Jammin' Tartlets

We bought a tart pan and presser a couple years ago at a family auction. We found a tart pastry recipe, and this is our favorite thing to do with it. Try experimenting with different jam or jelly flavors for variety.


1 1/4 cups flour
2 tbsp. brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 large egg
Jam or jelly
Powdered sugar

Combine flour and brown sugar. Cut in butter, then stir in egg with a fork. Form into 24 balls, then press balls into mini muffin tin, on bottom and up sides to form tart shells. Spoon about 1/2 tbsp jam or jelly into each tart shell, to fill the shell. Bake at 400 degrees for 9 to 11 minutes, until pastry is golden brown. Let cool for a little while, then remove to wire racks. When cool, dust with powdered sugar.

This recipe is very experimentable. You can put other fillings into the shells - try pumpkin pie filling, or the filling for lemon bars. Or you can pre-bake the shells and fill them with pudding or fruit. We have done this so many ways! The jam is our most frequent, because it's most simple.