Love's Sweet Serenade - Heartfelt Jam Tarts
Celebrate love with these delightful Heartfelt Jam Tarts, a charming twist to the classic British treat. These mini tarts feature a buttery, flaky short crust pastry, lovingly filled with your favorite fruit jams such as luscious strawberry, tangy raspberry, sunny apricot, rich blackcurrant, or zesty lemon curd. Passed down through generations like a cherished family secret, these tarts are perfect for expressing affection on Valentine's Day. The addition of a sweet little pastry heart on top not only elevates their visual appeal but also encapsulates the notion that love is best served with sweetness. Whether enjoyed at a romantic tea or a cozy gathering with friends, these jam tarts are an essential delight for any celebration, echoing whispers of enchantment reminiscent of Alice in Wonderland. Best of all, the pastry is simple to make at home, ensuring your tarts are a labor of love that truly shines.
N/A
Servings
N/A
Calories
6
Ingredients
Ingredients
plain flour
8 ounces (sifted)
butter
4 ounces (chilled and cut into small pieces)
cold water
1-2 tablespoons (for binding the pastry)
flour
for dusting (for the work surface and rolling pin)
jam or lemon curd
to fill (assorted flavors like strawberry, raspberry, apricot, blackcurrant)
caster sugar
for sprinkling (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
1
Begin by sifting the plain flour into a large mixing bowl. Add the chilled, cubed butter and rub it into the flour with your fingertips until the mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs.
2
Gradually add 1 to 2 tablespoons of cold water, mixing with a knife until the dough starts to come together. Gently knead the pastry until you can form a smooth ball, taking care not to overwork it.
3
Wrap the dough ball in clingfilm and refrigerate for 30 minutes to allow it to rest and firm up, making it easier to roll out later.
4
Preheat your oven to 200°C (400°F or Gas Mark 6). This ensures a perfect baking temperature for the tarts.
5
On a lightly floured surface, roll out the chilled pastry to approximately ¼ cm thick. Use a floured round cutter to cut circles, re-rolling pastry scraps as needed to yield 12 to 18 circles.
6
With the remaining pastry scraps, roll them out again and cut out small hearts using a mini heart-shaped cutter for the tart tops.
7
Carefully place each pastry circle into a greased tart tin, gently pressing them into place. Prick the base of each tart once with a fork to prevent bubbling.
8
Bake the pastry shells in the preheated oven for 6 minutes or until they are just pale golden. Once done, carefully remove the tray from the oven using oven gloves.
9
Add 1 heaped teaspoon of your favorite jam or lemon curd into each baked tart shell. Top with a pastry heart to add a charming finish.
10
Return the tray to the oven and bake for an additional 6 minutes, allowing the pastry hearts to lightly brown.
11
Remove the tarts from the oven and let them cool in the tin for a few minutes. Use a palette knife to gently lift each tart out and place them on a wire rack to cool completely.
12
Once cooled, arrange the tarts on an attractive serving plate and sprinkle a light dusting of caster sugar over the tops for a sweet touch.
Nutrition Information
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Love's Sweet Serenade Heartfelt Jam Tarts?
They are a charming twist on classic British treats featuring buttery short crust pastry filled with fruit jam and topped with a pastry heart.
What type of pastry is used for this recipe?
The recipe uses a simple, homemade buttery and flaky short crust pastry.
Which jam flavors are recommended?
You can use strawberry, raspberry, apricot, blackcurrant, or even zesty lemon curd.
Is this recipe suitable for Valentine's Day?
Yes, the heart-shaped pastry tops and sweet theme make them perfect for expressing affection on Valentine's Day.
How much plain flour is required?
The recipe calls for 8 ounces of sifted plain flour.
How much butter is needed for the pastry?
You will need 4 ounces of chilled butter cut into small pieces.
How do I mix the butter and flour?
Rub the chilled, cubed butter into the sifted flour with your fingertips until the mixture looks like coarse breadcrumbs.
How much water should be added to the dough?
Gradually add 1 to 2 tablespoons of cold water to bind the pastry.
What is the best way to knead the dough?
Gently knead the pastry until it forms a smooth ball, being careful not to overwork it.
Does the pastry dough need to rest?
Yes, wrap the dough in clingfilm and refrigerate it for 30 minutes to allow it to firm up.
What temperature should the oven be preheated to?
Preheat your oven to 200°C, which is 400°F or Gas Mark 6.
How thick should I roll out the pastry?
Roll the chilled pastry out on a floured surface to approximately 1/4 cm thick.
How many tart circles should I cut?
You should cut between 12 to 18 circles using a floured round cutter.
What do I do with the remaining pastry scraps?
Re-roll the scraps to cut out small heart shapes using a mini heart-shaped cutter for the tart tops.
Should the tart tin be prepared before baking?
Yes, the pastry circles should be placed into a greased tart tin.
Why should I prick the base of the tarts?
Pricking the base with a fork helps prevent the pastry from bubbling during the baking process.
How long do the pastry shells bake initially?
Bake the empty pastry shells for 6 minutes or until they are just pale golden.
How much jam goes into each tart?
Add 1 heaped teaspoon of your chosen jam or lemon curd into each pre-baked shell.
When do I add the pastry heart tops?
The hearts should be placed on top of the jam after the initial 6-minute bake.
How long is the second baking period?
Return the tarts to the oven for an additional 6 minutes until the hearts are lightly browned.
How should I cool the jam tarts?
Let them cool in the tin for a few minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
What tool is best for removing the tarts from the tin?
A palette knife is recommended for gently lifting each tart out of the tin.
Is there a recommended garnish for the finished tarts?
A light dusting of caster sugar over the tops adds a sweet final touch.
Can I use different types of flour?
The recipe specifically calls for plain flour for the best short crust texture.
What is the significance of the heart shape?
It encapsulates the idea that love is best served with sweetness and adds visual appeal.
Is this a difficult recipe to make?
No, the pastry is simple to make at home, making it a manageable labor of love.
What literary work inspired the theme of these tarts?
The description mentions the tarts echo whispers of enchantment reminiscent of Alice in Wonderland.
Why must the butter be chilled?
Chilled butter is essential for creating a flaky pastry texture rather than a greasy one.
Can these be served at a tea party?
Yes, they are described as an essential delight for a romantic tea or a cozy gathering.
Is there a specific way to handle the water addition?
Water should be added gradually and mixed with a knife until the dough begins to come together.