Belula

Mini Strawberry Lemon Tartlets

This mini lemon strawberry tartlets recipe is a keeper. Made with homemade tartlet shells, filled with lemon lightened cream, then topped with fresh strawberries and blueberries.

Belula April 28, 2022
The mini strawberry lemon tartlets arranged in a random manner as seen from above.

Mini tartlets are such a great and easy dessert to put together. They are made with mini tartlet shells using my homemade shortbread crust, filled with a lightened lemon cream (made with my lemon curd and whipped cream), then topped with fresh strawberries and blueberries. These mini strawberry lemon tartlets are addictive and so versatile as you can replace the strawberries with other fruits you love or have at home. For example, you can easily make these into raspberry tartlets or peach tartlets. I hope you love them! Can’t wait for you to give them a try.

One hand holding a mini strawberry lemon tartlet with others blurry on the back of the frame.
CLoseup of many mini tartlets.

Ingredient & Material Notes

  • Mini tartlet pans: needed to make this recipe. You can also use these mini tartlet pans. If you don’t have any, you can always replace them with a mini muffin pan.
  • Shortbread crust: you can use a store-bought one or make your own. If you are up for the challenge, please check out my homemade shortbread crust recipe. You won’t regret it!
  • Lemon curd: you can make your own (which I strongly recommend),and you can find the "best lemon curd recipe here! If making it is too much of a hassle for you, you can always use the store-bought kind.
  • Heavy whipping cream: must have a minimum of 30% fat content.
  • Fresh fruit: this recipe calls for strawberries and blueberries.

How to make this recipe

Making these mini lemon strawberry tartlets is straightforward. You simply have to:

  • Roll out the shortbread crust and line the mini tartlet pans.
  • Bake the mini tartlet shells.
  • Make the lightened lemon cream.
  • Fill the tartlets with lemon cream.
  • Top the mini tartlets with strawberries and blueberries.
The lined mini tartlet pans ready for the oven.
The pre-baked mini tartlet shells on a piece of parchment paper.
The lemon lightened cream inside a grey bowl with a spatula on the side and some tartlet shells on a grey plate in the corner.
One hand filling the tartlet shells with the lemon cream.
One hand holding one mini lemon tartlet with others underneath it on a grey plate.
The mini strawberry lemon tartlets arranged in a random manner as seen from above.

Recipe notes on mini tartlet shells

  • Roll out the dough and refrigerate for 1 hour before lining the tartlet pans.
  • Cut out pieces of dough slightly larger than your mini tins so that you have enough dough to line them. Pieces of dough that are too large will make the lining that much harder.
  • You can either line the pans on the inside (regular), or on the outside. In which case, you turn the pan upside down, cover it with the shortbread crust, and place it on the baking tray also upside down.
  • Trim the edges of the tartlet shells using a small knife.
  • Pinch the inside of the tartlet shells using a fork.
  • To bake the tartlet shells, you can line the interior with parchment paper and place a second mini pan on top, with weights inside (say beans or rice). This will help the shells from shrinking while baking.
  • Bake the tartlets for 8 to 10 minutes, remove the paper, and re-bake until golden.
  • As soon as they are baked, you need to remove the shells from the tins immediately and let them cool off at room temperature.
  • If you don’t have mini tartlet pans, you can use a mini muffin tin. Make sure to butter the inside of the tin, then cut out rounds of shortbread dough, and line the inside of the muffin tin. Proceed as instructed above for baking.

General recipe notes

  • You can use homemade shortbread crust or store-bought - up to you.
  • If you are making your lemon curd, you can find a delicious recipe, with all the tips and tricks for success here: "small batch lemon curd.
  • Make the curd 1 day in advance and refrigerate overnight. This will help the curd set properly which is crucial to making the lightened lemon cream.
  • Whip the cream to soft peaks. To ensure your whipped cream is beautifully whipped and holds up the lemon curd later, the cream must be chilled before you whip it.
  • When making the lemon lightened cream: add 1/3 of cream into the curd first to loosen it up, then gently fold in the rest of the cream.
  • After you have filled the mini tartlets with the lemon cream, refrigerate for a minimum of 30 minutes before topping with the fresh strawberries and blueberries.
The assembled strawberry lemon mini tartlets as seen from the side with others blurry on the back.
A closeup of 3 mini strawberry lemon tartlets as seen from above.

Expert notes

  • To make lemon lightened cream, the ratio is as follows: 2/3 lemon curd + 1/3 whipped cream.
  • To help the cream attain the soft peaks, place the mixing bowl in the freezer for 30 minutes before whipping the cream.
  • The cream must be prepared when you are ready to assemble the mini lemon tartlets.
  • To make the strawberries and blueberries shine, toss with a little powdered sugar before placing them over the mini tartlets! Only use A LITTLE!

Make ahead

Most of the elements of these mini strawberry lemon tartlets can be made ahead:

  • Mini tartlet shells: Bake them, let them cool off, and place in an airtight container. They keep for 1 week. Then fill and decorate when ready to eat.
  • Lemon curd: must be made 1 day in advance. You can make it up to 5 days in advance and kept refrigerated in an airtight container.
  • Mini lemon tartlets: once the tartlet shells have been filled with the lemon cream, they can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 2 days before topping them with the fresh fruit.

Storage tips

These mini strawberry lemon tartlets should be kept in the refrigerator. They keep for up to 2 days.

Freezer instructions

You can freeze the baked tartlet shells filled with the lemon cream (without the fruit). Place in an airtight container and keep for up to 1 month.

To defrost: Place in the refrigerator overnight, then top with the fresh strawberries and blueberries, and enjoy!

Variations for this recipe

This mini strawberry lemon tartlets can easily be made into raspberry tartlets or peach tartlets by simply swapping the fresh fruit called for in this recipe.

You can replace the lemon lightened cream with only lemon curd to make some lemon curd tartlets. But, if I may say so, I think the lightened version is lovely.

You can replace the lemon lightened cream, with vanilla pastry cream.

The ingredients used in all recipes on this site are measured using the metric system. I use a scale to be precise with my measurements and ensure good results. If you would also like to use a scale, here are some: USA, Canada, UK, Australia, France.
Prep Time: 1 hour
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes

Servings: 40 tartlets
Nutrition: 90 cal
Cuisine: French

Ingredients

Dough

  • Shortbread Crust 1

Lemon Lightened Cream

  • Lemon Curd 200 g
  • Heavy Whipping Cream 100 g

Toppings

  • Fresh Strawberries 150 g
  • Fresh Blueberries 50 g

Procedure

  • 1. Bake the mini tartlet shells: Roll out the shortbread crust to 3 mm and refrigerate for a minimum of 30 minutes. Cut out rounds slightly larger than the tartlet tins, line the tins with the dough, and trim the edges using a knife. Pinch the inside of the shells with a fork, line the tartlets with parchment paper, and fill with rice or beans. Bake for 10 minutes, then remove the beans and re-bake until golden. Remove from the oven and let them cool down over a wire rack at room temperature.
  • 2. Make the lemon lightened cream: Beat the whipping cream to soft peaks. Add 1/3 of the cream into the lemon curd and mix to loosen it up. Gently fold in the remaining cream until completely incorporated.
  • 3. Assemble the mini strawberry lemon tartlets: Fill the mini tartlets with the lemon cream making sure to spread it evenly. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, until the cream has set. Top the mini tartlets with fresh strawberries and blueberries. Enjoy!
If you made this recipe I would really appreciate it if you leave a rating or comment below! Also, if you share on social media please use #cookwithbelula, I would love to see what you create!
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