Jam Tarts

Jam tarts are delicious treats, perfect for breakfast or a snack. Here’s how to make them.

Ingredients

• 250 g of type 00 flour
• 125 g of cold butter, diced
• 125 g of sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 egg yolk
• Grated zest of 1 lemon
• A pinch of salt
• Jam of your choice (for example, apricot, strawberry, or cherry)

Preparation

1. In a large bowl, pour the flour and add the cold butter. Work with the tips of your fingers until a sandy mixture is obtained.
2. Add the sugar, a pinch of salt, and the grated lemon zest, mixing the ingredients well.
3. Make a well at the center and add the whole egg and the yolk. Knead quickly to obtain a smooth ball.
4. Wrap the dough in cling film and let it rest in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.
5. Preheat the oven to 180 °C.
6. Take the dough and roll it out on a floured work surface to a thickness of about 5 mm.
7. Cut out discs with a round cookie cutter and line tartlet molds with them, previously buttered and floured.
8. Fill each tart with a spoonful of jam.
9. Cut strips or other shapes from the remaining dough and decorate the tarts, creating a lattice or designs as you like.
10. Bake for about 15-20 minutes or until golden brown. Allow to cool before serving.

Curiosity

Jam tarts originated from the need to use up leftover shortcrust pastry and jam that often remain in the house after other sweet preparations. They are excellent consumed at breakfast along with a cup of tea or milk. Moreover, they can be personalized with different types of jam or by adding flavors to the dough, such as vanilla or sweet spices.

Remember that you could also make a version with olive oil shortcrust pastry for a lighter variant with a Mediterranean flavor.