Nut Tarts

Looking for a delicious treat to indulge in during cozy evenings at home or to impress guests at your next gathering? Nut tarts are the perfect combination of buttery, flaky pastry and a rich, nutty filling that is sure to please your palate. These delightful little pastries are versatile and can be made with your choice of nuts, such as almonds, pecans, or walnuts. Let’s dive into this easy and scrumptious recipe for nut tarts that will have everyone asking for seconds!

Nut Tarts

**Ingredients:**
– 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
– ½ teaspoon salt
– ½ cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed
– 1/3 cup cold water
– 1 cup mixed nuts (almonds, pecans, walnuts), chopped
– ½ cup brown sugar
– 1/3 cup honey
– 2 eggs
– 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
– ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
– Pinch of salt

**Instructions:**

1. **Prepare the Pastry Dough:**
– In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour and salt. Add the cold, cubed butter.
– Use a pastry cutter or two forks to cut the butter into the flour until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
– Slowly add the cold water, a little at a time, and mix until the dough comes together. Be careful not to overwork the dough.
– Shape the dough into a disk, wrap it in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.

2. **Preheat the Oven:**
– Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and grease a muffin tin.

3. **Make the Nut Filling:**
– In a medium bowl, whisk together the brown sugar, honey, eggs, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and a pinch of salt until well combined.
– Stir in the chopped nuts until they are evenly coated with the mixture.

4. **Assemble the Nut Tarts:**
– On a lightly floured surface, roll out the chilled pastry dough to about 1/8 inch thickness.
– Using a round cutter or a drinking glass, cut out circles slightly larger than the muffin tin openings.
– Gently press the pastry circles into the muffin tin, shaping them to fit the cups.
– Divide the nut filling evenly among the pastry-lined muffin cups.

5. **Bake the Nut Tarts:**
– Place the muffin tin in the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the pastry is golden brown and the filling is set.
– Remove the nut tarts from the oven and let them cool in the tin for a few minutes.
– Carefully transfer the tarts to a wire rack to cool completely before serving.

6. **Serve and Enjoy:**
– These nut tarts are best enjoyed warm or at room temperature. They make a delightful dessert on their own or can be served with a dollop of whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
– Store any leftover nut tarts in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.

Nut tarts are a wonderful addition to any occasion, whether you’re hosting a gathering or simply treating yourself to a homemade dessert. The combination of buttery pastry and crunchy nuts with hints of sweetness from the brown sugar and honey creates a delightful bite-sized treat that is sure to please. Have fun experimenting with different nut combinations and enjoy the simple pleasure of baking these delicious nut tarts in the comfort of your own home.