Thursday, February 9, 2012

MINI BLUEBERRY CRUMB TARTS

I found this recipe, a while back, on The Life and Loves of Grumpy's Honeybunch and decided to give it a try. I have used the pastry shell many times in other recipes like Pecan Tassies, but I never thought of using it with a fruit filling until Shelby's post....what a great idea!!
CRUST

3 ounces cream cheese (Shelby uses fat free)
1/2 cup butter at room temperature
1 cup all purpose flour

Mix until smooth, wrap in plastic and chill for an hour.  This dough is lovely and very easy to work with. While the dough is chilling, make the blueberry filling.

BLUEBERRY FILLING

4 cups of blueberries (if frozen - thaw and drain well)
Juice of one lemon
3/4 cup sugar (Shelby uses Splenda)
1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 1/8 cup cold water

Mix the blueberries, lemon juice and sugar in a heavy bottomed saucepan. Bring to a slow boil and then whisk in the cornstarch slurry (cornstarch and water mixed together). Keep stiring so that lumps do not form. Continue to cook and stir for 1-2 minutes or until very thick.  Remove from heat and let cool.

CRUMB TOPPING

1 cup all purpose flour
3 tablespoons brown sugar (Shelby uses Splenda brown sugar)
3 tablespoons butter at room temperature

Work these ingredients together, with your fingers, until you get a soft crumbly texture.

NOTE: This makes a TON of crumb topping. I cut the ingredients in half and I STILL had too much topping, so I put the rest in the freezer for my next baking project.

ASSEMBLY

Roll the chilled dough into 1" balls (this recipe makes about 20-24 tarts). Place each ball of dough into ungreased mini-cupcake pan.

Use a tart tamper (or anything in your kitchen that has a large rounded end that you can use) to tamp down the dough, making sure the dough comes up on the sides of each tart. You can also use your fingers to make a depression in the dough ball and work the pastry crust up the sides of the tart well.

Fill each tart with the cooled blueberry filling and a generous teaspoon of the crumb topping.

Bake in a pre-heated 375 oven for 15-20 minutes (my oven took 25 minutes) or until the crust gets a nice golden color. Let the tarts COOL IN THE PAN for 10-15 minutes before lifting them out.

NOTE: I love versatile recipes like this one. I think ANY fruit filling would work well here; I'm trying apple next!!SEE VIDEO TUTORIAL >>

Related Posts:

  • PEANUT BUTTER CLOUD PIEIf you like peanut butter, this pie is a little taste of heaven on earth. It is super easy to make (even easier if you use a ready made Oreo crust). I… Read More
  • MAPLE PECAN PIEPicky-picky husband quizzed me on what flavor pie I was making this morning and when I told him it was maple pecan, my "pecan pie purist" hu… Read More
  • MINI BLUEBERRY CRUMB TARTSI found this recipe, a while back, on The Life and Loves of Grumpy's Honeybunch and decided to give it a try. I have used the pastry shell many times … Read More
  • PINEAPPLE COCONUT CREAM PIEI found this quick and easy pie recipe over at Sweet as Sugar Cookies the other day. Lisa hosts a Saturday blog that is FULL of great dessert rec… Read More
  • MOCK PECAN PIEI know it is hard to imagine a pecan pie without pecans, right? Well, whether you have nut allergies, or you are like me and find it harder and harder… Read More
  • POT LUCK MINI CHERRY PIESThese "Grab-and-Go" mini cherry pies are perfect for large gatherings and family or church potluck dinners. The dough can be made days ahead and&… Read More
  • BUTTERSCOTCH CREAM PIEPicky-Picky husband has declared this pie his all time favorite. I like it because of the sweet and flaky crust, the true butterscotch flavor and the … Read More
  • CHOCOLATE SILK PIEHave you ever had a cream pie dessert that, was (not only) outrageously delicious, but the  "mouth feel" was absolutely sublime? T… Read More
  • CRUSTLESS CRANBERRY-WALNUT PIE  This is a very old (and wonderful) recipe. It is called a pie, although I would say it is a cross between a pie and a cake...(a … Read More
  • CLASSIC CHERRY PIEIf you follow my blog regularly, you know that I enjoy combining recipes to get an end result that suits us. That's what I did with this cherry pie re… Read More
  • BEST APPLE PIE EVER !!!I've made a zillion apple pies in my life that I thought were pretty good. However, the following recipe is new to me, and I have to te… Read More
  • CLASSIC BANANA CREAM PIEEvery family holiday dinner, I make way too many desserts. There is usually a cheesecake, a cream/pudding type pie, a fruit pie, cookies and something… Read More
  • GREAT PIE CRUSTA We have all made (and eaten) pie crusts that are flavorless, flat tasting, sort of soggy and, little more than something "necessary" to ho… Read More
  • CHERRY CHEESECAKE PIELast week, Debbie, over at Mocha Me, posted a raspberry cream cheese pie that sounded quick, easy and tasty. It had a chocolate crumb crust, a layer o… Read More
  • SUPER EASY CHERRY STRUDELThis strudel is made with Pepperidge Farm Puff Pasty (from the freezer section) and it couldn't be easier. It slices beautifully and it is delici… Read More