Description
Delightful Japanese Cheese Tarts bring a creamy, melt-in-your-mouth experience straight from Tokyo’s culinary scene. Sweet and tangy flavors dance across your palate, promising a delectable journey through Japanese pastry craftsmanship you won’t soon forget.
Ingredients
Scale
Tart Shell Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 cups (192 grams) all-purpose flour
- 8 1/2 tablespoons (120 grams) unsalted butter, cubed
- 1/2 cup (60 grams) powdered sugar
- 1 egg yolk
Filling Ingredients:
- 1 cup (226 grams) cream cheese
- 2/3 cup (160 milliliters) heavy whipping cream
- 1/2 cup (60 grams) powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
Egg Wash:
- 1 egg yolk
- 1/2 tablespoon (7.5 milliliters) milk or water
Instructions
- Transform flour, powdered sugar, and butter into a crumbly texture using gentle fingertip mixing, ensuring no large butter chunks remain. Incorporate egg yolk and knead until a uniform, smooth dough emerges.
- Delicately press the prepared dough into precise 2.6-inch tart molds, meticulously trimming excess edges. Use a fork to create strategic perforations across the dough’s bottom surface.
- Heat oven to 410F. Position tart shells in the oven and bake for 15 minutes until achieving a uniform golden-brown coloration. Allow shells to completely cool before carefully extracting from molds.
- Extract cream cheese and permit it to reach room temperature naturally. Blend cream cheese with powdered sugar, whisking until achieving a silky, lump-free consistency.
- Introduce heavy whipping cream systematically in three separate additions, thoroughly integrating after each pour. Fold cornstarch gently into the mixture, ensuring complete and even distribution.
- Transfer cheese filling into a piping bag and carefully fill the cooled tart shells. Place assembled tarts in the freezer for 4 hours, allowing them to solidify completely.
- Preheat oven once more to 410F. Craft an egg wash by combining egg yolk with milk, then delicately brush over frozen tart surfaces. Bake for 15 minutes until exterior appears gloriously golden.
- Present tarts with versatility – enjoy warm for a molten experience, chilled for refreshing texture, or frozen for a unique sensory adventure.
Notes
- Chilling the dough before rolling helps prevent shrinkage and creates a more stable tart shell with crisp edges.
- Use room temperature ingredients to ensure smooth, lump-free filling and easier mixing.
- For a gluten-free version, substitute all-purpose flour with almond flour or a gluten-free blend to accommodate dietary restrictions.
- Consider adding a hint of vanilla extract or lemon zest to the cheese filling for an extra layer of flavor complexity.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Japanese
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 174 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 56 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 10 g
- Fiber: 0.3 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 67 mg