PINEAPPLE TARTS

Steps:

• Pineapple Jam.
• Grate the pineapple and keep the juice.
• Cook pineapple and juice over medium heat until it is almost dry.
• Add sugar and stir continuously over low heat to prevent burning, until it caramelises and dries up.
• Cool the jam down and keep it in the fridge for one night to dry it sufficiently so that it can be rolled into balls for filling of the tarts.
• Pastry.
• Sift the dry ingredients into a large bowl. Set aside.
• Add in the butter and rub into the dry mixture until mealy crumbs are formed.
• Add vanilla essence and 3 tbsp of cold milk into the egg yolks and pour egg mixture into the crumbs.
• Knead quickly to combine the dough. The dough should be soft and slightly sticky.
• Divid the dough into 2 portions. Flatten each ball slightly and wrap it up using clingwrap. Make sure it is airtight to prevent dough from drying out and then chill for at least ½ hour before use.
• While dough is chilling, prepare your pineapple jam filling by making pineapple jam balls, each from a heaping teaspoonful.
• Lightly flour a clean working surface and roll dough out to about 0.5cm thick.
• Cut out the tart bottoms with a pineapple tart cutter or round cookie cutter and place onto a baking sheet prepped with parchment paper. Top them with your prepared balls of pineapple jam.
• You may also make lattices to decorate the top of the tarts using scrap pastry dough. Lightly brush the lattices using a pastry brush and the eggwash mixture.
• Alternatively, you may make pineapple balls: pinch a small portion of dough, about 25g / 1 oz, flatten manually and use it as a wrap around a pineapple jam ball.
• Place the tarts/balls on a flat baking dish and bake in a 180C oven for about 15-20 minutes, depending on the crispy-ness of the tart you desire. (i.e. bake longer for a harder, crispier, tart crust) or until the pastry is a pale gold.
• Cool on a wire tray, then store in an airtight container, using a piece of parchment or doily in between layers.