Mixed Berry Jam Tarts

Mixed Berry Jam Tarts

Text and Photo by Jac Kyles Baker 

Makes one 8 or 9 inch tart

Ingredients

 For the tart crust:

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour

8 TB unsalted butter, room temperature

1/3 cup granulated sugar

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp almond extract

For the filling:

1/2 cup mixed berry jam or jam of choice

Preparation

Prepare tart crust:

Place flour in a large bowl.  

In a separate bowl, beat butter, salt and sugar together until smooth.  Stir in almond extract.

Stir butter into flour to form a soft dough.  

Reserve 1/2 cup of dough for crumb topping.  Form small to large crumbs of dough and refrigerate until firm (about 15 minutes).

Meanwhile, press the dough into a microwave safe tart pan or pie plate.  Refrigerate for at least 15 minutes.

Remove shortbread crumbs from the refrigerator.  Microwave on HIGH for 45 seconds to 1 minute on parchment paper.  Crumbs will feel firm but soft.   Cool on a wire rack.

Remove tart crust from the refrigerator.  Microwave on HIGH for 45 seconds to 1 minute 30 seconds.  Check progress every 30 seconds.

Carefully remove tart pan from the microwave.  Cool tart crust completely on wire rack.

Spread jam over the bottom of the cooled tart shell. Cover the jam with shortbread crumbs.

Serve tart at room temperature.  Store tart, covered, in the refrigerator.