If using Puff Pastry dough, unroll the dough on to your baking sheet covered with aluminum foil or pastry paper and bake until golden brown at 350 degrees. (About 15 minutes)
Remove dough from oven and cool completely. If using a cookie dough, unroll the dough and form into a rectangle or fit the dough into any shape of pan you wish to use and bake until the dough has baked thoroughly.
Remove from oven and cool for at least an hour.
Mix the pudding with the whipped cream or Cool Whip.
Spread the pudding mixture over the crust to make a 1/4-1/2 of an inch layer.
Top with fruit in any design of your choice.
Using a pastry brush, brush the top of the fruit with the heated jelly or jam.
Sprinkle lightly with nuts and chill or serve.
**Last year, I had a last minute request to make some quick desserts for a light buffet at a friend's house. I had some frozen pastry sheets, heavy cream, prepared pudding cups and a few boxes of fresh berries in the fridge. I'd never made a fruit tart before but thought I'd "fake" a dessert to take with me in hopes that someone might enjoy it. After spending too much time on the WEB looking for a quick recipe, I ran out of time and came up with the recipe concept above which worked! Even I was surprised at the results. The vanilla filling tasted like a good pastry cream that any Chef would be proud to claim as their own. I beamed with pride when asked which bakery the tart came from. After that experiment, I played around using different flavors of pudding mixes and bases such as cookie doughs. You can use your favorite cookie dough recipe or your favorite pie crust recipe. Experiment with the flavors before you put it all together.
I'd also like to add that you can use any No-Bake Cheesecake filling recipe as a great filling. You can even add chopped fruit to it for a sweet flavor. If you use a shortbread base, try the cheesecake filling and then a layer of whipped cream topped with a can of cherry, apple or lemon pie filling over that. Good stuff!
Mascarpone Cheese Filling Recipe 8 ounces of Mascarpone cheese 1/3 cup of heavy whipping cream 1/4 cup of powdered sugar Blend all three ingredients together and use as a filling!
My Favorite Lemon Curd Filling 1 eight ounce jar of lemon curd or your favorite curd recipe, chilled 1/2 whipped heavy cream 2 TB powdered sugar 1 TB fresh lemon zest Mix together and use as a filling. Decorate with blueberries rolled gently in granulated sugar as the topping. You don't need to use a glaze. These make lovely individual tarts. I use a basic shortbread cookie recipe for the base.
--The pictures above all came from the WEB.
**For some great tart recipes, try Jello.com! You can also find some wonderful recipes right here in Grouprecipes.com under tarts.
You can also use yogurt with neufchatel cheese for a low calorie tart!
The Cookie Tart Recipe For 6 Using six large oatmeal cookies Mix one square of neufchatel cheese or cream cheese with a few tablespoons of flavored or plain yogurt.
Spread the mixture over the cookies. Save the extra mix for your muffins, bagels or for another snack.
Slice apples thinly and place on top of mixture. Serve to children as a healthy snack!
No-Bake Cheesecake Filling 8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature ½ cup sugar 2 tablespoons sour cream 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice Mix this all together and fill individual tart shells or one large tart shell or base!
Emergency 5 Minute Mini-tarts Recipe A box of Vanilla Wafers Whipped cream, prepared pudding or yogurt with fruit in it A few berries or whole nutmeats such as walnuts Just place a dollop or teaspoon of filling on top of the small cookie and place two berries or a slice of fruit on top or place a whole walnut on top.
