A mixture of pecans, cashews and almonds fill these little bite sized cream cheese mini tarts. Perfect for your Christmas Cookie Tray.
I was inspired to make these nut tarts while reading the second novel in the Jane Hawk Series, The Whispering Room, by Dean Koontz.
You can get some background on this novel by reading my review of the first in the series, The Silent Corner, that inspired me to make some Chocolate Clementine Muffins.
That story ended with protagonist, Jane Hawk, still on the run and trying to blow open a governmental conspiracy proving mind control of people in an attempt to create a perfect, utopian world where only a select elite would be allowed to keep their minds free of control.
This conspiracy fall on a small midwestern town when Clara, a celebrated teacher of the year, suddenly commits a heinous murder/suicide leaving many dead and injured and the small town shaken. The small town sheriff though, is no country bumpkin and he also finds himself on the run attempting to figure out what caused Clara to lose her mind and why the FBI doesn't want it investigated.
I'm hooked on these little nut tarts too and kind of kicking myself for only making enough to take with me to the gathering today. It's probably a good thing though because I seemed to have no self control while they were sitting on my counter waiting to be packaged up.
The sherrif comes home to find his wife making tons of nut tarts to pass out as she gives condolances to all the families who have lost loved ones. And so starts this second book of the series that has me completely hooked.
I am leaving Frank in charge of dinner tonight. Tomorrow we are having an early Christmas gathering with my side of the family. There were 6 of us, that turned into 20+ grandkids, that have turned into 15+ great grandkids, most of whom still live locally, so it is a large gathering. I am keeping the menu simple with several different versions of chili and easy finger foods.
We have choir practice twice this week as we are getting ready for our Christmas concert next Sunday. We are all going out for Pizza following Monday's practice. Frank has cataract surgery scheduled on Wednesday and Thursday we are meeting friends for dinner out.
So here is our Weekly Menu, keeping all of the activities in mind, under which you will find the recipes for these nut tarts. How are your Christmas preparations and gatherings going?
Saturday-Cookie Exchange at Rebecca's
Frank in charge of dinner
Sunday-Family Christmas Menu
Fresh Vegetable Platter with Dip
Cheese and Fruit Platter
Assorted Breads/Cornbreads
Assorted Chili (Beef/Chicken/Vegetarian)
Garnishes (sour cream/cheese/tortilla chips/guacamole)
Assorted Cookies
Birthday Cake for Jesus (provided by Steph)
Monday
Out with Choir after Practice
Taco Tuesday
Leftover Chili Burritos
Wednesday
Vegetable Frittata
Thursday
Dinner out with Friends
Fish Friday
Tiger Salad
Shrimp and Broccoli Lo Mein
Yield: 24
Mini Nut Tarts
A mixture of pecans, cashews and almonds fill these little bite sized cream cheese mini tarts. Perfect for your Christmas Cookie Tray.
Prep time: 20 MinCook time: 20 MinTotal time: 40 Min
Ingredients
- 1 stick butter, room temperature
- 3 oz. cream cheese, room temperature
- 1 c. flour
- 1 egg
- 3/4 c. brown sugar
- 1 T. butter, room temperature
- 1 t. vanilla
- pinch of salt
- 2/3 c. finely chopped nuts of choice, divided
Instructions
- Beat together the cream cheese and butter until smooth. Gradually add the flour and mix until well combined. Refrigerate until firm enough to handle, about 30 minutes.
- Roll dough into 1" balls and press evenly into the bottoms and up the sides of mini muffin tins that have been treated with baking spray.
- Whisk together the egg, butter, brown sugar, vanilla and salt until blended. Stir in 1/3 cup of the nuts. Spoon the filling into the dough lined muffin tins and sprinkle with remaining nuts.
- Bake in a preheated 375* oven for 15-20 minutes, until edges are golden and filling is puffed. Let cool in pan for 2 minutes before removing to a parchment lined wire rack to finish cooling.
Notes:
Adapted from a recipe found in Taste of Home
Nutrition Facts
Calories
116.53Fat (grams)
7.79Sat. Fat (grams)
3.84Carbs (grams)
10.41Fiber (grams)
0.40Net carbs
10.01Sugar (grams)
5.69Protein (grams)
1.82Sodium (milligrams)
65.55Cholesterol (grams)
22.72
You seem to have a merry Christmas week ahead, and some lovely nut tarts, which I am determined to make very soon! Holiday cheers!!
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas Claudia.
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