holiday fruit tarts!

fruit tarts might be one of my favorite desserts. i especially love it when the custard filling softens up the crust and makes it all soggy. =) the crust recipe i used seemed to be more like a crumbly cookie (shortbread-like) and i'll probably try a different one next time....it was a bit too dry and didn't stay together very well. however, the pastry cream recipe was excellent!! and i have lots of it leftover since i made mini tarts instead of a big one - which means i will be making MORE fruit tarts.

pastry cream recipe

ingredients:

1 1/4 cups whole milk (i used 1/2 heavy whipping cream and 1/2 2% milk)

1 tsp vanilla extract

3 egg yolks

1/2 cup castor sugar

3 T cornstarch

3 T unsalted butter

directions:

1. bring the milk to a boil over med heat and then remove from heat.

2. whisk together yolks, sugar and cornstarch until thick and pale. slowly drizzle the hot milk onto the yolks (whisking the whole time!)

3. put the pan on med heat and bring the mixture to a boil (still whisking the whole time!) - keep whisking for another 1-2 minutes while it is at a boil then remove the pan from heat and scrape the pastry cream into a bowl.

4. stir in the vanilla extract.

5. let it cool for a couple minutes and then stir in small chunks of the butter until all the butter is melted and incorporated. chill the cream thoroughly.