Strawberry Shortbread Tarts Food

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 SHORTBREAD TARTS

Steps:

• Sift flour, cornstarch, baking powder and salt into medium bowl. Using electric mixer, beat butter, sugar, vanilla extract and orange peel in large bowl until fluffy. Add flour mixture and beat just until moist clumps form. Gather dough into ball; flatten into disk. Wrap and refrigerate until firm, at least 1 hour and up to 1 day.
• Preheat oven to 325°F. Line large baking sheet with parchment paper. Roll out dough on lightly floured surface to 1/4-inch-thick round. Using 3- to 3 1/4-inch cutter, cut out cookies. Transfer cookies to prepared baking sheet. Gather dough and reroll to 1/4-inch thickness; cut out more cookies. Bake until cookies are light brown at edges, about 15 minutes. Cool on sheet. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Store airtight at room temperature.)
• Whisk 1/2 cup currant jelly in small saucepan over low heat until melted and smooth. Place 8 shortbread cookies on plates; brush generously with currant jelly (reserve remaining cookies for another use). Brush bottom of 1 strawberry with currant jelly; set strawberry, currant jelly side down, in center of 1 cookie. Brush bottom of more strawberries with currant jelly and arrange around center strawberry. Brush top of all strawberries with currant jelly to glaze. Repeat with remaining cookies and strawberries. (Can be prepared 2 hours ahead. Let stand at room temperature.)

TINY SHORTBREAD TARTS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream butter and confectioners' sugar until light and fluffy. Gradually add flour and mix well. , Shape into 1-in. balls; press onto the bottom and up the sides of greased miniature muffin cups. , Bake at 300° for 17-22 minutes or until set. Cool for 15 minutes before carefully removing from pan to a wire rack to cool completely. Spoon 1 teaspoon of pie filling into each tart.

SIMPLE STRAWBERRY DULCE DE LECHE SHORTBREAD TART

Steps:

• Make cookie crust:
• Heat oven to 350°F with rack in middle. Lightly butter a large baking sheet.
• Whisk together flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and salt in a small bowl.
• Beat together butter and sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, then beat in egg yolks and vanilla. Reduce speed to low and mix in flour mixture until combined.
• Form dough into a disk and roll out between 2 large sheets of parchment paper into an 11-inch round (about 1/8 inch thick). Peel off and discard top piece of parchment. Slide round (still on bottom piece of parchment) onto baking sheet. (Butter on sheet will help keep parchment in place.)
• Bake until round is firm to the touch and pale golden around edges, 12 to 16 minutes. Slide round on parchment onto a rack to cool completely.
• Make cream:
• Beat cream with sour cream, sugar, and vanilla using an electric mixer until soft peaks form.
• Assemble tart:
• Carefully slide cool tart from parchment onto a flat platter or cutting board. Gently spread dulce de leche onto crust (an offset spatula is helpful for this), taking care not to break crust. Spoon cream on top of dulce de leche and top with strawberries.
• Serve immediately.

STRAWBERRY SHORTBREAD BARS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line an 8x8-inch pan with enough parchment paper to have an overhang on all sides.
• Beat butter and sugar together in a large bowl with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add egg and vanilla; beat until thoroughly combined. Mix in flour, salt, and baking soda until just combined. Using floured hands, press dough evenly into the prepared pan.
• Bake until edges of the crust just begin to brown, 12 to 16 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool for 10 minutes.
• Place sliced strawberries into a large bowl. Add sugar, cornstarch, and lemon juice. Toss to combine. Pour strawberries evenly over the crust. Place pan back into the oven and bake until strawberries have softened, 20 to 25 minutes. Let cool to room temperature in the pan.
• Place strawberry jam in a small microwave-safe bowl and heat in the microwave for 15 seconds, or until slightly runny. Brush melted jam over the top of strawberries, and allow the bars to finish cooling completely in the pan. Carefully lift bars out of the pan using the parchment edges, and cut into 9 bars. Store in the refrigerator.

STRAWBERRY TART

Steps:

• Beat the butter and sugar together until smooth, but not fluffy. Mix in the egg until combined, then add the flour. Bring together with your hands to form a dough. Wrap and chill in the fridge for 30 mins.
• Dust a surface with flour and roll out the pastry to a 26cm circle (or 3cm bigger than your tin). Line a 23cm fluted tart tin with the pastry, leaving an overhang. Prick the base with a fork to stop any air bubbles forming. Chill for 30 mins.
• Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Line the pastry case with a scrunched up sheet of baking parchment and baking beans, then bake for 15 mins. Remove the parchment and beans and bake for 15-20 mins more until crisp and golden. Leave in the tin to cool.
• To make the crème pâtissière, heat the milk, cream and vanilla in a pan over a medium heat, stirring occasionally. Bring up to a simmer. Meanwhile, whisk the yolks and sugar in a bowl for 3 mins until pale, then stir in the cornflour until combined. Pour a quarter of the hot cream over the egg mix, whisking continuously, then pour the warm egg mix into the pan with the rest of the cream. Stir over a low-medium heat for 5-8 mins until the crème pâtissière thickens. Transfer to a large bowl and cool for 15 mins, whisking occasionally. Gradually whisk in the butter until smooth, cover and put in the fridge until needed.
• Beat the strawberry jam to loosen it, then spread over the bottom of the pastry case. Put the crème pâtissière into a piping bag and pipe in a spiral on top of the jam. Arrange the strawberries on top in a pattern. Heat the apricot jam in a small pan with 1 tbsp water until warm. Whisk to loosen the jam, then leave to cool slightly. Brush over the top of the strawberries.