Tiny Shortbread Tarts With Earl Grey Cream Recipes

TINY PECAN TARTS

Steps:

• To Make Pastry: Cream butter or margarine and cream cheese. Add flour and mix well. Make into 48 balls; place one ball in each cup of a mini tart pan. Use your fingers or a tart tamper to press out into a tart shell.
• To Make Filling: Break the eggs, but do not beat. Add sugar, melted butter, salt, vanilla and pecans. Mix well. Fill the tart shells. Bake at 350 degrees F (180 degrees C) for about 30 minutes or until delicately browned.

EARL GREY TEA TART

Steps:

• Place the butter, salt, sugar, egg and rice flour in a medium-size mixing bowl. The rice flour will make the cookie crisper and more crumbly because it does not contain any gluten. Use an electric mixer set on medium speed to beat the mixture just until combined.
• Add the cake flour and lemon zest and mix just until the dough is smooth and holds together, about 30 seconds. Remove the dough from the bowl and pat into a disk. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour before using. This will give any gluten that may have developed a chance to relax. If you use the dough immediately after making it, it may be tough and elastic.
• The dough will keep, well wrapped in plastic wrap in the refrigerator for 1 week or in the freezer for 1 month. Thaw the dough in the refrigerator until ready to use. If you want to store the dough already rolled into a tart pan, wrap it in plastic wrap.
• When you are ready to use the dough, remove it from the refrigerator and give it 4 or 5 quick raps with a rolling pin. This softens the cold butter. Cut the dough into cookies with a round 2-inch plain cutter. The size of the cutter is determined by the size of mini tart pan you are using. Place the pieces in the flexible mini tart pan. Dock the dough. Bake in a preheated 350 degree F oven for 8 to 10 minutes, until lightly browned. Cool tart shells and reserve.
• Place the cream and honey in a heavy-bottomed saucepan and bring to a simmer. Remove from heat. Place the tea leaves in the cream. Cover and let sit for 8 minutes. Use a fine mesh sieve to strain the tea from the cream. Bring the cream to a boil one more time. Pour the cream over the bittersweet chocolate. Use an immersion blender and mix thoroughly. Pour the tea ganache into the cooled tart shells. This task will be easier if you use the automatic funnel or a cup with a spout. Place in the refrigerator for an hour. When the ganache has cooled, remove from the refrigerator. Use a knife to transfer gold leaf onto the top of some tarts. Other tarts can be topped with fresh exotic fruits. Enjoy!

EARL GREY SHORTBREAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and line a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with foil, leaving a 2-inch overhang on all sides. Pulse the tea leaves briefly in a spice grinder until ground but not powdery. Transfer to a medium bowl and whisk in the flour and salt.
• Beat the butter in a large bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until fluffy, about 2 minutes. Reduce the mixer speed to low; add 2 1/2 cups confectioners¿ sugar and the vanilla and beat until incorporated, then increase the speed to medium high and beat until smooth, about 1 more minute. Reduce the mixer speed to low and beat in the flour mixture, then increase the speed to medium and beat until just combined.
• Scrape the dough into the prepared pan. Lay a piece of plastic wrap on top and press the dough evenly into the pan; remove the plastic wrap. Bake until the shortbread is firm and the edges are just light golden, 40 to 45 minutes. Transfer to a rack and let cool 20 minutes in the pan. Gently lift the shortbread out of the pan using the foil overhang. Slice into 1 1/2-inch squares. Transfer to racks to cool completely.
• Make the glaze: Whisk the remaining 1 cup confectioners¿ sugar and the milk in a bowl until smooth; drizzle over the shortbread. Sprinkle with coarse sugar and let set, 20 to 30 minutes.

MINI SHORTBREAD TART SHELLS

Steps:

• Set oven to 300 degrees.
• Prepare mini muffin tins.
• In a bowl mix all ingredients with an electric hand mixer until well blended.
• Pinch off small pieces of dough (do not roll the dough first) using your fingers pat into the muffin tins to form a "shell".
• Prick the bottoms with a fork.
• Bake for about 20 minutes (during the baking time prick bottoms again if the shells puff up.
• Cool and fill as desired.

SHORTBREAD TARTS WITH CREAM FILLING

Steps:

• Tarts:.
• Lightly spray 30 mini muffin tins, set aside.
• Preheat oven 325 degrees f. Place rack in center.
• Cream butter and sugar for about 2 minutes. Beat in vanilla. Add flour, cornstarch or rice flour, and salt and mix just until incorporated.
• Roll dough into about 30 balls and place in each muffin tin. With your fingers, press the dough up the sides of the individual muffin tins and to make an indentation in the center.
• Once filled, place the pan with the shells in the refrigerator for about 10 minutes. (this will help prevent the shortbread from puffing up).
• Bake for approximately 18-20 minutes or until lightly browned. About halfway through the baking time, lightly prick each shortbread with tines of a fork to keep them from puffing up.
• Place the pan on a wire rack to cool.
• When completely cooled, remove the tarts. They are quite fragile so be careful when removing. (Use a toothpick and loosen the edges to remove).
• Filling:.
• (Making the filling a day ahead will allow the flavors to set in better).
• Beat cream cheese until fluffy. Add the condensed milk, lemon juice, vanilla and process until smooth. Transfer to a bowl, cover and refrigerate until serving. You can make the filling serveral days in advance.
• To serve:.
• Fill the tart shells (spoon or pipe) with filling. The filled tarts can be made serveral hours in advance and refrigerated. Just before serving top with fresh berries or cut up fruit.