These 2" tarts are made with key lime filling over a pecan shortbread cookie, they are topped with fresh blueberries and strawberries, and drizzled with grenadine syrup.
Start by making the pecan shortbread (I used *Norpro mini cheesecake pan with removable bottoms.) After popping the cookies into the oven, make key lime filling.
After both are cooled, just put the chilled filling into a pastry bag and pipe it onto cookie, top with fresh fruit.
Using strawberries and blueberries made these perfect for a patriotic theme. But they would also taste terrific topped with tart pie cherries, peaches, or raspberries.
MINI KEY LIME TARTS ON PECAN SHORTBREAD CRUST
Ingredients:
Pecan Shortbread
Key Lime Filling
Strawberries
Blueberries
Grenadine Syrup
Pecan Shortbread:
1/2 cup + 2T. softened butter (10 Tbsp)
1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
1/8 tsp Caramel extract (opt)
1-1/4 cups sifted flour
2/3 cup pecans, finely ground
Cream butter and sugar together; add caramel extract (opt). Mix in flour and pecans. Chill dough for about 15 minutes for easier handling. Divide into 24 balls and press into the bottoms of an ungreased *mini tart pan. Bake at 325 degrees for 20 minutes. Remove from oven and cool completely.
Key Lime Filling
1/2 cup *Nellie and Joe's Key lime juice
1 Tbsp cornstarch
6 egg yolks, all albumen removed
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup chilled butter, cut into small pieces
8 oz. softened cream cheese
Blend key lime juice together with cornstarch. Pour into a sauce pan; whisk in egg yolks and sugar. Add butter and cook over medium low heat, stirring constantly until translucent and mixture holds its shape when stirred.
Press through a sieve into a bowl; cover key lime curd with plastic wrap, chilling thoroughly.
With a mixer, whip cream cheese; add key lime curd and blend together completely.
Place Key Lime filling in a pastry bag with a fluted tip. With shortbread still in pan, pipe filling over each cookie. Chill well; then lift out of cheesecake pan and remove the pan bottoms.
Arrange sliced strawberries and blueberries on the top of each tart, and drizzle with grenadine syrup. (Pomegranate syrup works well too.)
Makes 2 dozen- 2" tarts.
*Links for Specialty Products listed in this recipe:
NorPro Mini Cheesecake Pan
Nellie and Joe's Key Lime Juice
Caramel Flavor
Recipe and Photography by
Jacque Benson- all rights reserved 2008