Almond Tarts

A friend gave me this recipe. She got it from a King Arthur Flour catalog. That catalog has everything! These tarts are great! My friend decorates them with piped flowers for showers & teas.

• Ready In: 58 mins
• Serves: 30
• Yields: 2 1/2 dozen

Ingredients

• Dough

• 1  cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1⁄4 cup granulated sugar
• 1  cup confectioners' sugar
• 1⁄8 teaspoon salt
• 1  large egg
• 1  teaspoon vanilla
• 2 1⁄4 cups  king arthur all-purpose flour

• Filling

• 3⁄4 cup almond paste
• 1⁄2 cup sugar
• 1  pinch salt
• 1⁄4 teaspoon  almond extract
• 1  drop  bitter  almond oil (optional) or 1  drop  butternut flavoring (optional)
• 2  large eggs
• 1⁄2 cup  raspberry jam

• Glaze

• 1  cup confectioners' sugar
• 4 -5  teaspoons water
•  food coloring (optional)

Directions

1. For dough: Beat the butter, sugars, and salt until fluffy. Add the egg and vanilla, and mix well. Stir in the flour until well blended, then refrigerate the dough for 30 minutes or longer.
2. Shaping: Place a rounded teaspoon of dough (about 1/2 oz.)into each ungreased mini-muffin cup. With floured fingers or a tart tamper, press the dough up the sides of the cups to form the floor and walls of the crust. Place the crusts in the refrigerator to chill while preparing the filling.
3. Filling: Crumble the almond paste into a small bowl. Blend in the sugar, salt and extract(s). Add one egg at a time to the almond paste, mixing well after each addition until there are no lumps.
4. Assembly and Baking: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Place a slightly rounded 1/4 teaspoon of the raspberry jam into each dough-filled cup. Top with almond filling. The almond filling should come to the top of the dough. Bake the tarts for 24 to 28 minutes, until they're puffed and golden brown. Allow the tarts to cool in the pan for about 10 minutes before turning them out to cool completely. While they cool, make the glaze.
5. Glaze: In a small bowl, mix the confectioners' sugar with the water until dissolved. Add the food coloring, if you're using it. Drizzle the glaze over the tarts. The tarts store well for 3 - 4 days in airtight containers; freeze them for longer storage.