the foil. Cool.
• Combine water, cornstarch, strawberry Jello, and corn syrup in that order. Stir or whisk until dissolved.
• Cook the filling in a microwave using a 2 qt-glass batter bowl. Takes 4-7 minutes on High, stirring once or twice. The mixture should boil and thicken to the consistency of molasses.
• Add food coloring and flavorings, if using. Set aside to cool for about 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, rinse and de-stem 1 quart of strawberries. Allow to drain and dry on a towel. Slice or cut strawberries into small pieces. Gently fold strawberries into the glaze.
• Spoon glazed strawberries into baked shells. I like to fill them as high as possible. Decadence is irresistible.
• Refrigerate for at least 2-3 hours. Best eaten the day they are made. Just before serving, top with whipped cream. Garnish with fresh mint if desired.

STRAWBERRY TARTS

Steps:

• Combine the flour, sugar, and salt in a small bowl and place in the freezer for 30 minutes. Put the flour mixture in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade. Add the butter and shortening and pulse about 10 times, or until the butter is in the size of peas. Add the ice water and process until the dough comes together. Dump on a well-floured board and form into a disk. Wrap in plastic and chill for at least 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Roll out the dough and fit into 4 (4 1/2-inch) tart pans with removable sides. Don't stretch the dough when placing it in the pans or it will shrink during baking. Cut off the excess by rolling the pin across the top of each pan. Line the tart shells with a piece of buttered aluminum foil, butter side down, and fill them with dried beans or rice. Bake for 10 minutes. Remove the beans and foil, prick the bottom of the shells all over with a fork, and bake for another 15 to 20 minutes until lightly browned. Set aside to cool.
• Before serving, fill the tart shells with the pastry cream. Arrange the berries decoratively on top of the cream. Melt the apricot jelly with 1 teaspoon of water and brush the top of the tarts. Sprinkle with pistachios, if using, and serve.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the egg yolks and sugar on medium-high speed for 4 minutes, or until very thick. Reduce to low speed, and add the cornstarch.
• With the mixer still on low, slowly pour the hot milk into the egg mixture. Pour the mixture into a medium saucepan and cook over low heat, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, until the mixture thickens, 5 to 7 minutes. Don't be alarmed when the custard comes to a boil and appears to curdle; switch to a whisk and beat vigorously. Cook, whisking constantly, for another 2 minutes; the custard will come together and become very thick, like pudding. Stir in the vanilla, Cognac, butter, and heavy cream. Pour the custard through a sieve into a bowl. Place plastic wrap directly on the custard and refrigerate until cold.

MINI STRAWBERRY TARTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease 8 (3 1/2-inch) round, 1-inch-deep mini fluted tart pans with removable rims, and place on a large rimmed baking sheet. Process the flour, powdered sugar, and pistachios in a food processor until nuts are finely ground, about 1 minute. Add the cubed butter to processor, and pulse 6 to 8 times or until mixture resembles coarse meal. Press about 4 1/2 tablespoons of the flour mixture on bottom and up sides of each tart pan.
• Bake in preheated oven until lightly browned, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove tart pans to a wire rack, and cool completely (about 30 minutes).
• Beat the cream cheese with an electric mixer at medium speed until smooth. Add the lemon zest, lemon juice, and 1/2 cup granulated sugar, and beat until well blended. Gently fold the whipped cream into cream cheese mixture until incorporated. Spoon about 5 tablespoons of the cream cheese mixture into each tart shell. Cover tarts with plastic wrap, and chill 4 to 24 hours.
• Toss together the sliced strawberries and 1 tablespoon granulated sugar, and spoon on tarts just before serving.

STRAWBERRY TARTS

Steps:

• To Make Glaze: Blend the sugar, cornstarch, and salt; stir into apple juice. Cook over a medium heat, stirring constantly until smooth and thick. Allow to cool for 10 minutes.
• Spread a small quantity of the glaze over the bottoms of the shells. Arrange washed and hulled fresh berries over the glaze, slicing if necessary to fit into the tarts. Spoon remaining glaze carefully over the berries, covering them well. Chill for 2 to 4 hours. Serve garnished with whipped cream if desired.

INDIVIDUAL STRAWBERRY & ALMOND TARTS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Unravel the pastry and prick the surface with a fork. Cut out 6 squares and place them on a non-stick baking tray.
• Lightly brush the edges of the squares with melted butter and place a couple of slices of marzipan on the top of each. Lay 2 rows of strawberry slices down the side of each tart and a third over the gap in the middle. Drizzle the tarts with a little melted butter and scatter with sugar. Bake for about 20-25 mins, until golden brown on the base. Scatter the toasted almonds over the top and serve with White chocolate ice cream.