Mini Cheddar Tarts Recipes

TOMATO AND CHEDDAR TARTLETS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Unroll 1 pie dough into a round. Arrange three 4 1/4-inch nonstick tartlet pans on the dough and use a paring knife to cut a circle of dough around each that is about 1/2 inch larger than the pan; these don't have to be perfect, but you want to make sure you cut enough excess dough to fill the pan and up the sides. Press the dough evenly into each pan; if any excess dough goes over the top, simply use the top edge of the tartlet pan to cut it away. Use a fork to dock the bottom of the pie crusts. Repeat this process with 3 more tartlet pans and the remaining pie dough. Place the 6 tartlet pans on a baking sheet and put in the freezer for 10 minutes.
• In a medium bowl, toss together the cherry tomatoes, garlic, salt and pepper. Let the tomatoes sit for 10 to 15 minutes for the flavors to combine.
• Bake the crusts until the dough is cooked part of the way through without any color and bubbles form on the bottom and sides, about 6 minutes. Let cool slightly.
• To each tartlet, add about 3 tablespoons of grated Cheddar and spread evenly over the bottom. Top the cheese in each with 8 tomato halves cut-side up, making sure to get some garlic with each tomato. Bake until the crusts are golden brown, the cheese is bubbling and the tomatoes are softened but have not burst, about 30 minutes. Let cool until cool enough to handle, 5 to 10 minutes. Remove the tartlets from the tart pans and garnish with small basil leaves.
• These tartlets can be stored in the refrigerator after they have cooled completely and reheated in the oven the next day for great leftovers!

MINI CHEDDAR TARTS

Steps:

• Beat margarine and cream cheese together, work in flour to form a ball.
• Divide the dough into 24 equal pieces.
• Press into mini tart tins.
• Divide cheese evenly among tarts.
• Beat egg until frothy, add milk, green onion and spices.
• Spoon into tarts and bake @ 350
• Variations: substitute the cheddar cheese for feta and the green onion for finely chopped black olives.
• Greek style tarts.

CHEESY ARTICHOKE MINI TARTS

Steps:

• Gently press wonton wrappers into miniature muffins cups coated with cooking spray, allowing edges to extend above cups. Spritz edges with cooking spray. , In a large bowl, combine the cream cheese, cheddar cheese, mustard and cayenne until blended. Stir in artichokes and red pepper. Spoon into wonton cups., Bake at 350° for 18-20 minutes or until cheese mixture is set and wontons are lightly browned. Garnish with dill or tarragon if desired.

MINI FRUIT TARTS

Steps:

• Stir flour, sugar, and salt together in a large bowl. Cut in butter using a pastry cutter or 2 knives until the texture resembles coarse cornmeal, with butter pieces the size of small peas. Mix in water with a fork just until the dough comes together.
• Toss berries, sugar, flour, and salt together in a bowl to make the filling. Set aside at room temperature.
• Lightly butter or grease 14 muffin cups. Place some dough in each muffin cup and press it against the bottoms and sides to create tart shells that are 1/8- to 1/4-inch thick. Divide berry filling evenly among the tart shells.
• Position a rack in the lower third of the oven and preheat to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Refrigerate tarts for 15 minutes while the oven preheats.
• Bake tarts in the preheated oven until crust is golden brown and filling is bubbling, 15 to 18 minutes.

MINI CHEESECAKE TARTS

Steps:

• Beat cream cheeses at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth; add sugar and flour, and beat well.
• Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating until blended after each addition.
• Stir in extracts.
• Lightly coat 6 (4-inch) tart pans with removable bottoms with vegetable cooking spray; sprinkle pans evenly with gingersnap crumbs, shaking to coat bottom and sides of pans.
• (Let excess crumbs remain, evenly covering bottom of each tart pan.)
• Place tart pans on a baking sheet.
• Divide cheesecake batter evenly between tart pans.
• Bake at 350° for 18 to 20 minutes or until set.
• Remove from oven, and let cool on a wire rack 30 minutes; remove from tart pans. (A pancake turner works great for removing the tarts from the bottom of the pans and transferring them to a serving platter.)
• Divide fruit evenly, and arrange decoratively over each cheesecake.
• Garnish with mint, if desired.