Mini lemon meringue tarts

Mini lemon meringue tarts

1 h
Savour these beautiful mini lemon meringue tarts, a timeless classic that artfully combines a crisp shortcrust base, tangy lemon curd, and sweet meringue. Perfectly embodying the essence of spring, these delicious tarts bring a burst of refreshing citrus flavour to your Easter celebrations. Their elegant appearance and delectable flavour make them a stellar addition to any dessert table, offering a bright and joyful end to your festive meals or serving as a sweet treat to an afternoon tea or coffee break.
https://www.arlafoods.co.uk/recipes/mini-lemon-meringue-tarts/

Instructions

Shortcrust pastry
  • Mix flour and icing sugar.
  • Cut butter into small pieces and crumble it into the flour mixture.
  • Combine the dough with water and distribute it into 12 small tartlet moulds, pressing it thoroughly onto the sides.
  • Chill in the fridge for at least 1 hour.
  • Preheat the oven to 200°C (conventional oven).
  • Bake the tarts in the middle of the oven for about 15 minutes. Carefully remove them from the moulds and let them cool completely on a wire rack.
Lemon curd filling
  • Melt butter with lemon zest and lemon juice.
  • Whisk egg yolks, whites, and sugar in a thick-bottomed saucepan.
  • Gradually add the warm butter mixture.
  • Heat the mixture over medium heat, stirring constantly, for 3-5 minutes until it thickens.
  • Optionally, strain it to remove the lemon zest, then distribute it into the tart crusts. Chill the tarts in the fridge for at least 1 hour.
Meringue
  • Just before serving, whisk egg whites, sugar, and lemon juice until the sugar dissolves and it becomes a stiff meringue, about 5 minutes.
  • Add the meringue to the tarts using a piping bag or spoon. Lightly torch the meringue with a kitchen torch and decorate the tarts with edible flowers.
Enjoy!
Tips

If you do not have a kitchen torch, you can torch the meringue for about 2 minutes under the grill at the top of the oven with the door open. Watch them closely – the meringue should just start to colour, and it happens quickly.

Tips

Instead of these mini lemon meringue tarts, you can make one large tart. In that case, the baking time is about 20 minutes, and you will need a tart mould of 23-25 cm.

Tips

Once your tarts have been baked and cooled, it is best to store them in the fridge. Cover them loosely with cling film or place them in an airtight container to prevent them from absorbing any odours from the fridge. They are best enjoyed within 1-2 days after baking to ensure the best texture and flavour. Keep in mind that the meringue may start to weep and lose its stability over time, especially if exposed to humidity or temperature fluctuations. So, we recommend consuming the tarts relatively soon after making them.

Ingredients

Shortcrust pastry
Wheat flour
175 g
Icing sugar
3 tbsp
Butter
100 g
Water
1½ tbsp
Lemon curd filling
Butter
100 g
Finely grated lemon zest (unsprayed)
1½ tbsp
Lemon juice, freshly squeezed
50 ml
Egg yolks
4
Egg whites
2
Sugar
85 g
Meringue (just before serving)
Egg whites
2
Sugar
4 tbsp
Lemon juice, freshly squeezed
½ tsp
Garnish
Edible flowers

Make charming mini lemon meringue tarts

Create these delightful mini lemon meringue tarts to impress everyone at the table. With their elegant looks and delicate yellow colours, they encapsulate the essence of spring and are perfect as an Easter dessert. With their crisp base, zesty lemon filling, and sweet meringue topping, these tarts are a harmonious blend of flavours and textures that will be simply impossible to resist.

A crisp base, a fresh lemon filling, and a sweet meringue topping

The base of the tarts is a classic shortcrust pastry providing the ideal balance between crispness and tenderness and setting the stage for the vibrant lemon filling. The tangy notes of lemon zest and lemon juice come together to create a refreshingly citrusy filling. To crown it all, soft peaks of whipped meringue add sweetness and elegance, making every bite a delightful symphony of flavour and texture.

Serve the small lemon meringue tarts as an afternoon or evening treat

These charming mini lemon meringue tarts are not only a visual delight but also taste incredible. Consider serving them with a cup of tea or coffee in the afternoon; the zesty lemon curd and sweet meringue provide a sumptuous contrast that pairs beautifully with your favourite brew. Or present them as a sweet conclusion to an evening meal or a gathering with guests. Their size makes them perfect for individual servings, so you can create a memorable dessert experience for your family and friends. Whether it is a midday indulgence or an elegant dinner finale, these tangy tarts with creamy sweet meringue are sure to please any palate. For other individual dessert servings, try our moist mini carrot muffins, flavourful lemon biscuits, or our sweet apple and carrot muffins.

Add a personal touch

You can easily shake things up if you are in the mood to experiment a bit. Add a citrusy twist by exploring other citrus flavours like orange or lime zest for a delightful variation. The mini tarts are already beautiful with their edible flowers and torched meringue, but you can also adorn them with citrus slices or a sprinkle of icing sugar. You can also experiment with various tart moulds or shapes to craft individual mini tarts, each with its distinctive character.