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Home » desserts

Dry fruit caramel tart / Caramel fruit and nut Tartlet / Mini tart recipe with caramel filling / Bite size desserts

Last Updated on February 16, 2022

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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

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Meena Kumar

    August 08, 2013 at 5:29 am

    Thank you so much Priya so glad to hear from you.

    Reply
  2. Priya Kheroun Tessy

    August 08, 2013 at 6:13 am

    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.

    Reply
  3. Priya R

    August 08, 2013 at 5:11 am

    Meena what gorgeous clicks, the tartlets are so cute and juicy, love how you have presented them on wine glasses 🙂

    Reply
  4. Navaneetham Krishnan

    August 08, 2013 at 9:41 am

    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.

    Reply
  5. Ramya Krishnamurthy

    August 08, 2013 at 6:35 am

    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

    Reply
  6. Rekha Vengalil

    August 08, 2013 at 7:14 am

    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:-)

    Reply
  7. sushmita pandit

    August 08, 2013 at 7:26 am

    Super awesome...love those clicks....Amazing

    Reply
  8. linsy patel

    August 08, 2013 at 1:14 pm

    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.

    Reply
  9. Meena Selvakumaran

    August 08, 2013 at 12:04 pm

    beautiful presentation.so tempting to have one of them.

    Reply
  10. Priya

    August 08, 2013 at 12:11 pm

    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 🙂

    Reply
  11. Preeti Jaipal

    August 08, 2013 at 6:03 pm

    tarts looks delicious... love the presentation idea 🙂 superb dessert Meena 🙂

    Reply
  12. Chitrangada

    August 08, 2013 at 7:23 pm

    Nice clicks Meena. And I can relate so much with the write up, we all are re-living our childhood through our kids.

    Reply
  13. Divya Shivaraman

    August 08, 2013 at 8:13 pm

    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

    Reply
  14. Sona S

    August 09, 2013 at 5:47 am

    Beautiful presentation, Tarts look very delicious and inviting.

    Reply
  15. kumars kitchen

    August 09, 2013 at 7:58 am

    awesome tartlets...caramel and dry fruits make for an irresistible combination...perfect for a celebration 🙂

    Reply
  16. Rafeeda AR

    August 09, 2013 at 12:39 pm

    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...

    Reply
  17. Reni

    August 09, 2013 at 12:46 pm

    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 🙂

    Reply
  18. Bhawya Sankar

    August 09, 2013 at 5:34 pm

    Appetising tarlets & Amazing clicks 🙂

    Reply
  19. Swathi Iyer

    August 10, 2013 at 2:33 pm

    Beautiful caramel tart, I love them you are right, with dry fruit they are excellent. Nice clicks.

    Reply
  20. Shahina Rasi

    August 10, 2013 at 12:30 pm

    The presentation is very cute Meenu!!!!!!!!!

    Reply
  21. Anupa Joseph (Palaharam)

    August 10, 2013 at 5:55 pm

    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:)

    Reply
  22. Anupa Joseph (Palaharam)

    August 10, 2013 at 6:18 pm

    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 🙂

    Reply
  23. Sreevalli E

    August 10, 2013 at 7:58 pm

    Cute & yummy tartlets..

    Reply
  24. Ambreen (Simply Sweet 'n Savory)

    August 11, 2013 at 1:12 pm

    Meena, I'm always impressed by your work, your amazing clicks and eye-catching presentation! And these delicious tarts are simply fantastic!

    Reply
  25. Veena Theagarajan

    August 11, 2013 at 2:11 pm

    cute presentation.. tempting tarts

    Reply
  26. hemalata

    August 11, 2013 at 12:57 pm

    Looks so yummy and inviting tartlets.

    Reply
  27. sangeetha pn

    August 12, 2013 at 7:09 am

    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!

    Reply
  28. Nilu A

    August 12, 2013 at 4:10 am

    Yummy, flavorful and beautiful tarts Meena 🙂

    Reply
  29. easyfoodsmith

    August 12, 2013 at 1:15 pm

    How beautiful are those petite tarts! And that caramel filling is so tempting.

    Reply
  30. Sayantani

    August 13, 2013 at 4:33 am

    really wonderful recipe and such gorgeous clicks.

    Reply
  31. Chitz

    August 13, 2013 at 7:01 am

    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 🙂

    Reply
  32. Abbe Townsend

    August 13, 2013 at 10:23 am

    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 😉

    Reply
  33. Priya Suresh

    August 13, 2013 at 7:54 pm

    Those cute tartelettes are just torturing me, seriously am in love that caramel filling, very nutty and tempting.

    Reply
  34. Meena Kumar

    August 14, 2013 at 12:20 am

    Thank you Priya 🙂

    Reply
  35. Meena Kumar

    August 14, 2013 at 12:21 am

    Hey Ramya,thank you.Please grab all.

    Reply
  36. Meena Kumar

    August 14, 2013 at 12:22 am

    Thank you Rekha:)

    Reply
  37. Meena Kumar

    August 14, 2013 at 12:23 am

    Thank you, Sush.

    Reply
  38. Meena Kumar

    August 14, 2013 at 12:24 am

    Thank you for noticing header 🙂 and for all the comments Nava 🙂

    Reply
  39. Meena Kumar

    August 14, 2013 at 12:24 am

    Thank you Meena take them all 🙂

    Reply
  40. Meena Kumar

    August 14, 2013 at 12:28 am

    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.

    Reply
  41. Meena Kumar

    August 14, 2013 at 12:29 am

    Thank you Linsy.Sometimes this crazy head and camera works that is all:)

    Reply
  42. Meena Kumar

    August 14, 2013 at 12:30 am

    Thank you Preeti.

    Reply
  43. Meena Kumar

    August 14, 2013 at 12:31 am

    He hee..thank you Chitrangada.

    Reply
  44. Meena Kumar

    August 14, 2013 at 12:31 am

    Thank you Divya.

    Reply
  45. Meena Kumar

    August 14, 2013 at 12:31 am

    Thank you Sona.

    Reply
  46. Meena Kumar

    August 14, 2013 at 12:32 am

    Thank you KK,True it is perfect for celebration.

    Reply
  47. Meena Kumar

    August 14, 2013 at 12:35 am

    Rafee ,thank you.

    Reply
  48. Meena Kumar

    August 14, 2013 at 12:37 am

    Glad u too feel the same so I am not weird headed right!
    Thank you Reni.

    Reply
  49. Meena Kumar

    August 14, 2013 at 12:37 am

    Thank you Bhawya.

    Reply
  50. Meena Kumar

    August 14, 2013 at 12:38 am

    Thank you Shahi.

    Reply
  51. Meena Kumar

    August 14, 2013 at 12:38 am

    Thank you Swathi.

    Reply
  52. Meena Kumar

    August 14, 2013 at 12:39 am

    Thank you Anupa.I am so glad u liked the pics:)

    Reply
  53. Meena Kumar

    August 14, 2013 at 12:58 am

    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!

    Reply
  54. Meena Kumar

    August 14, 2013 at 12:59 am

    Thank you,Sreevalli.

    Reply
  55. Meena Kumar

    August 14, 2013 at 12:59 am

    Hema thank you.

    Reply
  56. Meena Kumar

    August 14, 2013 at 12:59 am

    Ambreen thank you so much dear.

    Reply
  57. Meena Kumar

    August 14, 2013 at 1:00 am

    Thank you Veena.

    Reply
  58. Meena Kumar

    August 14, 2013 at 1:00 am

    Thank you Nilu.

    Reply
  59. Meena Kumar

    August 14, 2013 at 1:01 am

    Sangeetha thank you for stopping by glad to follow u too.

    Reply
  60. Meena Kumar

    August 14, 2013 at 1:01 am

    Thank you Taruna.

    Reply
  61. Meena Kumar

    August 14, 2013 at 1:02 am

    Thank you for stopping by Sayantani.

    Reply
  62. Meena Kumar

    August 14, 2013 at 1:05 am

    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.

    Reply
  63. Meena Kumar

    August 14, 2013 at 1:06 am

    He hee Abbe thank you.

    Reply
  64. Meena Kumar

    August 14, 2013 at 1:08 am

    I am so glad the Queen of cooking is saying torturing he he..thank you dear.

    Reply
  65. Meena Kumar

    August 14, 2013 at 4:55 am

    Thank you Nilu.

    Reply
  66. Nilu A

    August 14, 2013 at 4:19 am

    Hey Meena.. Please collect your ABC Award from me dear... http://kitchenserenity.blogspot.in/2013/08/two-awesome-blog-content-abc-awards.html

    Reply
  67. Meena Kumar

    August 15, 2013 at 4:46 am

    Thank you Neela.

    Reply
  68. indugetscooking

    August 16, 2013 at 5:55 am

    That reminds me of the tarts I ate at one of my favorite bakeries in Kerala. Totally yum!

    Reply
  69. Ruxana Gafoor

    August 18, 2013 at 4:57 am

    wow they look so yum and cute...love the way you have presented the tarts...also loved your header design 🙂

    Reply
  70. Sona - quick picks/pick quicks

    August 18, 2013 at 5:12 am

    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

    Reply
  71. Meena Kumar

    August 18, 2013 at 5:38 am

    Thank you Indu.

    Reply
  72. Meena Kumar

    August 18, 2013 at 5:39 am

    Thank you Ruxana.

    Reply
  73. Meena Kumar

    August 18, 2013 at 5:40 am

    Thank you Sona. Still figuring out fb dear!

    Reply
  74. Maha Gadde

    August 28, 2013 at 6:43 pm

    Superb tarts n tempting clicks great work n very useful step wise cliks.

    Reply
  75. Meena Kumar

    October 11, 2013 at 12:03 am

    Thank you Usha.

    Reply

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