Welsh Cheese Tarts Recipes

WELSH GOAT'S CHEESE & LEEK TART

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Heat the oil in a frying pan, then soften the leeks for 5 mins. Add the bacon, cook for a further 5 mins, season, then tip onto a plate to cool.
• Unroll the pastry and cut out two 12 x 18cm rectangles - save or freeze the rest for another time. Lift onto a baking sheet. Using the tip of a sharp knife, mark a border inside each one, about 1.5cm from the edge.
• Mix the crème fraîche and mustard together, then spread over the inside of the pastry frames. Spoon the leek and bacon mix over the mustard mix, then place the goat's cheese on top. Bake for 15-20 mins until the pastry is crisp and golden. Serve with salad.

LEEK & CAERPHILLY CRUMBLE TART

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Roll out the pastry and use to line a 23cm loose-bottomed tart tin. Prick the base with a fork, and line with baking parchment and baking beans. Bake blind for 12 mins, then remove the beans and parchment. Return to the oven for a further 5 mins until pale golden. Reduce oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4.
• Meanwhile, make the filling. Melt the butter in a large pan and, when foaming, add the leeks, cover and cook on a low heat for 20 mins until soft. Leave to cool.
• Beat together the eggs, cream, milk, mustard, Caerphilly and some seasoning. Evenly cover the base of the pastry case with the leeks, then pour in the egg mixture. Bake for 25 mins.
• To make the topping, combine all the ingredients. Remove the tart from the oven and sprinkle the topping evenly over. Return to the oven and bake for a further 15 mins until golden brown.

WELSH CHEESE CAKES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 190°C/gas mark 5.
• Grease two 12-case bun trays.
• Place all the cake mixture ingredients into a food processor and mix until creamy, stopping halfway to scrape down mixture from the sides.
• Do not over mix the batter.
• Roll out the pastry to the same thickness as for a tart base.
• Cut out rounds of pastry with a scone cutter (large enough to come up to about mid depth of a bun cup).
• Carefully place 1 level teaspoon of jam into the middle of the pastry cases (do not allow jam to touch edges of pastry). Spoon the cake mixture on top of the jam so it is level with the top of the cake tin.
• Bake for 12-15 minutes until the tops of the buns are golden brown.
• Remove from tins as soon as they are cool enough to touch and place on a wire cooling rack.

CREAM CHEESE TARTS (PAULA DEEN)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Place a paper cupcake liner in each cup (12 total) of muffin pan.
• Beat cream cheese with electric mixer until fluffy. Add sugar and vanilla, beating well. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each.
• Place a vanilla wafer FLAT side down, in each muffin cup. Spoon cream cheese mixture over wafers filling each to about 1/4 inch from top of paper.
• Bake for 20 minutes.
• Allow tarts to cool completely before filling. When you remove the tarts from the oven, they will be puffed up, but as they cool, the center will sink, creating the perfect well to fill with a couple of spoonfuls of your favorite filling.
• Chill thoroughly before serving.

LEEK & GOAT'S CHEESE TARTLETS

Steps:

• Wash the leeks in a colander but don't worry about drying them as you want a bit of water clinging on. Heat the butter in a wide saucepan until sizzling, then add the wet leeks and thyme leaves plus salt and pepper. Sweat the leeks really gently for 20-25 mins until they have practically melted but not coloured, adding a little more butter if needed. Set aside and allow to cool.
• Heat oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Roll the pastry out to the thickness of a £1 coin. Cut out 4 saucer-size circles and place on a baking sheet. Spread the leeks over the circles leaving a slight border around the edge. Put a slice of goat's cheese in the middle of each tart and top with a thyme sprig. Pinch the pastry edge together to slightly encase the leeks, then bake the tarts for 25 mins until puffed up and golden. Serve hot and drizzled with flavoured oil if you have it.

WELSH CHEESE TARTS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F.
• Cream butter, vanilla, egg and sugar together.
• Add flour and baking powder.
• Mix well.
• Place small amount of jam in the bottom of tart shell Place about a tablespoon of mixture on top of jam.
• Bake for about ten minutes or until cake is golden.