We’re continuing Back to School week here and we’ve survived the first two days of school. Woo-hoo! Unfortunately the first week of school proves to be a lot of homework and paper filling out for the moms. Nothing to get to stressed out over but my kids LOVE telling me when they get off the bus that I have homework. The getting up early part is killing me. My husband and I are avid night owls and I can count on one hand in the past 10 years that we’ve gone to bed before 11:00 pm.

These Mini Berry Tarts come from my friend Julie over at Lovely Little Kitchen. I’ve known Julie since we were kids! Her site is full of fresh and beautiful food and I was thrilled when she shared this recipe with me. If you want to surprise your kids with a treat, these Mini Berry Tarts are the perfect size for a little indulgent after school snack.

They start with Pillsbury sugar cookie dough filled with a creamy mixture and topped with fresh fruit. The crunch of the cookie shell with the smooth filling is perfect.

mini-berry-tarts spoon

The trick to making the little cups is to use the handle of any kitchen tool you have to form the cups.

Mini Berry Tarts

No ratings yet
Sugar cookie dough makes little cups to be filled with cream cheese and fresh berries.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Servings: 24 mini tarts

Ingredients

  • 1 16.5 ounce package Pillsbury refrigerated sugar cookie dough
  • 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 2 tablespoons heavy cream
  • cups powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 quart of strawberries chopped into small pieces, or whole raspberries

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees and spray a mini muffin pan generously with cooking spray.
  • Fill each section with a 1 inch ball of sugar cookie dough trying to make sure that the dough is distributed evenly. Try not to let the dough go over the edge of the pan to prevent sticking.
  • Bake the tarts for about 10-12 minutes or until golden brown.
  • Let them cool for about a minute. Gently press the center of the tart to make space for the cream cheese filling. You can use anything you want here to do this. I used the handle of my whisk.
  • Allow the tarts to cool in the pan for 5 minutes and then gently twist to loosen the edges and remove from the pan to a cooling rack or use a knife to loosen the edges. I found that placing them in the fridge allows them to cool faster and makes removing easy. If yours are difficult to remove, try filling them with less dough, greasing more thoroughly, or allowing them to cool longer.
  • For the filling: In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese and heavy cream with an electric mixer until fluffy and smooth.
  • With the mixer on low speed, add the powdered sugar a little at a time until smooth and creamy. Feel free to add more powdered sugar if you like the filling a bit firmer.
  • Beat in the vanilla extract.
  • Fill a piping bag or ziplock bag with the filling mixture and pipe into each tart.
  • Top with small pieces of strawberry, or a whole raspberry.
  • Keep refrigerated until ready to serve.
  • Tarts will soften as they are stored in the refrigerator so serve the same day.

Notes

Shells can be made ahead of time and frozen until needed.
Source: Julie from Lovely Little Kitchen
Cuisine: American
Course: Dessert

 For some great Back To School Breakfasts and After School Snacks recipes here are a couple of my friends:Raspberry Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Rolls by Inside BruCrew LifeRaspberry Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Rolls by Inside BruCrew Life

Raspberry Cobbler Crumb Crispies by Chef in TrainingRaspberry Cobbler Crumb Crispies by Chef in Training

Mini Berry Tarts by The Girl Who Ate EverythingMini Berry Tarts by The Girl Who Ate Everything

Cinnamon Sugar Fritters by Something SwankyCinnamon Sugar Fritters by Something Swanky

Grilled Cheese Bites by Sweet BasilGrilled Cheese Bites by Sweet Basil

Lemon Blueberry Turnovers by Sweet Treats and MoreLemon Blueberry Turnovers by Sweet Treats and More

Chocolate Hazelnut Stuffed Donut Holes by Taste and TellChocolate Hazelnut Stuffed Donut Holes by Taste and Tell