The overwhelming consensus is a thumbs up for this margarita in disguise! Plus our rogue baker this week is Sarah, who revisits the popular pumpkin chocolate chip loaf.
a sweet journey through baked: frontiers | explorations | elements | occasions
by Sheri
The overwhelming consensus is a thumbs up for this margarita in disguise! Plus our rogue baker this week is Sarah, who revisits the popular pumpkin chocolate chip loaf.
by Sheri
Leave your links here for these sweet little tarts!
by susan
Next up is: Sunrise Key Lime Tarts
Recipe source: Baked Explorations, p. 43
Leave your links on Sunday, April 14th
Yield: Eight 4-inch tarts
For the Pretzel Crust
5 ounces (1 ¼ sticks) unsalted butter
2 tablespoons firmly packed dark brown sugar
1 1/2 generous cups (about 6 ounces) salted thin pretzel sticks, ground
For the Key Lime Filling
3 large egg yolks, at room temperature
14 ounces (1 can) sweetened condensed milk
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons fresh Key lime juice (about 12 to 15 Key limes)
Zest of 2 Key limes or 1 regular Persian lime (about 1 tablespoon)
2 tablespoons good-quality tequila
1 tablespoon triple sec or orange juice
For the topping
1 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
Zest of 4 Key limes or 2 regular Persian limes (about 2 tablespoons)
8 thin slices of Key lime (optional)
Baked Note: Key limes, smaller and more tart than the traditional, ubiquitous Persian lime, are quite obviously associated with the Florida Keys. They have a thinner rind, more seeds, and are less juicy (i.e., you will need many more Key limes than you would Persians to get the requisite amount of juice in this recipe). Outside of Florida, Key limes can be difficult to track down and expensive. You can substitute Persian limes (their juice and their zest) in this recipe without worry: the amount of juice and zest is a one-to-one substitution, though you will need fewer Persian limes overall to get there.
Make the Pretzel Crust
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Lightly spray a paper towel with vegetable oil and use it to apply the oil to the sides and bottom of eight 4-inch tart pans with removable bottoms. Place the tart pans on a baking sheet.
In a food processor, pulse the pretzels into a fine crumb (it is okay if you have a few coarse pieces in the mix).
In a medium saucepan over low heat, melt the butter. Whisk in the brown sugar and remove from the heat. Add the pretzel crumbs and stir until combined—the mixture should look like wet sand. Place about 3 tablespoons of the crumb mixture in each prepared tart pan. Using your fingers or the bottom of a small metal measuring cup, press the mixture into the bottom and up the sides of each tart pan.
Bake the tarts on the baking sheet for about 10 minutes (the tops will appear set), then remove from the oven and set aside to cool completely.
Increase the oven temperature to 350 degrees F.
Make the Key Lime Filling
In a large bowl, whisk the egg yolks with the sweetened condensed milk until well blended. Add the lime juice, lime zest, tequila, and triple sec and whisk until combined and slightly thickened. Divide the filling among the prepared tart pans and bake on the baking sheet for 10 to 12 minutes, until filling appears set. Transfer the pan to a wire rack to cool completely, then refrigerate the tarts until the tops are cool to the touch, about 2 hours.
Make the topping
Pour the cream into a chilled metal bowl and beat it with a chilled whisk for about 1 minute. Sprinkle the granulated sugar and zest on top and continue whisking vigorously until soft peaks form.
To serve, gently push up on the tart bottoms to release the tarts from their pans. Top with the whipped topping and one thinly sliced lime pinwheel, if desired
These tarts taste best if eaten within 24 hours but can be stored in the refrigerator, tightly covered, for up to 2 days.
Excerpted from Baked Elements: Our 10 Favorite Ingredients by Matt Lewis and Renato Poliafito. Copyright © 2012 by Matt Lewis and Renato Poliafito. Excerpted by permission of Stewart, Tabori & Chang, an imprint of Abrams. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.