Maple Butter Tarts with Currants
(Christine Cushing)
Yield: 10
Pastry
2 2/3 cups all-purpose flour (650 ml)
Pinch salt
1/2 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces (125 ml)
2/3 cup cold vegetable shortening (150 ml)
1/2 cup plus 2 tbsp. ice water (150 ml)
Filling
1 egg
1/2 cup packed brown sugar (125 ml)
1/2 cup maple syrup (125 ml)
1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted (60 ml)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract (5 ml)
1/4 teaspoon salt (1 ml)
Assembly
3/4 cup currants (150 ml) (I soak the currants in warm rum for about an hour and then drain them before putting into the tart shells.)
Pastry
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Sift dry ingredients together. With a pastry cutter, blend in the butter and shortening until the mixture resembles coarse meal. Add the ice water gradually until dough forms. Pat dough into a flat disk, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least an hour.
Roll the dough 1/4-inch thick. With a cookie cutter, cut out ten 41/2-inch circles. Press the circles into 10 cups of a muffin tin. Put the muffin tin in the freezer for 20 minutes. Bake for 30 minutes, or until pastry is golden and set. Cool on a wire rack.
Filling
In a medium bowl, lightly beat together the egg, brown sugar, maple syrup, butter, vanilla and salt.
Assembly
Divide the currants among the shells. Pour the mixture into the shells and bake until set, about 15 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes. Remove tarts from pan and cool on a wire rack.
(Christine Cushing)
Yield: 10
Pastry
2 2/3 cups all-purpose flour (650 ml)
Pinch salt
1/2 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces (125 ml)
2/3 cup cold vegetable shortening (150 ml)
1/2 cup plus 2 tbsp. ice water (150 ml)
Filling
1 egg
1/2 cup packed brown sugar (125 ml)
1/2 cup maple syrup (125 ml)
1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted (60 ml)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract (5 ml)
1/4 teaspoon salt (1 ml)
Assembly
3/4 cup currants (150 ml) (I soak the currants in warm rum for about an hour and then drain them before putting into the tart shells.)
Pastry
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Sift dry ingredients together. With a pastry cutter, blend in the butter and shortening until the mixture resembles coarse meal. Add the ice water gradually until dough forms. Pat dough into a flat disk, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least an hour.
Roll the dough 1/4-inch thick. With a cookie cutter, cut out ten 41/2-inch circles. Press the circles into 10 cups of a muffin tin. Put the muffin tin in the freezer for 20 minutes. Bake for 30 minutes, or until pastry is golden and set. Cool on a wire rack.
Filling
In a medium bowl, lightly beat together the egg, brown sugar, maple syrup, butter, vanilla and salt.
Assembly
Divide the currants among the shells. Pour the mixture into the shells and bake until set, about 15 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes. Remove tarts from pan and cool on a wire rack.