Have you ever made a jam tart? We can't think of an easier old-fashioned dessert. You just spread a pretty little shortbread base with some thick, tasty jam, and bake it until it's shiny and a little thick. So delicious, simple, and easy for spring. Here's a closer look at the last one we made.I had a ball of lemon shortbread dough left over from a batch of cookies, and when I was thinking about what do with it I got inspired by a recipe from The Splendid Table - you can see it here:
• Rustic Jam Shortbread Tart Recipe, reprinted at Serious Eats
So I made the dough into a little freeform tart. I rolled it out into a rectangle, then pinched the edges so they would stand up. When the dough is slightly chilled it's very easy to work with. You could put it in a tart mold, too, but this is even easier. And of course this recipe is an ideal one for making little mini tarts or jam cookies.
Shortbread Jam Tart
1 batch lemon shortbread (like Martha Stewart's Icebox Shortbread)
Good jam - preferably a tangy sort. Raspberry is good, as is marmalade.
Chopped nuts for garnish
Heat the oven to 425°. Pat the dough out and shape it on a parchment-covered baking sheet. Bake it for about 8-10 minutes or until lightly golden. (Watch it! As you can see, I let mine burn a bit.) Remove and let cool for a few minutes. Increase the heat to 500°. Cover the tart base with jam, sprinkle with chopped nuts, and put in the oven for about ten minutes, or until the jam bubbles slightly or gets a smooth glazed look.
Remove and let cool for at least 20 minutes - hot jam is not fun to eat!
Have you ever made a jam tart? What's your favorite kind of jam to put on top?
Related: Recipe: Tart Lemon Tart
(Images: Faith Durand)
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my grandmother used to make tarts like this for thanksgiving! i should say tartlets, however, as they were about the size of a standard sandwich cookie. she had a special tool to make the tartlets - a fluted cookie cutter with a round handle that had a flat end that you would press into the cookie to flatten the bottom making an indent for filling. she'd use good store bought jam or homemade mincemeat. i miss those things!
that's what in Italy we call 'crostata', commonly made with 'pastafrolla' (shortbread) and 'marmellata' (jam), that's probably the first type of baked dessert everyone learn to make.... always good! Cherry or strawberry jam are often used but almost anyone would do.
Oh yes, I also like to use slivered almonds on top, the variations of jams that you can use are endless! If you use puff pastry, you can put these together in minutes.
This week I made a rhubarb galette, pie dough, strawberrry and strawberry-rhubarb jam, some graham cracker crumbs sprinkled on top, then rhubarb. Topped with a little cream mixture of egg, butter, sugar, and vanilla halfway through baking and we had an easy, tasty dessert.
I adore spring baking.
I never have but I will now!