What better teatime treat than Jam Tarts, simple to make, the kids will love them and if you use a tiny cookie cutter to press little hearts out of the pastry lids you will be spot on for Valentines Day. We made our own sweet pastry which is fairly easy to make (see recipe below) however for efficiency and speed use a 500g block of sweet pastry. (available from all good supermarkets). You could also use regular short pastry - after all the jam will sweeten things up.
You will need
500g block of sweet pastry
jar of red jam (we used strawberry)
butter to spread on the baking tin
a little flour to sprinkle for rolling the pastry.
- Melt a little butter and use a pastry brush to butter the baking tray - definately a job for the children.
- Sprinkle flour over a clean work surface and roll out the pastry to a thickness of a one pound coin (20mm).
- Use a suitable cookie cutter (or a clean glass) to cut shapes from the pastry. You will need larger bases and smaller lids. We used a tiny heart shaped cutter to press out the hearts. Stars would also be fun. Place a base in each patty pan.
- Spoon a small teaspoonful of red jam into each pastry base. Cover each jam-filled base with a lid.
Bake for about 12 to 15 minutes at 170C (150C fan-assisted). Keep an eye on the tarts, if they appear to be browning a little too quickly, lay a piece of aluminium foil over the baking tray.
