Description
Enjoy homemade wild-flavoured jam tarts, a delightful and guilt-free treat perfect for any occasion. These tarts combine a crumbly, slightly nutty pastry with a sweet, fruity jam filling, evoking nostalgic childhood memories. They are easy to make, versatile, and can be prepared in both traditional and vegan variations.
Ingredients
Scale
- For the Pastry:
- 250 g Plain Flour (or wholemeal flour for added fiber)
- 50 g Icing Sugar (or regular sugar)
- 125 g Cold Butter (or vegan butter)
- 1 large Egg (or 1 flax egg for vegan)
- 1–2 tbsp Water
- For the Filling:
- 12 tbsp Foraged Jam (any fruity jam works)
Instructions
- Prepare the Dough: Grease a 12-holed cupcake tin. Sift plain flour and icing sugar into a bowl. Rub in cold butter until it resembles breadcrumbs. Whisk the egg (or flax egg) and mix into the dough, gradually adding water until it binds. Wrap the dough in cling film and chill for 30 minutes to 2 hours.
- Roll and Cut: Preheat your oven to 200°C (180°C fan). Roll out the chilled dough on a floured surface to about 3 mm thick. Use biscuit cutters to cut out 12 circles and gently press them into the cupcake tin holes to form tart bases.
- Bake: Place the tray in the oven and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the pastry is golden brown. Allow them to cool briefly before transferring to a cooling rack.
- Fill Tarts: Once cooled, fill each pastry tart with a tablespoon of your chosen jam. Store any unconsumed tarts in an airtight container.
- Optional: Sprinkle with icing sugar for extra sweetness before serving.
Notes
- Store jam tarts in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days, or in the fridge for up to 1 week.
- For longer storage, freeze tarts individually until solid, then transfer to an airtight container for up to 3 months.
- Reheat frozen tarts in a preheated oven at 180°C (350°F) for 10-15 minutes.
- Variations include using seasonal fruits, gluten-free flour, nutty flours, adding spices, citrus zest, fresh berries, or a chocolate drizzle.
- Serve with fresh cream, herbal tea, fruit salad, cheese, or sparkling wine.
- Ensure dough consistency is not too sticky; add flour if needed, or water if too dry.
- Always chill the dough for at least 30 minutes to prevent shrinkage.
- Avoid overmixing the dough to prevent tough pastry.
- Select jams that are not too runny to avoid soggy bottoms.
- Watch baking time carefully to achieve a golden finish.
- Pastry dough can be prepared up to 24 hours in advance and refrigerated, or frozen for up to 3 months.
- Pre-filled tarts can be stored at room temperature for up to 2 days.
- When selecting jam, look for high fruit content and minimal additives. Foraged fruits should be overripe and sweet, free from blemishes.
- Check ingredient labels for allergens, especially when using store-bought items.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Homemade
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 tart
- Calories: 150 kcal
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 100 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg