Monday, February 28, 2011

Cajeta Meringue Tarts

After the chocolate and hazelnut high of World Nutella Day it's time to indulge in the caramel delights of Dulce de Leche. Brilynn from Jumbo Empanadas has created and is hosting the first annual World Dulce de Leche Day!

It's provided me with the perfect excuse to bring out the Cajeta

Cajeta© by Haalo

which is a Mexican version of dulce de leche. I've used it previously in cakes and banana bread but for today, I've made little Cajeta Meringue Tarts!

Caramel Meringue Tarts© by Haalo


Cajeta Meringue Tarts
[Makes 12 small tarts]

½ portion sweet shortcrust pastry
cajeta
1 egg white
1 teaspoon icing sugar


Make the tarts:
I've used a 12-hole tart tin - the same tin I use to make mince tarts at Christmas.
Roll the pastry out to 2-3mm thicness and cut out 12 rounds. Press these into the tin and line each pastry case with a square of baking paper - fill each with pie weights.

Bake in preheated 160°C for about 15 minutes or until the edges are starting to colour - remove the paper and weights and continue baking until cooked through.

Remove the cooked cases from the tin and place on a wire rack to cool slightly.

Place a spoonful of cajeta into each case - this is best done when there is still heat in the pastry, it will soften the cajeta and make it easier to spread.

Make the meringue:
Beat the eggwhite until they form stiff peaks, sprinkle in the icing sugar and continue whisking until it has been absorbed. You can then pipe or mound the the meringue over the caramel.

Note: resist the temptation to make a sweeter meringue, it needs to be "under-sweetened" to compensate for the sweet caramel filling.

Place the tarts back on a baking tray and return to the oven - continue cooking until the meringue has browned then remove and leave to rest on a wire rack.

4 comments

  1. OMG.. I'm on a low-carbdiet....

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  2. Oh that oozing caramel-milk goodness... to die for. I'm particularly font of goat's milk cajeta.

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  3. I just want to eat a plate full of those! They look amazing! Thanks for playing along with World Dulce de Leche Day! :)

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  4. Oh god oh god oh god that caramel. I haven't had it for ages. I'd forgotten - OH GOD - cinammon sugar tortillas wrapped around a banana, fried then THAT CARAMEL with icecream oh god oh god oh god

    ReplyDelete

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