Jam/Jelly

Mrs. Wheelbarrow's Jam Tarts

by:
October 28, 2014
4.5
2 Ratings
Mrs. Wheelbarrow's Jam Tarts
Photo by Christopher Hirsheimer and Melissa Hamilton
  • Makes 12 tiny tarts, six 3-inch tarts, or one 9-inch tart
Author Notes

This combination of shortbread and jam is both a perfect ending to a dinner party and a lovely treat for teatime. I’ve made them tiny, in financier molds, medium sized in classic small tart molds, and in a 9-inch tart pan. The shortbread crust is pantry-friendly, it’s ready in an instant, and it marries perfectly with whatever leftover jam is lurking in your refrigerator. The crust can be made by hand or with a mixer; I use a mixer. This is a very sandy dough. Don't despair. Press it into the molds and bake. —MrsWheelbarrow

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • 4 ounces unsalted butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg yolk
  • 2 cups all purpose flour
  • A big pinch of kosher salt
  • 8 ounces any jam, preserves, or conserves
Directions
  1. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or in a large bowl, using a hand mixer, beat the butter and sugar until light and creamy. Add the egg yolk and blend until combined. Add the flour and salt and blend until combined. Turn out the dough, gather it together, and form into a disk. Keep covered with a slightly dampened towel as you work.
  2. If making tiny tarts, set out twelve 1-by-2-inch molds. Pinch off pieces of dough the size of a walnut and press one into each mold. Place the mold(s) on a baking sheet. Alternatively, press the dough over the bottom and up the sides of a 9-inch tart pan with a removable bottom. Chill the crust for 30 minutes.
  3. Preheat the oven to 350° F.
  4. Prick the crust all over with a fork. This will keep the crust from ballooning up in the oven, although it still may rise a bit; don’t worry, it will go back down. Bake tartlets for 8 to 12 minutes, 15 to 20 minutes if using a tart pan, until the crust is very lightly browned, about the color of sand. Watch carefully and do not overbake. Remove to a rack and cool completely.
  5. Using a toothpick, carefully release the tiny tart shells from the pans; or, remove the large tart shell from its pan. Warm the jam in a small saucepan and spoon it into the baked shells. Let the tarts cool before serving.
  6. Jam tarts are best when enjoyed within 3 days.
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  • Merrill Stubbs
    Merrill Stubbs
  • MrsWheelbarrow
    MrsWheelbarrow
  • Mary Loulou
    Mary Loulou
  • ChezHenry
    ChezHenry
MrsWheelbarrow
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4 Reviews

Mary L.
Mary L. December 10, 2016
Can I freeze the tarts and fill them the day of use
 
MrsWheelbarrow
MrsWheelbarrow December 10, 2016
Yes! That works perfectly.
 
Merrill S.
Merrill S. November 11, 2014
I grew up making jam tarts with my mother, and I'll always love them.
 
ChezHenry
ChezHenry November 3, 2014
My mom always made an excuse to have some left over pie, cookie or shortbread dough when baking. Rolled out and placed into a muffin pan, she'd layer in some jam and bake them. The nice thing about baking the jam is that it gets even more jammy and concentrated. I do it too now, and my girls always hang around the kitchen knowing a few of these will be made, especially when I'm baking a pie.