Very Berry Tart Food

NO-BAKE MIXED BERRY TART

Steps:

• For the dark chocolate graham cracker crust: Break the chocolate into pieces and place in the bowl of a food processor along with the graham cracker crumbs. Blend together until combined. Cut the stick of butter into several pieces and add to the food processor. Blend again until the mixture starts to clump together and has the consistency of wet sand.
• Dump the crumb mixture into a 10-inch round deep tart pan with 2-inch sides and a removable bottom. Press the crumbs into the bottom and towards the sides of the pan using the bottom of a glass. Then press down from the top with your thumb along the lip of the crust and press against the wall of the crust to create a scalloped edge. Gently scrape away the inside of the tart walls with a spoon while still pressing down from the top so that the crust is consistently 1/2-inch to 2/3-inch thick all the way around. Press and smooth the crumbs across the bottom of the pan. Refrigerate the crust for about 1 hour.
• For the strawberry smoothie mousse filling: Sprinkle the gelatin over the coconut milk in a medium microwave-safe bowl and let sit 1 minute. Microwave on high for 40 seconds, then stir until the gelatin is completely dissolved.
• Pulse the strawberries, 1 tablespoon sugar and the coconut gelatin mixture in a food processor or blender until the berries are pureed. Add the cream cheese, Greek yogurt and vanilla extract and continue blending until smooth. Taste and add another tablespoon of sugar if desired, then scrape down the sides and blend again. Pour into the prepared crust and refrigerate for 2 hours.
• For the decorative topping: Gently push the strawberries decoratively into the semi-gelled filling, then press in the blueberries, blackberries and raspberries to make a pretty pattern. Sprinkle the hazelnuts over the surface. Refrigerate until set, 4 to 6 more hours or overnight.
• To unmold the pie, carefully press up from the bottom of the tart pan, then slice with a sharp knife (the crust will be very firm) and serve.

BERRY TARTLETS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to 1/8-in. thickness. Using a 4-in. round cookie cutter, cut 12 circles, rerolling scraps as necessary. Press circles onto bottoms and up sides of ungreased muffin cups., Mix sugar and cornstarch; toss with berries and lemon juice. Spoon 2 tablespoons filling into each cup. Bake on a lower oven rack until pastry is golden brown and filling is bubbly, 24-26 minutes. Cool 10 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack; cool completely., For topping, beat cream until soft peaks form. In another bowl, mix lemon curd, sugar, vanilla and 1 tablespoon whipped cream; fold in remaining whipped cream. Spoon over filling. If desired, top with fresh berries. Refrigerate until serving.

MIXED BERRY TART

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly coat a 9-inch tart pan with cooking spray.
• Combine flour, butter, confectioners' sugar, and salt in the bowl of a food processor; pulse until a soft dough forms. Press dough into the bottom of the prepared pan; prick with a fork.
• Bake in the preheated oven until edge of crust is golden, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool; do not turn oven off.
• Place cream cheese in a large bowl; beat with an electric mixer until smooth, 2 to 3 minutes. Add sugar; mix until combined, 1 to 2 minutes. Add eggs; blend for 1 to 2 minutes. Add lemon zest and juice; mix until incorporated. Pour mixture into cooled tart shell.
• Bake in the preheated oven until filling has set, about 25 minutes. Chill thoroughly, at least 1 hour. Top with berries and garnish with mint.

VERY BERRY LA TART

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• In a food processor combine the flour, 3 tablespoons of the sugar and the salt. Pulse in the butter and cream cheese until the mixture resembles coarse meal. Add 3 tablespoons cold water, 1/2 teaspoon of the lemon juice, the vanilla extract and egg yolk, and pulse until a dough forms. Transfer the dough to a floured work surface and form into a ball. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap, then press down to flatten and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• Using a rolling pin on a floured work surface, roll out the dough to a large circle, about 14-inches in diameter. Carefully place the dough into an 11-inch tart pan with a removable bottom. Gently press the dough into the pan so there are no air bubbles around the edges. Roll the pin over the top of the tart to cut of the excess dough Prick the dough with a fork, and chill in freezer for 15 minutes.
• Line the tart shell with foil or parchment paper and fill it with pie weights or dried beans. Bake the shell until cooked but not browned, 12 to 15 minutes. Remove the liner and pie weighs and cool the shell.
• Increase the oven temperature to 425 degrees F.
• In a large bowl, combine the blackberries, raspberries, cornstarch, the remaining 3 tablespoons lemon juice and the remaining 3 tablespoons sugar, and gently toss to coat. Fill the crust and bake for 10 to 12 minutes, then cool to room temperature. Remove from the tart pan before slicing.

FREE-FORM BERRY TART

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. To make the crust, place the flour, shortning, butter and salt in a mixing bowl. Mix with your fingertips until the mixture resembles a coarse meal. Drizzle in the water and mix with a fork just until the dough comes together. Let rest for at least 15 minutes.
• While the dough is resting, prepare the filling. Place the berries in a bowl, add the sugar, spices, vanilla, and flour and toss well. On a well-floured board, roll the dough out into a 14-inch circle. Place the dough in a well-greased 12-inch tart pan with a removable bottom. Pour in the filling and top with the lemon zest.
• To prepare the topping, mix together the sugar, flour and butter to form a crumbly dough. Fold in the sides of the crust over the filling. Sprinkle the topping over the filling. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, then reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees and bake another 20 to 30 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream.

4TH OF JULY BERRY TART

Steps:

• To make the tart dough: In a food processor combine the almond meal, flour, confectioners' sugar and salt. Pulse several times to combine. Add the butter and egg yolk, process just until the dough comes together. Distribute the dough into the 13-by-4-inch tart pan (or 10-inch round).
• Lay plastic wrap over the dough and press it into the pan so that it is an even thickness. Remove the plastic and freeze the dough until it is firm, about 20 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Cover the dough with foil and fill with pie weights or beans. This will keep the dough from slouching in the pan. Bake for 25 minutes, then remove the foil and beans, bake for an additional 5 to 10 minutes or until the crust is a light golden color. Allow to cool to room temperature.
• Prepare the pastry cream: Whisk together the cornstarch and 1/4 cup of sugar. Add the egg yolks to the cornstarch and mix into a smooth paste. Set aside.
• Bring the milk, remaining 1/4 cup of the sugar, vanilla bean, and salt to a gentle simmer in a medium saucepan. Slowly, and in small amounts, whisk the hot milk into the egg mixture. Once the egg mixture is warm to the touch, pour it back into the milk in the pan.
• Bring the custard to a gentle boil, whisking continuously for 2 to 3 minutes. The pastry cream will thicken almost immediately, but it is important to cook the starch until it isn't grainy. When the pastry cream is done it will be smooth and glossy.
• Remove from the heat and add the butter and white chocolate to the pastry cream. Allow to sit for 3 minutes, then gently whisk them together. Pour the pastry cream into a shallow container. Cover with plastic wrap, pressed directly on the surface of the cream to prevent a skin from forming. Set the container in the freezer for 15 minutes (this cools down the eggs quickly) and then refrigerate for up to a few days.
• Fill the cooled tart shell with the pastry cream. Decorate the top with the berries and refrigerate until ready to serve. Dust with confectioners' sugar right before slicing and serving.

TRIPLE BERRY TART

Steps:

• Prepare piecrust according to package directions to fit into a 9-inch tart pan with a removable bottom. Bake until light golden brown. Cool completely.
• Combine mascarpone and next 4 ingredients in a large bowl, beating with an electric mixer at medium speed until stiff peaks form. Spoon mixture into crust, spreading evenly.
• Gently combine berries and place on filling. Release sides of pan from bottom before serving.
• Makes 1 (9 inch) tart.
• *NOTE: Tart may be assembled two hours ahead and chilled. Bring to room temperature before serving.

RUSTIC BERRY TART

Steps:

• TO PREPARE CRUST:.
• Whisk whole-wheat flour, all-purpose flour, 2 tablespoons sugar and salt in a medium bowl.
• Cut in butter with a pastry blender or your fingers until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs with a few larger pieces.
• Add oil and stir with a fork to blend.
• Mix 1/4 cup water, egg yolk and 1 teaspoon lemon juice (or vinegar) in a measuring cup.
• Add just enough of the egg yolk mixture to the flour mixture, stirring with a fork, until the dough clumps together. (Add a little water if the dough seems too dry.)
• Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead several times.
• Form the dough into a ball, then flatten into a disk.
• Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
• Preheat oven to 425°F Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil and coat with cooking spray.
• TO PREPARE FILLING AND ASSEMBLE TART:.
• Spread almonds in a small baking pan. Bake until light golden and fragrant, about 5 minutes. Let cool.
• Combine whole-wheat flour, 1/4 cup sugar (or Splenda) and the toasted almonds in a food processor or blender; process until the almonds are ground.
• Roll the dough into a rough 13- to 14-inch circle on a lightly floured surface, about 1/4 inch thick. Roll it back over the rolling pin, brush off excess flour, and transfer to the prepared baking sheet.
• Spread the almond mixture over the pastry, leaving a 2-inch border all around.
• Toss berries with the remaining 3 tablespoons sugar (or Splenda) and 2 teaspoons lemon juice in a large bowl; spoon over the almond mixture.
• Fold the border up and over the filling, pleating as necessary.
• Blend the reserved egg white and 1 tablespoon water with a fork; brush lightly over the tart rim. Sprinkle with the remaining 1 teaspoon sugar.
• Bake the tart for 15 minutes at 425°F.
• Reduce oven temperature to 350°F and bake until the crust is golden and the juices are bubbling, 30 to 40 minutes.
• Leaving the tart on the parchment (or foil), carefully slide it onto a wire rack. Let cool.
• Shortly before serving, melt jam in a small saucepan over low heat; brush over the berries.
• Cut the tart into wedges and serve.
• MAKE AHEAD TIP: Prepare crust through Step 1; wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 2 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
• INGREDIENT NOTE: Whole-wheat pastry flour is milled from soft wheat. It contains less gluten than regular whole-wheat flour and helps ensure a tender result in delicate baked goods while providing the nutritional benefits of whole grains. Available in large supermarkets and in natural-foods stores. Store in the freezer.
• TIP: To separate eggs safely: Use an egg separator, an inexpensive gadget found in cookware stores; separating eggs by passing the yolk back and forth between pieces of eggshell or your hands can expose the eggs to bacteria.

VERY BERRY TART

Steps:

• Tart Shells: In medium-size bowl, whisk together cake flour and salt.
• In large bowl, beat together shortening and sugars until smooth. Beat in yolk and banana. Add vanilla.
• On low speed, slowly beat in flour mixture until dough comes together. Pat into disk; wrap; chill 30 minutes to 1 hour.
• Custard: In medium-size saucepan, mix sugar, cornstarch and salt. Gradually stir in milk. Bring to boiling over medium-high heat, stirring until thickened, 8 minutes. Boil 3 minutes. Reduce heat to low.
• In small bowl, whisk yolks slightly. Beat in about 1/4 cup hot milk mixture. Slowly pour yolk mixture into milk mixture in saucepan over low heat, stirring quickly and constantly, to prevent lumping. Heat, stirring, until custard thickens enough to coat back of spoon and registers 160 degrees F on instant-read thermometer, about 3 minutes.
• Remove saucepan from heat. Stir in banana and vanilla extracts. Scrape into a bowl; cover surface directly with plastic wrap. Refrigerate until chilled, about 1 hour.
• Once dough has chilled, heat oven to 325 degrees F. Coat four 3 -1/2 x 3/4-inch tart pans, four 3 x 1-inch tart pans, four 3 x 1/2-inch tart pans and four 2-1/4 x 3/4-inch tart pans with cooking spray.
• For 2 larger-size tart pans, use 3 tablespoons dough for each pan. For 2 smaller pans, use 2 tablespoons dough for each pan. With rolling pin, roll out each portion of dough into circle 1 inch larger than diameter of top of tart pan. Fit dough into pans, pressing over bottom and up sides. Prick bottoms lightly all over with fork. Place pans on baking sheet.
• Bake in 325 degree F oven until edges are lightly golden and tarts are slightly puffed, about 18 minutes. Transfer tart pans to wire rack; let cool completely. Use a small knife to carefully pry tart edges from pans; gently remove shells from pans. Makes about 16 assorted tarts.
• Glazed Fruit: Place tart shells on serving platter. Slice banana; place 1 slice in bottom of smallest tarts, 2 slices in the 3 x 1/2-inch tarts and 3 slices in 2 largest-size tarts. Cover banana slices with 1 to 2 tablespoons custard to fill tart to edge. Chill 90 minutes before serving.