Queen of hearts tarts recipe

These Queen of heart tarts look absolutely beautiful and the recipe is a joy to make.

Makes 8 heart tarts (6.5cm across) or 12 round tarts (made in a bun tin 4cm across at the base, 6cm at the top)

Takes 30 minutes to make, 8-12 minutes to bake, plus cooling

Ingredients

300g all-butter shortcrust pastry, thawed for 20 minutes (we used 1/2 x 500g pack of Jus-Rol pastry)
Flour, for dusting
8-12 tsp strawberry jam

METHOD

How to make queen of hearts tarts

1. Preheat the oven to 200°C/fan180°C/gas 6. Roll out the pastry on a lightly floured surface to a 3mm thickness. Use a 7-8cm heart cutter to stamp out 8 hearts, or a 5cm round plain cutter to stamp out 12 circles. Slide a palette knife under the pastry shapes and lower into the heart moulds or bun tin. Gently press the pastry around the edges.

2. Spoon 2 teaspoons jam into each heart and bake for 12 minutes, until the pastry is pale-golden (or spoon 1 teaspoon into each round tart and bake for 8 minutes). Carefully remove the tarts from the oven - the jam will be very, very hot so don't touch it! Cool for at least 30 minutes.

3. Once cooled, carefully lift the tarts from the tins using a palette knife. Eat straightaway, or keep in an airtight container in a cool place for up to 2 days.