From the 1950s divider · Off the ration
Jam Tarts
Little pastry cups of bubbling jam. The first thing most of us ever baked, standing on a chair at Granny's counter.
- Prep20 mins
- Cook15 mins
- Serves12
- DifficultyEasy
Photo: dichohecho, CC BY 2.0 · Photo: dichohecho, CC BY 2.0
From the tin
"The Queen of Hearts, she made some tarts" goes the nursery rhyme, first printed in 1782. Jam tarts were made from the pastry trimmings left over from a pie, so nothing went to waste. They were often the very first thing children baked, and a mix of jams in one tin made them look like a box of jewels.
Jam TartsServes 12 · 1950s
You'll need
Method
- Rub the butter into the flour until it looks like breadcrumbs. Stir in the sugar and enough water to bring it together. Wrap and chill for 20 minutes.
- Heat the oven to 200°C / 180°C fan / gas 6.
- Roll the pastry out thinly and cut 12 rounds with a 7cm fluted cutter. Press into a bun tin.
- Put a heaped teaspoon of jam in each case. No more, or it will boil over.
- Bake for 12 to 15 minutes until the pastry is golden. Leave to cool in the tin, the jam is hotter than it looks.
