Ingredients
Equipment
Method
Shortbread Crust
- Add flour, powdered sugar, salt and cold cubed butter to a food processor and pulse until it has the consistency of course sand.
- Add vanilla, egg yolk and cold water to the food processor and pulse until mixture begins to clump.
- If dough does not hold its shape when pinched together add an additional Tablespoon of cold water until it reaches the correct consistency.
- Transfer dough to a floured surface. Divide into two equal portions, shape each into a ball then flatten into a disk. Cover each disk with plastic wrap and chill for 30 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Remove one dough disk from the refrigerator and divide into 4 equal portions.
- Dust each portion lightly with flour then press into the bottom and up the sides of 4 mini tart pans. Trim away any excess dough and prick the bottom of the crust multiple times to prevent the dough from puffing while baking.
- Place mini tart pans on a baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes until lightly golden.
- Remove tartlet pans from the oven and place on a wire rack to cool. Repeat process with remaining dough disk in the refrigerator.
- Cool crusts completely before removing rims from tartlet pans and adding strawberry filling.
Strawberry Cheesecake Filling
- Puree strawberries in a blender until smooth.
- Strain strawberries through a mesh sieve. Discard seeds and return strained strawberries to the blender.
- Add granulated sugar, powdered gelatin, cream cheese and vanilla then blend on high until smooth and lump free. Set aside.
- In a separate bowl, beat heavy whipping cream with an electric mixer until stiff peaks form.
- Add strawberry filling to heavy whipping cream then gently fold with a rubber spatula until combined. Note: If the mixture is lumpy, give it a quick whisk by hand until smooth.
- Pour equal amounts of filling into each of the shortbread crusts then smooth the tops with an offset spatula. Refrigerate tarts for a few hours until set then cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
- Garnish tartlets with sliced strawberries before serving if desired.
- Cover leftovers and store in the refrigerator up to 5 days.
