Valentine Tarts

When you think of Valentine’s Day, what comes to mind? The color red, flowers, cards, chocolate, gifts, fancy dinner, dessert, anything in the shape of a heart, a romantic movie?

Today I’m going to give you a recipe that incorporates four of the above listed items: red, chocolate, dessert, and hearts. This recipe makes enough tarts that you can share with neighbors, co-workers, friends, children, and the person you love.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup Butter, softened
• 3 ounces Cream Cheese, softened
• 1 cup Flour
• Red Food Dye
• 1 box White Chocolate Instant Pudding
• Mini Heart Cookie Cutter

Directions:

1. In a medium-size bowl, beat the butter and cream cheese until smooth.
2. Add in a few drops of red food coloring and mix.
3. Add flour. Mix until a soft dough forms.
4. Cover and chill in the refrigerator at least one hour.
5. Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
6. Shape dough into twenty (20) 1-inch balls. Place each ball of dough in the cups of an ungreased mini-muffin pan.
7. Press dough down and up the sides. (Use a mini-tart shaper if you have one.)
8. Pierce the bottom of tart shells with a fork. Bake 10-12 minutes or until light golden brown.
9. While the tart shells bake, roll out the remaining dough. With the cookie cutter, make 20 mini hearts. Place the hearts on a cookie sheet and set in the freezer for fifteen minutes. (This helps the dough from spreading in the oven.)
10. Carefully remove the shells from the pan and place on a cooling rack.
11. Bake the hearts for 10 minutes. Remove from pan and place on a cooling rack.
12. Make the pudding according to directions. Let set in the refrigerator for 5 minutes.
13. Fill each shell with pudding, then place a heart on top of the pudding.

*NOTE: You can also leave the dough white, and add the red food coloring to the pudding. Or make half and half, like I did.

Enjoy this dessert and have a wonderful Valentine’s Day!

Nancy Roe
Author