Mini tarts with apple compote

Mini tarts with apple compote are a delicious dessert suitable for many occasions. Here is how to prepare them with an Italian touch.

Ingredients

For the shortcrust pastry:

• 300 g of tipo 00 flour
• 150 g of cold butter, cubed
• 120 g of powdered sugar
• 1 large egg
• A pinch of salt
• The grated zest of 1 lemon (optional for a citrusy touch)

For the apple compote:

• 4 large apples, peeled, cored, and chopped
• The juice of 1/2 a lemon
• 50-100 g of sugar (depending on the desired sweetness)
• 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon (optional, for a spicier flavor)
• A pinch of nutmeg (optional)

Preparation

1. In a large bowl, mix the flour with the powdered sugar and a pinch of salt. Add the cold cubed butter and work the mixture with your fingertips until it becomes a sandy compound.
2. Make a well in the center and add the egg and grated lemon zest. Knead quickly until it forms a ball, wrap it in cling film, and let it rest in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, prepare the apple compote by putting the apples, lemon juice, sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a pot. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the apples become soft and the mixture thickens (about 20 minutes).
4. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees C.
5. Roll out the shortcrust pastry into a thin sheet and line some small tartlet molds, previously greased and floured.
6. Prick the bottom of the tartlets with a fork, fill each tartlet with the apple compote, and if you like, decorate the edge with strips of cut-out shortcrust pastry.
7. Bake the tartlets for about 25-30 minutes or until golden brown.
8. Let cool before unmolding and serving.

Curiosity

The tartlets can be personalized in various ways, for example, you can add other types of spices that you prefer to the apple compote, such as cloves or ginger, or you can enrich the shortcrust pastry dough with finely chopped almonds for a different flavor note.

For a final touch and a splash of color, before serving, you could sprinkle the tartlets with a bit of powdered sugar or accompany them with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Enjoy your meal!