Description
Delightful Cheese Tarts bring French bakery magic straight to home kitchens with buttery pastry and creamy cheese filling. Rich layers of flavor and delicate textures make these tarts an irresistible treat you’ll want to savor slowly and share with friends.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 8 oz cream cheese
- 2 large eggs
- 1/4 cup milk
Filling Ingredients:
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/3 cup heavy cream
- 2 tbsp sour cream
- 1/4 tsp salt
Seasoning and Garnish:
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp dried chives
- 1 pinch paprika
- 1 tbsp olive oil (for brushing)
Instructions
- Sift flour into a large mixing bowl, then cut cold butter into small cubes and incorporate until the mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs.
- Gradually add cream cheese and eggs to the flour mixture, kneading gently until a smooth, cohesive dough forms.
- Wrap the dough in plastic and refrigerate for 30 minutes to allow the gluten to relax and butter to firm up.
- Preheat the oven to 375°F and lightly grease a muffin tin with olive oil.
- Roll out the chilled dough on a floured surface to approximately 1/8-inch thickness and cut into circles to line the muffin cavities.
- Whisk together shredded cheddar, heavy cream, sour cream, salt, black pepper, and dried chives in a separate bowl to create the filling.
- Pour the cheese mixture evenly into the prepared dough-lined muffin tin, filling each about 3/4 full.
- Brush the exposed dough edges with olive oil for a golden finish.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes until the edges turn golden brown and the filling is set and slightly puffy.
- Remove from oven and let the tarts cool in the tin for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.
- Sprinkle a light dusting of paprika on top before serving warm or at room temperature.
Notes
- Chill the dough thoroughly to prevent shrinkage and ensure a flaky, tender crust during baking.
- Experiment with different cheese blends like gouda, gruyère, or blue cheese to create unique flavor profiles.
- Use room temperature ingredients for smoother mixing and more consistent dough texture.
- For a gluten-free version, substitute all-purpose flour with almond or coconut flour, adjusting liquid ratios accordingly.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 20-25 minutes
- Category: Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 27 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 9 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg