In the middle of what proves to be a difficult week, the best thing to do is bake a pie, or lots of little ones. Wednesday night I was feeling a bit blue and had just about had it with my stress level. So, I decided to take it out on a batch of innocent pie dough and a bunch of sweet blueberries. Simple: pulse flour, sugar, butter, salt in the food processor until it comes together, wrap in plastic, place it in the fridge (slamming the door shut if needed) and go to bed...
{photos by Freutcake}
The next morning: roll dough into 24 little balls and smash those balls flat. Still feeling blue? Push dough into mini muffin tins forming shells, mix up a simple fresh blueberry filling (delicate hand not needed), fill tarts, and pop those babies in the oven. Next: Feel satisfied as you ruthlessly beat the whipped cream and relax as the smell of bubbling fruit, vanilla and buttery crust begin to perfume your kitchen. In 25 minutes your tarts will be done and you will be treating yourself to a well-deserved bite of heaven. I should have named this...No More Feeling Blue-berry Pie! Try this recipe out for yourself over the weekend; these tarts are beyond delicious and guaranteed to make you feel better in no time!
Blueberry Vanilla Bean Mini Tarts
Makes 24
Crust- via Martha Stewart Pies & Tarts
1 cup plus 2 Tablespoons all purpose flour, plus more for dusting
¼ cup confectioners' sugar
pinch of salt
6 Tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into cubes
2 to 3 Tablespoons ice water
1. Pulse flour, confectioners' sugar, and salt in a food processor to combine. Add butter, and pulse until the mixture resembles coarse meal. Add the water, 1 Tablespoon at a time, and pulse just until dough comes together into a ball. *Don't add too much water, the amount noted will be enough. Shape dough into disk, wrap in plastic and refrigerate 1 hour or up to 1 day.
2. Cut dough into 24 evenly sized pieces with a knife. On a lightly floured surface roll the dough into balls and flatten into 3-inch rounds. Press rounds into the bottom and up the sides of a 24-cup non stick mini muffin pan. Refrigerate or freeze until firm- 30 minutes.
3. Preheat oven to 400 degrees and make the filling.
Blueberry Vanilla Bean Filling
¼ cup granulated sugar
1 Tablespoon cornstarch
1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
1 Tablespoon fresh lemon juice
pinch of salt
½ of a vanilla bean (seeds) scraped
2 cups fresh blueberries washed and dried
4. Stir together all filling ingredients making sure that the berries are evenly coated. Fill each shell evenly. Bake until crusts are golden brown and filling is bubbling, about 25 minutes. Let cool 10 minutes in the pan before running a knife around tarts. Remove from tins and let cool completely on a wire rack. Dollop with vanilla bean whipped cream and serve.
Vanilla Bean whipped cream- This is a sweet cream, you can add less sugar depending on your taste.
1 cup heavy whipping cream
¼ cup granulated sugar
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
½ of a vanilla bean (seeds) scraped
Whip cream until almost stiff. Add sugar and both types of vanilla; beat until cream holds peaks. Dollop on top of cooled tarts. Enjoy!
Kelsey @ K&K Test Kitchen says
I definitely need a no-more feeling blueberry pie! And I think I may have found dessert for my Oscar watching party (or maybe with raspberries?).
freutcake says
Kelsey- yes, these would be good with any berries or a mix! 🙂
Leahs husband says
One of the most delicious lil guys I have eaten in a while. My wife not only is the most beautiful woman on earth but is also the most amazing baker ever! The combo with the vanilla whipped cream make this a must try and it is just over the top!
rachael adele // for the love of design says
these look amaaazing. why does everything seem so much better in mini form?
freutcake says
I'm not sure why but I totally agree! 🙂
Jackie, One of the Two Chums says
Those tarts look adorable, Leah! Really adorable! I am sure they taste amazing.
freutcake says
Thank you so much Jackie! Mini baked goods are can't help but be adorable if you ask me!
Melissa // thefauxmartha says
The husband and I call this month the February Blues. Love your remedy!
freutcake says
Melissa- that is just what it is, February Blues. Thank goodness for pie!
Dana Gastelum says
hahaha I love this! I'm definitely in need of these after this week! 😉
Hope you have a MOST fabulous weekend Leah!
freutcake says
You too Dana! 🙂
Lisa Moulthrop says
Looks delicious!
Martha says
Oh! These look amazing and I will definitely be making them this weekend! Thanks for sharing... Glad that something good came out of something bad! 🙂
freutcake says
Thank you Martha! I hope you like them. Have a great weekend!
Lane Culpepper says
YUM! Those need to be in my mouth right now.
Lane Culpepper says
Hope you are feeling better now 🙂
Two Chums says
Oh my husband and all our soon to be loaded blueberry bushes thank you....these will be a
huge hit in my home 🙂
Anouska says
Those sound amazing!
Jess [tenpenny splendid] says
Baking therapy is definitely the greatest. I think I have to try those soon, blues or not.. they look amazing! 🙂
Jen @ Pretty Plate says
So cute, so delicious...
: ))
Jen
Angela says
Can you make these the night before an event, or is it better to make them the same day?
freutcake says
Angela- these blueberry tarts were equally as good the next day! Refrigerate tarts over night, bring to room temp and top with whipped cream before serving.