Indulge in the sweet, nutty perfection of Maple Walnut Tarts, where buttery cream cheese pastry meets a rich and gooey maple-filled center studded with crunchy walnuts. This recipe combines the deep, caramel-like flavor of pure maple syrup with a hint of vanilla and brown sugar, creating a decadently sweet filling thatβs perfectly balanced by the tender, flaky crust. Ready in under an hour, these tarts bake beautifully in a standard muffin tin, making them ideal for serving at holiday gatherings, afternoon teas, or as an elegant dessert any time of year. Whether enjoyed warm from the oven or at room temperature, these bite-sized delights are a must-try for maple lovers and dessert enthusiasts alike!
Preheat your oven to 350Β°F (175Β°C).
In a medium mixing bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, unsalted butter, and cream cheese. Mix together using a pastry cutter or your fingers until the dough comes together and is smooth.
Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 15-20 minutes to firm it up.
While the dough chills, prepare the filling. In a separate bowl, whisk together the maple syrup, brown sugar, egg, vanilla extract, and salt until well combined.
Add the chopped walnuts to the filling mixture and stir until evenly distributed.
Roll out the chilled dough on a lightly floured surface until it is about 1/8-inch thick. Cut the dough into 12 equal-sized rounds, large enough to fit into a standard muffin tin to form tart shells.
Press each dough round into the greased cups of a muffin tin to form tart shells. Ensure the dough comes up to the edges of each cup.
Evenly spoon the maple walnut filling into each prepared tart shell, filling them about 3/4 of the way full.
Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until the filling is set and the edges of the tart shells are golden brown.
Allow the tarts to cool in the muffin tin for about 5 minutes before carefully removing them and transferring to a cooling rack.
Serve warm or at room temperature, and enjoy!
Calories |
3591 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 177.2 g | 227% | |
| Saturated Fat | 63.0 g | 315% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.9 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 433 mg | 144% | |
| Sodium | 917 mg | 40% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 485.2 g | 176% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 12.7 g | 45% | |
| Total Sugars | 334.2 g | ||
| Protein | 48.7 g | 97% | |
| Vitamin D | 1.0 mcg | 5% | |
| Calcium | 306 mg | 24% | |
| Iron | 12.9 mg | 72% | |
| Potassium | 1013 mg | 22% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.