These tartlets are pretty much “leftover” tartlets. I mentioned that I like to keep some shortbread cookie doughs in my freezer. And I knew that I had to dig one out when I realized I spent too much time staring at that jar of leftover lemon curd from this cake.
For me these tartlets took no time to make. But if you have to start from scratch, don’t be intimated! The shortbread dough is so easy to come together. And if you are not into lemon curd, you can simply fill the shells with some whipped cream and top it with berries.
Ingredients (15 tartlets):
Shortbread Crust
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Lemon Curd
zest of 3 lemons
1 1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 stick unsalted butter, softened
4 eggs
1/2 cup lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon salt
Garnish
2 cups fresh raspberries
1/4 cup powdered sugar
Directions:
In a large bowl, sift the flour and salt.
Cream butter and powdered sugar in a bowl of a standing mixer until light and fluffy. Beat in vanilla.
Reduce the speed to low and beat in the flour mixture until just incorporated.
Gather dough and form a dish. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for about 30 minutes to chill.
Preheat oven to 350F. Grease 3 1/2-inch tarlet pans.
On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut into 5-inch rounds. Line the prepared pans with the dough circles. Use a small kitchen knife to trim the excess and to score the tops of the tartlets.
Place in the refrigerator for about 15 minutes before baking for 10 to 15 minutes or until lightly golden.
Remove from oven and let the tart shells cool a few minutes before inverting and transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
If you don’t have enough pans or you want to make less tartlets, work with half of the cookie dough. Keep the other half in plastic wrap and refrigerate.
To prepare lemon curd, mix lemon zest and sugar with a fork.
In a large bowl, cream the butter. Add the sugar mixture and beat together. Add the eggs, lemon juice and salt and mix together until thoroughly combined.
Pour the mixture into a pan and cook over low heat while stirring constantly for about 10 to 15 minutes or until the curd starts to thicken and coat the back of a wooden spoon.
Remove from heat. Push the lemon curd through the sieve and into a bowl to make it super smooth. Pour the lemon curd into the prepared tart shells, and place it in refrigerator to chill for at least an hour.
Before serving, garnish with raspberries and sprinkle with powdered sugar.
18 comments
What is one stick of butter?How is one stick measured
Thank you to all of the Mc Lemons
Can I make the tartlets and freeze them in the pans so they are ready to cook. Do I defrost before cooking them?
Yes, Barbra, you can definitely do this! And you don’t have to defrost the tartlets before baking. Just put the frozen ones directly in the preheated oven. :)
I see in the comments section that you e-mailed someone a picture of the tartlet pan you used; could you please send me a picture too.
Thank you
Hi Joen, I just emailed you the picture. Hope it helps. :)
I stumbled onto your recipe when I was looking for shortbread crust recipes and just love lemon curd so I can not wait to make this :) however, I am wondering if I could make the crust in one springform pan? I prefer this then the mini tarts because I have some bigger eaters and those minis just won’t do for them, LOL….. Do you think I would need to modify the crust recipe??
Hi Cindy, the shortbread crust recipe is perfect to go with one big tart (either 8″ or 9″). You may have a little leftover though. What I usually do is to re-roll the leftover and make cookies. :)
Hi Mary, I used 3 1/2″ tarlet/fluted pans in metal. I greased them pretty well before to make sure the baked shells would come out easily when I inverted them. :)
I’d also like to know what pan(s) you used. I bought a Wilton silicone fluted mini tart pan that makes 24 but don’t look as nice as your’s. Thanks :-)
I pinned this because I can never pass up a lemon recipe, especially lemon tarts.
Thanks, Ms Lemon. In fact, me neither! :)
They look gorgeous! Quick question- what type of pan do you use for your tarts? There are so many options out there, I need some guidance…
Thanks, Megan. I just emailed you the picture of the pans that I use. Hope it helps. :)
looks yummy!
Thanks, Dina. :)
OMG! That bed of lemon curd, I want to dive in! Looks so sinfully good!
Thanks, Jane. :)