Jam Tarts Recipe
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This Jam Tarts Recipe pairs a crisp, buttery shortcrust pastry base with your favorite sweet jam. Easy to prepare and irresistibly delicious, these jam tarts are perfect for any occasion, from morning or afternoon tea to family gatherings.
Enjoy the fusion of melt-in-your-mouth pastry and luscious jam in every bite!
For your convenience, the recipe card is located at the top of this post. Scroll down for step-by-step images, expert tips, FAQs, and more!
Jam Tarts Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
Shortcrust Pastry
- 2 cups (300g / 10.6 oz.) all-purpose flour, scoop & leveled
- 1/2 cup 70g powdered sugar
- 180 g unsalted butter, cubed and chilled
- 4 Tbsp cold water
Jam Filling
- 1 1/2 – 2 cups (450g – 600g / 20 oz.) strawberry jam, or fruit jam spread of choice
Instructions
- Make Pastry Mixture: In a high-speed food processor, add flour and powdered sugar. Pulse a couple of times to blend. If you don't have a food processor, see notes for an alternative method.
- Blend Butter: Add the chilled cubed butter and pulse for 15 seconds until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- Add Water: Through the vertical shoot, drizzle a tablespoon at a time of the chilled water while pulsing the mixture until it forms a rough dough. If the dough is too dry, add a little more water until it sticks together.
- Knead Dough: Transfer the dough onto a lightly floured surface. Gently knead into a smooth ball, being careful not to over-knead.
- Chill Dough: Flatten the dough into a thick disc and wrap it in plastic cling film. Refrigerate for 15 minutes.
- Prepare for Baking: Preheat the oven to 350ºF (180ºC). Generously grease two 12-hole shallow tart pans (patty pans) with butter. Set aside.
- Roll Dough: Remove the dough from the refrigerator and roll it out on a lightly floured surface into a large circle measuring 4mm-5mm in thickness and about 35cm / 14 inches across.
- Cut Rounds: Using a 6cm/2.4 inch round fluted cookie cutter, cut out the bases.
- Shape Tarts: Place them gently into the greased patty pans. Lightly press the dough into the shallow wells.
- Re-roll and Cut: Repeat with the remaining dough, re-rolling any scraps to make more bases. This recipe makes 24-28 bases.
- Fill Tarts: Spoon 2 level teaspoons of jam into each crust, being careful not to overfill to prevent boiling over during baking.
- Bake: Bake for 15-20 minutes or until the pastry edges look cooked and are pale to very lightly golden in colour. It's okay if some parts of the crust appear paler.
- Cool: Allow to cool in the pan for 10 minutes before removing.
- Remove from Pan: Carefully slide the tarts out from the pan with a butter knife and transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely. They will firm up as they cool. Enjoy!
Notes
- Alternative to Food Processor: In a large bowl, mix flour and icing sugar. Use your hands or a pastry cutter to blend in chilled, cubed butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Gradually add cold water, a tablespoon at a time, stirring until a rough dough forms. Continue with step four as directed in the main method.
- Store: Place jam tarts in an airtight container at room temperature to keep fresh for up to 3 days.
- Freeze: Freeze jam tarts on a baking sheet, then transfer to a freezer-safe bag or container. Store frozen for up to 3 months.
- Thaw: Thaw at room temperature or reheat in the oven at 350°F for 5-10 minutes.
Nutrition
Jam Tarts Recipe
I love the vibrant, tangy flavors of jam, and this jam tarts recipe showcases them beautifully!
With a buttery shortcrust pastry base mixed with a hint of sweetness, each tart is filled to the brim with rich, colorful jam.
The pastry perfectly complements the sweet and fruity filling, making each bite a delightful treat. The best part? You can choose your favorite flavor of jam to fill them with!
Best Tart Recipes
- Lemon Curd Jam Tarts – A zesty twist on the classic, blending the tang of lemon curd with the sweetness of jam.
- Strawberry Jam Thumbprint Cookies – These cookies offer a bite-sized burst of strawberry jam, set in a soft, crumbly cookie.
- Lemon Tart Using Jar of Lemon Curd – Simplify your baking by using jarred lemon curd for a quick and delicious tart.
- Classic Lemon Tart – Master the art of this timeless dessert with a perfect balance of tart and sweet.
Essential Ingredients
The essential ingredients listed below are affiliate links on Amazon so you can easily find and see the exact products I recommend for creating this jam tarts recipe!
Must Have Tools
For making the perfect jam tarts with shortcrust pastry, it’s essential to have these Amazon affiliate tools at your disposal.
Can I use any flavor of jam for these tarts?
Yes, you can use any flavor of jam for these tarts. Popular choices include raspberry, strawberry, apricot, and blackcurrant. Feel free to experiment with different flavors to find your favorite or to use a combination for a colorful assortment.
What pastry are jam tarts made from?
Jam tarts are typically made from shortcrust pastry, which is valued for its buttery texture and firmness that holds up well under the weight of the jam filling.
How do you keep jam from boiling over in tarts?
To prevent jam from boiling over in these mini tarts, fill the tart shells only two-thirds full with jam. I used two level teaspoons of jam per tart shell. Also do not over-bake the tarts, causing the jam to boil over.
Expert Tips
- Measure your baking ingredients accurately: Check out my helpful guide on how to measure basic ingredients.
- Alternative to Food Processor: In a large bowl, mix flour and icing sugar. Use your hands or a pastry cutter to blend in chilled, cubed butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Gradually add cold water, a tablespoon at a time, stirring until a rough dough forms. Continue with step four as directed in the main method.
- Choosing the Right Pan: Opt for a shallow tart pan, commonly referred to as a patty pan, perfect for making these and other similar treats.
- Shortcrust Pastry Thickness: When rolling out your shortcrust pastry, aim for a thickness of about 4mm-5mm. This ensures the tart shells are sturdy enough to hold the fillings without being too thick to reduce the filling capacity.
How to store jam tarts
Store: Place jam tarts in an airtight container at room temperature to keep fresh for up to 3 days.
Freeze: Freeze jam tarts on a baking sheet, then transfer to a freezer-safe bag or container. Store frozen for up to 3 months.
Thaw: Thaw at room temperature or reheat in the oven at 350°F for 5-10 minutes.
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