June 26, 2017 39 Comments

Blackberry Tarts ~ Garden to Table

Name: Blackberry Tarts
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 60 min
Ingredients: 1 recipe - Double Crust Pastry (See link in notes); 6 cups fresh blackberries, rinsed and well drained (divided); 1/2 cup granulated sugar, plus extra for sprinkling; 1/4 cup cornstarch; Juice of 1/2 lemon if berries are not tart (optional); 1 large egg; 1 tablespoon milk

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Blackberry Tarts ~ juicy, ripe blackberries nestled in a buttery, flaky crust for an iconic, all American summer dessert.

Made with fresh from our garden blackberries, these delicious tarts bring back memories of summers gone by. I remember as a young girl, enjoying the annual event of blackberry picking with my parents and siblings. It was an early morning adventure, usually around the 4th of July, where we were clothed in long pants, long sleeved shirts, hats and proper shoes (for hiking around in the fields) and then given a good dose of bug spray to keep the ticks and chiggers away.

Create a fun annual family event – pick blackberries!

My mother saved plastic milk jugs for weeks, then cut the opening large enough to allow easy filling with little purple, berry-stained hands. The handle was left intact making it simple to carry and fill. We picked until we couldn’t find anymore and then anxiously waited for Mom’s amazing creations to come out of the kitchen. First, Mom always made a Blackberry Cobbler for our dad, because it was his favorite. She usually made jam and jelly too, saving back a few jars to take to her mom on the next visit north.

Plant your own blackberry plants for an easy annual harvest.

My husband and I carried on the annual tradition of blackberry picking with our children too. Such great memories! It doesn’t feel quite like summer until the blackberries are ripe and at least one dessert has been devoured. This year we didn’t have to scour the fields for our berries, I only had to step outside in our backyard to grab them up before the birds got them all.

I love the way blackberries turn dark red when cooked and almost look like raspberries in these tarts.

I have a lot of fun making these mini-pies in my favorite little tart pans with removable bottoms.

They came out of the pans beautifully and cooked up faster than a thicker, traditional pie. My husband suggested I create a variety of designs for these pies, so he gets the creativity badge for the day!

Blackberries have a distinctive sweet and tart flavor, and are also very good for you!

Loaded with rich antioxidants and vitamin K, blackberries can work as a cancer-fighting food. The nutrients in blackberries also help with short-term memory retention, and are considered among some of the best brain foods. They can help reduce inflammation, fight infection, boost immunity and can be good for the cardiovascular system too! So be sure to eat more blackberries, especially this time of year when they are fresh and at their peak.

I’m glad I got to taste these tarts before they were whisked away and divided up among the family members.

I recommend a scoop of vanilla because, every now and then, you should save room for dessert.

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PRINT THE RECIPE!

4 from 1 vote

Blackberry Tarts

Prep Time: 30 mins

Cook Time: 30 mins

Total Time: 1 hr

Yield:

Course: Dessert

Author: Tricia

PRINT RECIPE

Juicy, sweet, tart ripe blackberries are nestled in a buttery, flaky crust for an iconic, all American summer dessert.

Ingredients

1 recipe - Double Crust Pastry (See link in notes)
6 cups fresh blackberries, rinsed and well drained (divided)
1/2 cup granulated sugar, plus extra for sprinkling
1/4 cup cornstarch
Juice of 1/2 lemon if berries are not tart (optional)
1 large egg
1 tablespoon milk

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with foil and set aside.
Add 3 cups of the blackberries to a large mixing bowl. Using a fork, press and mash the berries to release the juice. In a 1 cup measure, combine the sugar and cornstarch. Pour the sugar mixture over the mashed berries and fold together to combine. Add the remaining whole blackberries to the mixture, folding gently with a spatula to combine. Taste the blackberries and if they lack tartness, add the juice of 1/2 a lemon. Set aside to macerate while preparing the pastry.
Roll out half the pastry dough on a lightly floured, clean work surface. Cut 4 rounds about 1-inch larger than the tart pans. Gently press the pastry into the bottom, and up the sides of the pans. Roll out the remaining dough and cut two more rounds to fit the last two pans.
Divide the blackberry mixture between the 6 tart pans. Using the remaining pastry dough, cut out designs to top each pie/tart using cookie cutters or by cutting the pastry into strips to create a lattice top. Wet the top edges of each pie using a finger dipped in water. Cover the tarts with pastry cut to fit and press on the dampened edges to seal. If you do not wet the edges, the top pieces will not stick and may shrink into the pie.
Re-roll the remaining pastry if needed to create designs or to cover the tarts. Whisk together the egg and milk and brush on the tops of the tarts. Sprinkle with granulated sugar and place the tarts on the prepared baking sheet. Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes, then reduce the heat to 350 degrees and bake for an additional 15 minutes or until the filling is bubbling and the pastry is golden brown.
Serve warm or at room temperature. I recommend serving with a scoop of good vanilla ice cream for a special treat. Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature. Pies are best eaten within a day or two of baking.

Recipe Notes

Click this link for Perfect Pie Crust - double crust pastry recipe

For the recipe you will need six (6) 4.5-inch tart pans with removable bottoms.

Alternately, you can use this same recipe to make one 9-inch deep dish pie. Adjust the baking time by adding 20-30 minutes or until the top is browned and the filling is bubbling. You might need to tent the pie with foil to prevent over browning about halfway through baking. Cool before slicing for a prettier presentation.

Click HERE to get our recipe for a double crust pastry complete with how-to video!

We love our mini tart pans and think you will too! Click on the photo for more information:

The small print: If you decide to purchase something at Amazon after following my affiliate link, I receive a small commission, at no additional cost to you, which I use to pay for web hosting and services for this blog. Thanks for keeping SRFD in the kitchen!

Blackberries are great in, and on, just about everything. Some of our favorites recipes include this amazing Blackberry & Brie Mini Pizzas, our healthy Blackberry Frozen Yogurt, and our delicious Warm Black and Blueberry Sauce. Without a doubt, I need to try this beautiful Blackberry Lemon Dutch Baby from Nutmeg Nanny, and these mouth-watering Blackberry Pie Bars from Brown Eyed Baker.

What’s up with all these pies lately? I’m not sure what’s gotten into me lately but the family’s not complaining! I have another one coming soon – and you won’t want to miss it! Thanks so much for stopping by. I hope you had a terrific weekend.

Tricia

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