Sugar Cookie Tartlets

These delightful cookies, reminiscent of a fruit tart, are a hit at parties. A delicious cream filling is poured into a sugar cookie base and topped with fruit and edible decorations of your choice.

This recipe makes about 12-15 cookies.

Ingredients

For the sugar cookie base:

2 cups flour

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter

1 tsp vanilla

3 Tbsp cold water

For the cream cheese filling:

8 ounces (1 block) cream cheese

1/4 cup sugar

1 tsp vanilla

For the toppings:

Fruit and edible decorations of your choice. Pictured here are strawberries, blackberries, and mint leaves.

Tools:

Blender

Muffin cups

Mixing bowl

Spoon

Rolling pin

Pastry Cutter or two forks (optional)

Mix flour, sugar, and baking powder together in a bowl or in a blender. Cut the butter into 1-inch chunks and add it to the blender, or cut it into the dry ingredients with a pastry cutter or by criss-crossing two forks together, until the mixture resembles fine crumbs.

Add three tablespoons of cold water, one spoonful at a time, mixing after each. Add the vanilla. Mix or blend until a firm dough is formed.

Place the dough in the mixing bowl and cover with a towel to prevent it from drying out. Set it in the refrigerator for at least an hour to firm up.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Once the dough is chilled, roll it out with a rolling pin on a floured counter to a 1/4 inch thickness.

Use the rim of a drinking glass or a four-inch round cookie cutter to cut rounds out of the dough.

Press the oversized rounds into the muffin cups. Extra dough should go about an inch up the sides, forming a shallow cup.

Bake the tartlet cups for 18 minutes.

Allow the cookie cups to cool.

While they are cooling, prepare the filling. In a blender or by hand, thoroughly blend the cream cheese, 1/4 cup sugar, and vanilla.

Fill the tartlet cups with the cream cheese filling.

Decorate to your heart's desire!

The tartlet featured here is embellished with strawberries, blackberries, and mint leaves. Any kind of seasonal fruit or candy would be delightful.