Tiny tarts filled with caramel and dry fruits and nuts.A pretty bite size dessert for caramel lovers and chocolate haters 🙂
As a child entering a fancy bakery was like going to a fairy tale land.The smell and sight literally engulfed my senses.The place is always lit up as if gems were on display.. slices of cake,pies and breads in moulded glass display cases with not even a bit of opaqueness obstructing the view.Oh ! u know the slanted ones, have you ever tried leaning on them ! Never can you without falling 🙂 Has happened to me so many times heee hee...Mom would lend a hand and give a stern look from the corner of the eye and mutter under her breath..where are ur eyes!!
My parents never put any restriction on intake of sugary stuff or limited or even stopped me from buying anything as long as I ate my meal properly infact mom would stand comfortably to a corner like a chaperon while I ordered anything that caught my eye .You must be thinking what a spoilt kid I was.. he hee... true I was!!!
Don't you think those occasional pamperings did become sweet memories 🙂
In that sense history repeats:) as I find myself doing exactly the same with my kid too anytime I am at the same place. I would stand there surprised to find that she picks up similar ones I used to like as a kid needless to say tart tops the list.I cannot help but smile and she asks me "Mom why are you smiling?" When I tell her that it is my favorite too she gives me a same pinch :))
How I have wished I could eat the shell of the tart first and filling in the end now as she relishes the tarts she asks me the same question :))
Please wait while I brush aside those memories ...
O.K so we call it dry fruit tarts, I have seen it in most bakeries in Kerala but it is not a traditional one I am pretty sure it is a gift from the maritime invaders.:)
For the tart shell I used the regular short bread recipe. For getting exact shape mini tart tins can be used but I don't have them nor intend to buy 🙂
For the tartlet shell: ( Yields 12 tartlets )
All purpose flour- I cup
Butter- 1/2 stick ( When soft cut into tiny bits and freeze it till kneading)
Granulated sugar- 2 tbsp
Baking powder- a small pinch
Salt - a pinch
Ice cold water- 1-2 tbsp
First mix all the dry ingredients well then bring out the butter mix it until it resembles wet sand ,knead the whole thing into a dough adding very little of cold water at a time until everything is combined only.Freeze it for half hour.(Do it fast as the dough begins to stick.If it becomes unmanageable stick it back into freezer for 10 minutes then continue)
Bring out the dough and make it into 12 equal portions keep only 3 -4 pieces outside at a time put the rest in the freezer as u work .
Grease the mini tart pans or line the cup cake pan with liner and spread each portion of dough inside as seen in pic.Press the sides well to get the marks.
Once all are done prick with a fork on the bottom and sides so it won't puff up.
Preheat oven and bake at 350 °F for 15 to 20 minutes or until the crust becomes hard shell.Not brown.
Remove from cup cake tin and allow it to cool down.But keep in the liners to catch any drippings later.
For the caramel filling:
Granulated sugar-1/2 cup- 3/4 cup
Unsalted butter- 1/2 stick(at room temp)
Whole milk- 1/2 to 3/4 cup (depending on thickness u want )
Whole cashew- 1/2 cup (Raw)
Golden raisins- 1/2 cup (Raw) (Or a mix of raisins)
Heat a thick bottom pan and add the sugar let it melt on its own (no water added)on a very slow flame when it is completely melted do not stir in between .Switch off flame and butter (be careful of spluttering) then add whole milk.Stir well heat it and let it thicken( without burning)to the consistency you want then switch off flame and put the dry fruits & nuts in the caramel and mix well.Note it should not be runny as it makes the tart soggy but thick yet falling consistency( See pic).
When slightly cool scoop spoonfuls into the tart shells.
Do not stack but store it in single layer in a closed container when cool.
Note:
- The tart dough tends to stick badly so work with it really really fast I mean even the heat of the hand is enough to make it sticky.
- Do not burn the caramel even a speck or it will taste burnt and bitter.Remember you can always switch off flame in between while the sugar is melting and restart it when it slightly cools.
- Use a sturdy cup cake liner for even finish on the tartlets.
Delicious !!
Hope you like my version of tartlets, is this ur favorite too then I can't wait to hear from you.
Meena
Meena Kumar
Thank you so much Priya so glad to hear from you.
Priya Kheroun Tessy
Oooo...lovely Meena...drooling here..and what beautiful pics in that pink background, reminds me of the little girl in you while you present your crunchy, sweet tarts.
Priya R
Meena what gorgeous clicks, the tartlets are so cute and juicy, love how you have presented them on wine glasses 🙂
Navaneetham Krishnan
Wow, wow and more wow!!! Love the whole package, the header, the stunning pictures, the intro and the delicious tart. Yum to the tarts and thumbs up for such a beautiful post.
Ramya Krishnamurthy
really super and clicks cant able take eyes off from this one.can i grab all?super clicks adn you are rocking with the first one.love the background
Rekha Vengalil
Wow simply stunning pictures Meena. The tart looks delicious and I am drooling here. I, as a child loved going to the bakery and this post brings back some fond memories of my childhood too:-)
sushmita pandit
Super awesome...love those clicks....Amazing
linsy patel
wow for both , photography and dish itself. I have zero skills in when it comes to take pictures, yours is excellent, really amazing dish too.
Meena Selvakumaran
beautiful presentation.so tempting to have one of them.
Priya
Caramel lover and chocolate hater (as in Choco bakes) - Check
Parents not putting restrictions on what I ate - Check
Wishing I could eat the shells of tarts and all first and keep the filling for the end (I do it even now. He he ;)) - Check
Ate Dry fruit and Caramel Tarts (But Store bought in my case :D) - Check
You and I have so much in common 😉 Ha ha 😀 The tarts look so so delish Meena 🙂
Preeti Jaipal
tarts looks delicious... love the presentation idea 🙂 superb dessert Meena 🙂
Chitrangada
Nice clicks Meena. And I can relate so much with the write up, we all are re-living our childhood through our kids.
Divya Shivaraman
those mini tarts looks super cute and moist with the topping...as priya said those wine glasses are first thing i noticed too...nice idea meena
Sona S
Beautiful presentation, Tarts look very delicious and inviting.
kumars kitchen
awesome tartlets...caramel and dry fruits make for an irresistible combination...perfect for a celebration 🙂
Rafeeda AR
I wud love 2 pick those up!!! I love the way u've used wine glasses 2 hold the tarts, lovely! 🙂 We r a family of sweet tooths, my uppa wud always keep buying smtg or the other 2 eat at home...
Reni
The tarts look so cute....love ur clicks and presentation 🙂 I still feel like I'm in fairyland when I enter a bakery...guess all of us with a sweet tooth would love places filled with sweet things 🙂
Bhawya Sankar
Appetising tarlets & Amazing clicks 🙂
Swathi Iyer
Beautiful caramel tart, I love them you are right, with dry fruit they are excellent. Nice clicks.
Shahina Rasi
The presentation is very cute Meenu!!!!!!!!!
Anupa Joseph (Palaharam)
Very nice post Meena..with the story to the pics ...everything was just perfect... I somehow made an attempt to move forward from the first picture while reading the post but totally got stuck on the second picture.. felt it was right infront of me and was drooling over:)
Anupa Joseph (Palaharam)
And forgot to mention, the new blog header is so cool...brings back memories from school days...it used to be class monitors duty right who if short had to step on a chair to write down the numbers 🙂
Sreevalli E
Cute & yummy tartlets..
Ambreen (Simply Sweet 'n Savory)
Meena, I'm always impressed by your work, your amazing clicks and eye-catching presentation! And these delicious tarts are simply fantastic!
Veena Theagarajan
cute presentation.. tempting tarts
hemalata
Looks so yummy and inviting tartlets.
sangeetha pn
OMG so cute looking tarts.. M very happy to be at your space .. Glad to follow you too.. :)Try visiting me in your free time!
Nilu A
Yummy, flavorful and beautiful tarts Meena 🙂
easyfoodsmith
How beautiful are those petite tarts! And that caramel filling is so tempting.
Sayantani
really wonderful recipe and such gorgeous clicks.
Chitz
Haha, talking student?? Nice header.. Loved the cute idea 🙂 And seriously, bakeries back in Kerala are a memory in itself.. Felt nostalgic reading the post !! Very true as u said, those shining glasses & the goody goody inside, hamme !!! And such a vute looking tart here, loved the way u presented it & also made it without the tart plates 🙂
Abbe Townsend
My mouth is watering, Meena. Not only is the recipe making me drool, but your photograpghs are beautiful too. I love the way you've used the wine glasses here...SOOOOOO stealing that idea 😉
Priya Suresh
Those cute tartelettes are just torturing me, seriously am in love that caramel filling, very nutty and tempting.
Meena Kumar
Thank you Priya 🙂
Meena Kumar
Hey Ramya,thank you.Please grab all.
Meena Kumar
Thank you Rekha:)
Meena Kumar
Thank you, Sush.
Meena Kumar
Thank you for noticing header 🙂 and for all the comments Nava 🙂
Meena Kumar
Thank you Meena take them all 🙂
Meena Kumar
Thank you Priya. True we have so much in common I have always felt it.Sometimes cravings are so bad that I make it as there is no access to some of the goodies I love.
Meena Kumar
Thank you Linsy.Sometimes this crazy head and camera works that is all:)
Meena Kumar
Thank you Preeti.
Meena Kumar
He hee..thank you Chitrangada.
Meena Kumar
Thank you Divya.
Meena Kumar
Thank you Sona.
Meena Kumar
Thank you KK,True it is perfect for celebration.
Meena Kumar
Rafee ,thank you.
Meena Kumar
Glad u too feel the same so I am not weird headed right!
Thank you Reni.
Meena Kumar
Thank you Bhawya.
Meena Kumar
Thank you Shahi.
Meena Kumar
Thank you Swathi.
Meena Kumar
Thank you Anupa.I am so glad u liked the pics:)
Meena Kumar
He hee Anupa thank you .He hee it was so much fun see the monitor struggling :).If there was not so much to study school time was the best allee!
Meena Kumar
Thank you,Sreevalli.
Meena Kumar
Hema thank you.
Meena Kumar
Ambreen thank you so much dear.
Meena Kumar
Thank you Veena.
Meena Kumar
Thank you Nilu.
Meena Kumar
Sangeetha thank you for stopping by glad to follow u too.
Meena Kumar
Thank you Taruna.
Meena Kumar
Thank you for stopping by Sayantani.
Meena Kumar
Hey Chitz,My name was always present on the board during school days.I remember my Sir saying my head will rotate 360 degree one day :))
Thank you so much dear.
Meena Kumar
He hee Abbe thank you.
Meena Kumar
I am so glad the Queen of cooking is saying torturing he he..thank you dear.
Meena Kumar
Thank you Nilu.
Nilu A
Hey Meena.. Please collect your ABC Award from me dear... http://kitchenserenity.blogspot.in/2013/08/two-awesome-blog-content-abc-awards.html
Meena Kumar
Thank you Neela.
indugetscooking
That reminds me of the tarts I ate at one of my favorite bakeries in Kerala. Totally yum!
Ruxana Gafoor
wow they look so yum and cute...love the way you have presented the tarts...also loved your header design 🙂
Sona - quick picks/pick quicks
Meena !!! your new header luks super cool..jango ketto..and hey !! how come i cant join u on fb ? dont see any like or add as friend link ?? 🙁 and these tarts are divine !! lovely presentation
Meena Kumar
Thank you Indu.
Meena Kumar
Thank you Ruxana.
Meena Kumar
Thank you Sona. Still figuring out fb dear!
Maha Gadde
Superb tarts n tempting clicks great work n very useful step wise cliks.
Meena Kumar
Thank you Usha.