Catholic Recipe: Saint Denis Tartlets

Also Called: St. Denis Tartlets

A wonderful French pastry to celebrate the feast of St. Denis.

DIRECTIONS

In a medium bowl combine flour, sugar and salt. Cut in butter and shortening until mixture resembles coarse bread crumbs. Sprinkle ice water over flour mixture until moistened. Gather dough into a ball, refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough about 1/8 inch (3 mm) thick. Cut out circles large enough to line 3-inch (8 cm) tartlet pans with the dough circles.

Cream the butter and sugar together until thick; beat in the 2 egg yolks, 1 at a time. Add the ground almonds, cornstarch and vanilla. Lastly fold in the stiffly whisked egg white.

Place a teaspoon of jam in the bottom of each tartlet pan and fill with the mixture. Place two narrow strips of pastry across the top. Bake in a fairly hot oven 400°F (200°C) for 15 to 20 minutes.

When cool, dust with powdered sugar.