Mini Fruit Tart

MINI TART SHELLS

Ingredients:

8 TBL (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature


1/4 cup sugar


1 tsp pure vanilla extract


1 ¾ cups all-purpose flour, (fluff and then measure, 9oz.)

1/8 tsp salt

Directions:

1-    Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

2-    Mix butter and sugar together in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment until they are just combined. Add vanilla and mix.

3-    In a medium bowl, mix together the flour and salt. Add them to the butter/sugar mixture by mixing on low speed until the dough starts to come together.

4-    Using a small cookie scoop (2tsp size), scoop one scoop (2 tsp) of dough into each cup of a mini-cupcake pan. Press dough flat inside pan. Bake for 8 minutes.

5-    Remove from oven and using a wooden dowel (or the back of a large wooden spoon or rolling pin handle), press into center of dough while slightly turning the dowel to shape the dough into mini tarts.

6-    Return to oven and bake for an additional 12-16 minutes. Remove from oven and re-shape using the same method outlined above.

7-    Allow to cool slightly in pan, but remove when warm and allow to cool completely on a wire rack. Store in a sealed container at room temperature for 1 week or frozen for up to 2 months.

PASTRY CREAM:


Ingredients:

3/4 cup granulated sugar


2 TBL cornstarch

¼ tsp of salt



1 ¼ cup heavy cream

1 ¼ cup milk

3 egg yolks

2 tsp good vanilla extract

2 TBL unsalted butter, softened


Directions:

1.     Add sugar, cornstarch and salt in a medium, heavy-bottomed saucepan. Whisk to combine.

2.     Whisk the cream, milk and egg yolks together in measuring cup or bowl.

3.     Stir the milk mixture into the sugar mixture and cook over medium heat stirring constantly until the mixture thickens and begins to boil.

4.     Once mixture starts to boil, remove it from heat and add softened butter and vanilla.

5.     Strain cream through a small mesh sieve, and set aside to cool.

TART ASSEMBLY

1-    Assemble tarts by filling with pastry cream, whipped cream, chocolate mousse, chocolate ganache, lemon curd or really anything you want. The easiest way to do this is by placing contents into a piping bag and piping the filling into the tart shell.

2-    Top with fruit and enjoy!