
A historical dessert from The White House cook book; a comprehensive cyclopedia of information for the home .. (1913). Dip the round cutter in hot water to make smooth edges. Prick holes in the bottom with a fork before baking to prevent puffing.
Preserved exactly as written in the original source
Roll the trimmings of puff paste a little thicker than for ordinary pies
Cut out with a round cutter, first dipped in hot water, to make the edges smooth
Place in small tart-pans, first pricking a few holes at the bottom with a fork
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Bake from ten to fifteen minutes
Let the paste cool a little
Fill with preserve
Modern guidance to help you succeed with this vintage recipe
Pricking holes in the pastry bottom allows steam to escape during baking, preventing the shells from puffing up and creating a stable base for the preserves. Dipping the cutter in hot water melts the butter slightly at the cut edge, creating a clean seal that helps the layers adhere and rise evenly. Using puff paste trimmings works well because the layered structure has already been established through previous rolling and folding, requiring only gentle re-rolling to maintain flakiness.
The unfilled baked tartlet shells can be made up to 2 days ahead and stored in an airtight container at room temperature. Re-crisp in a 300°F oven for 3 to 5 minutes before filling. Fill the shells no more than 2 hours before serving to maintain crispness.
Filled tartlets are best eaten the day they are assembled. Store any leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 day, though the pastry will soften. Unfilled baked shells can be frozen for up to 1 month; thaw at room temperature and re-crisp in a low oven before filling.
AI-generated tips from Chef Cecil's culinary database
The unfilled baked tartlet shells can be made up to 2 days ahead and stored in an airtight container at room temperature. Re-crisp in a 300°F oven for 3 to 5 minutes before filling. Fill the shells no more than 2 hours before serving to maintain crispness.
Filled tartlets are best eaten the day they are assembled. Store any leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 day, though the pastry will soften. Unfilled baked shells can be frozen for up to 1 month; thaw at room temperature and re-crisp in a low oven before filling.