Mini Strawberry Tarts with Strawberry Curd

Sometimes a luscious strawberry dessert is needed and today's recipe for Mini Strawberry Tarts is so easy to make and is filled with an easy homemade strawberry curd. Top these tarts with a dollop of whipped cream and a sliced strawberry for a pretty and delicious summertime treat.

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My daughter and I recently hosted a tea party and wanted a small fruit dessert that could be easily made, but most of all easily eaten.  Making these tarts bite-sized made a great dessert for our guests to pick up from the trays.

These berry tarts are perfect for dinner parties and buffets, no slicing is required and the guests can help themselves.

Set these tarts out on a large platter and add pretty whole strawberries too for a colorful presentation, your guests will love them.

Freshly picked, sweet, red and ripe strawberries

Check out this post on How To Keep Strawberries Fresh so your berries will last a week or more.

If you like making fruit curds, try this refreshing Grapefruit Curd that tastes great on your morning scones or on top of fruit.

You can even make Apple Curd for a creamy fruit spread.

Jump to:

• Freshly picked, sweet, red and ripe strawberries
• Tart ingredients
• How to make mini tart shells
• Use these tart shells for other desserts
• How to make strawberry curd recipe
• More strawberry desserts
• Recipes
• Recipe
• Subscribe

Tart ingredients

• Flour
• Sugar
• Butter
• Eggs
• Strawberries
• Cornstarch
• Heavy Whipping Cream

How to make mini tart shells

The dough for these tarts is easy to make and rolls out nice and firm.

Step 1. Mix the flour and sugar in a large bowl. Add cold, cubed butter to the mixture and with a pastry blender or two knives cut the butter into the flour until the butter is the size of peas.

Step 2. Beat the egg and add to the flour mixture and mix until the dough holds together in moist clumps.

Step 3. Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and bring it together into a ball.

Step 4. Roll the dough to a ⅛" thickness.

Step 5.  To make the tart shell you simply cut out dough circles with a 2 ½" round cutter and press the dough circles inside a 12-cup muffin pan. This technique creates nice-sized tart shells that are perfect for holding the strawberry curd. This dough also makes an 8" tart if you want a larger tart.

Step 6. Bake the tart crusts for 20 minutes in a 300 degrees F. oven to a golden brown. Remove the pan from the oven and let them cool in the pan. After about 15 minutes you can pop them out of the pan.

Use these tart shells for other desserts

• Fill will pastry cream and top with fresh fruit
• Any type of pudding will work and top with whipped cream - chocolate would be delicious
• Fill with warmed canned fruit
• Add a scoop of ice cream
• Layer with cream cheese and fresh fruits

How to make strawberry curd recipe

I like using the riper strawberries to make the strawberry curd since they have more flavor and juice.

Step 1.  Process the sliced and hulled strawberries to make a puree in a food processor.

Then the puree needs to be strained and the easiest way to do this is to put the puree in a fine-mesh strainer then take a soup ladle and stir and press the puree into a bowl.  This works like a charm.

Step 2. Add the sugar and cornstarch to a medium-sized saucepan and stir, then stir in the egg yolk.

Step 3. Whisk in the strawberry puree and bring the mixture to a boil, then cook over medium heat until thickened.

Step 4. Remove from the heat in stir in room temperature butter until melted.

Step 5. Pour the curd into a bowl, cover with plastic wrap and chill until firm.

Step 6. When you are ready just spoon the strawberry curd into the tart shells.

The strawberry curd does not get ultra-thick but is thick enough to fill the tart shells, just don't overfill. And, yes, once you cook the puree the color changes.

Step 7. Top the tarts with whipped cream and a sliced strawberry. Fill a piping bag with the whipped cream to make a pretty rosette on top of the tartlets, or you can drop a dollop of the whipping cream on top with a spoon.

Step back and look at your creation then go ahead and try one.  You must make sure they are ok to serve your guests, right?

"Sometimes a luscious strawberry dessert is needed..."

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Here are my recommendations for your baking needs.

This recipe needs a 12-cup muffin pan which is good for all kinds of desserts. A fine mesh strainer is a kitchen must-have item to strain juices and broths and removing seeds.

You might like these mini ceramic bowls for sauces or desserts. If you serve berries these ceramic berry baskets are nice to display your colorful berries.

More strawberry desserts

• No-Bake Strawberry Shortcakes are a simple dessert to serve with fresh summer berries.
• Bake a classic Strawberry Bakewell Tart for dessert. Everyone loves the tender cake with a sweet strawberry filling. This is a British classic.
• This Strawberry Chardonnay Gelee is such a refreshing dessert and has just the perfect strawberry flavor with a hint of wine.
• Looking for a good dessert to serve at a cookout? Everyone goes crazy when I serve these Strawberry Grilled Cheese Sandwiches.
• When you have fresh strawberries make this small batch 3-Ingredient Strawberry Jam.

Recipes

Recipe

Thank you for stopping by the One Hot Oven blog.  Please leave a comment to say Hello or just let me know what you are baking these days, I always love hearing from fellow bakers. Have any questions or just want to chat about the recipe? My contact information is on my about page, and I’ll be happy to help.                                                                                                                                                     

About Jere'              

From learning to cook on a farm in Indiana to culinary school in California, my passion for food is never-ending.  Turning on my oven to bake something for friends and family is my happy place, and I am glad to be here at One Hot Oven sharing both sweet and savory family-friendly recipes for your cooking and baking inspiration.