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Mini Pastries

17/11/2023

Mini pastries are a delicious variety of small-sized sweets, typical of Italian patisserie. As they vary in taste and composition, I will offer you a classic option that you can then vary according to your tastes.

Ingredients for the shortcrust pastry base:

  • 300g of 00 flour
  • 150g of cold butter, cubed
  • 120g of icing sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 egg yolk
  • Grated zest of 1 lemon
  • A pinch of salt

For the filling and decoration:

  • Custard (yellow or chocolate)
  • Chocolate ganache
  • Fresh fruit (such as strawberries or berries)
  • Jelly to glaze the fruit
  • Chopped hazelnuts or almonds for decoration

Preparation

  1. Start by preparing the shortcrust pastry: in a bowl, combine the flour and cold butter, working them with your fingertips until the mixture is sandy.
  2. Add the icing sugar, grated lemon zest, and a pinch of salt, mix briefly.
  3. Make a well in the center and add the egg and egg yolk, knead quickly to get a smooth dough.
  4. Wrap the dough in cling film and let it rest in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes.
  5. Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface to a thickness of about 3-4 mm.
  6. Use mini pastry cutters to cut out the dough discs and line the mini tartlet molds which you have previously buttered and floured.
  7. Prick the bottom of the tartlets with a fork, then bake in a preheated oven at 180°C for about 10-15 minutes or until golden.
  8. Once cooled, fill the tartlets with custard.
  9. Decorate with fresh fruit, then brush with a little jelly to give a shine.
  10. Alternatively, you can fill some tartlets with chocolate ganache and sprinkle them with chopped hazelnuts or almonds.

Let the mini pastries settle for a few hours in the refrigerator before serving them. These pastries are perfect to accompany an afternoon tea or as a delicious end to a meal.

Curiosity

Mini pastries are characterized as elegant “morsels” that allow savoring different flavors without overindulging in quantity. Moreover, they are very popular during receptions and special occasions, as their refined presentation helps to embellish the dessert buffet.