Tartlets with Lemon Curd and Whipped Cream (Korzinki)

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These aren’t your average tartlets. They are Russian Korzinki. The crust is crumbly, soft and cookie-like. The lemon curd is so smooth and flavorful and pairs beautifully with the lightly sweetened cream.

I took these to my sisters houses (sharing is my sneaky diet plan) and the tarlets were a hit across the board. P.S. You don’t need any special tartlet pans; a mini muffin/mini cupcake pan will do just fine!

The first korzinki recipe I posted was nearly 4 years ago and the recipe made 108 cookies. The cookies were well loved by my readers over the years. Quite a few of you have share shared on Instagram and Facebook that you’ve made them for baby showers and parties. I have received several questions about making a smaller batch.

I figured some of you would appreciate if I scaled down the recipe a bit (36 cookies is much more reasonable), and jazzed it up with a new and scrumptious filling. Make these cookies for your next party – they are fantastic!

Ingredients for Korzinki:

1 large egg, at room temperature
1/3 cup sugar
5 1/2 Tbsp unsalted butter, at room temperature, cut into pieces
1/8 tsp (a generous pinch) baking soda 
1 Tbsp real mayonnaise
1 1/3 cups+ 1 Tbsp all-purpose flour *measured correctly

Ingredients for Perfect Lemon Curd:

3 large eggs
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 tsp grated lemon zest (from 1 medium lemon)
1/2 scant cup (just under 1/2 cup) fresh lemon juice (from about 3-4 lemons)
6 Tbsp (3/4 stick) unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
Pinch of Salt

Ingredients for Korzinki Frosting:

1 cup heavy whipping cream, very cold
2 Tbsp confectioners (powdered) sugar
1/2 tsp real vanilla extract

Optional Garnish:

Raspberry, mint or basil leaves

You will need:

A mini muffin pan (I used three 12-count pans and baked them all at once; quick & easy!)

How to Make Lemon Curd:

(start with the lemon curd since it needs time to cool)
1. In a medium saucepan, whisk together until smooth: 3 large eggs, 1/3 cup sugar, pinch of salt and grated lemon zest (make sure you only get the zest and not the white pith).

2. Whisk in 1/2 scant cup strained lemon juice, then add 6 Tbsp (3/4 stick) of butter pieces. Place pot over medium heat and cook, whisking constantly until butter is melted and the mixture is thickened. Bring to a gentle simmer for a few seconds then strain the mixture through a fine mesh sieve into a medium bowl. Let cool to room temp, then cover and refrigerate to thicken fully. This recipe lasts up to a week when refrigerated.

How to Make the Tartlet Crusts (Korzinki):

Pre-heat the Oven to 350˚F.
1. In the bowl of your electrix mixer, whisk together 1 egg with 1/3 cup sugar until even consistency.

2. Using the paddle attachment, add 5 1/2 Tbsp softened butter and mix on medium/high speed until creamy (3-5 min)

3. Add baking soda and mayo and mix until well blended.

4. Add flour, 1/2 cup at a time and mix until well incorporated. It should be a soft cookie dough consistency when it’s done.

5. Use your hands to roll dough into gum-ball-sized circles of dough. If it doesn’t roll easily in your hands (i.e. if it’s really sticky) add more flour. I ended up with 36 balls of dough. Place dough into mini-muffin dishes. I used 3 (12-count) pans at a time. If your pans are non-stick, you don’t have to grease them.

6. Use your fingers to form a well in the dough. Make a deep well since the bottoms rise quite a bit while baking.

7. Bake at 350˚F for 10 minutes, or until edges are golden. Tip cookies onto a clean towel (mine popped right out with a gentle tap on the counter). Turn cookies right side up to cool to room temperature. They will cool faster on a wire rack.

How to Make Whipped Cream for Korzinki:

Tips on whipping cream: Freeze or refrigerate your mixing bowl and whisk attachment 10-15 minutes prior to beating cream. Keep cream refrigerated until ready to use. The colder it is, the better it whips. Also, make sure you are using HEAVY whipping cream. Also, watch the video tutorial for how to make whipped cream.

1. Beat 1 cup heavy whipping cream on high speed until soft peaks form then add 2 Tbsp powdered sugar and 1/2 tsp vanilla and continue to beat on high speed until stiff and spreadable (mine took about a minute). Don’t over-beat it or it will be buttery. Refrigerate cream until ready to use.

Assembly of Korzinki:

1. Spoon the lemon curd over each tartlet crust (about 1 – 1/2 tsp on each one) – you can be generous; you may even have a few tablespoons left over.

2. You can spoon on the whipping cream or pipe it on. I used my Wilton 1M open star tip. Garnish with fresh basil leaves, or raspberries if desired and serve! Refrigerate any tartlets that don’t get eaten

Credits: Tartlets, Cream & garnish from Natasha’s Kitchen. Lemon Curd from Joy of Cooking.

Tartlets with Lemon Curd and Whipped Cream (Korzinki)

4.98 from 35 votes

Author: Natasha of NatashasKitchen.com

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Prep Time: 45 minutes mins

Cook Time: 15 minutes mins

Total Time: 1 hour hr

Ingredients 

Servings: 36 tartlets

Tartlet (korzinki) ingredients:

• 1 large egg, at room temperature
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 5 1/2 Tbsp unsalted butter, at room temperature, cut into pieces
• 1/8 tsp a generous pinch baking soda
• 1 Tbsp mayonnaise*
• 1 1/3 cups+ 1 Tbsp all-purpose flour

Lemon Curd Ingredients:

• 3 large eggs
• 1/3 cup granulated sugar
• 1 tsp Grated lemon zest, from 1 medium lemon
• 1/2 scant cup, just under 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice (from about 3-4 lemons)
• 6 Tbsp unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
• Pinch salt

Whipped Cream Ingredients

• 1 cup heavy whipping cream, very cold
• 2 Tbsp confectioners, powdered sugar
• 1/2 tsp real vanilla extract

Optional Garnish:

• Raspberry, mint or basil leaves

You will need:

• A mini muffin pan, I used three 12-count pans and baked them all at once

Instructions

How to Make Lemon Curd: (start with the lemon curd since it needs time to cool)

• In a medium saucepan, whisk together until smooth: 3 large eggs, 1/3 cup sugar, pinch of salt and grated lemon zest.
• Whisk in 1/2 cup strained lemon juice, then add 6 Tbsp of butter pieces. Place pot over medium heat and cook, whisking constantly until butter is melted and the mixture is thickened. Bring to a gentle simmer for a few seconds then strain the mixture through a fine mesh sieve into a medium bowl. Let cool to room temp, then cover and refrigerate to thicken fully. This recipe lasts up to a week when refrigerated.

How to Make the Tartlet Crusts (Korzinki): Pre-heat the Oven to 350 degrees F.

• In the bowl of your electrix mixer, whisk together 1 egg with 1/3 cup sugar until even consistency.
• Using the paddle attachment, add 5 1/2 Tbsp softened butter and mix on medium/high speed until creamy (3-5 min)
• Add 1/8 tsp of baking soda, 1 Tbsp of mayo and mix until well blended.
• Add flour, 1/2 cup at a time and mix until well incorporated. It should be a soft cookie dough consistency when it's done.
• Use your hands to roll dough into gum-ball-sized circles of dough. If it doesn't roll easily in your hands (i.e. if it's really sticky) add more flour. I ended up with 36 balls of dough. Place dough into mini-muffin dishes. I used 3 (12-count) pans at a time. If your pans are non-stick, you don't have to grease them.
• Use your fingers to form a well in the dough. Make a deep well since the bottoms rise quite a bit while baking.
• Bake at 350˚F for 10 minutes, or until edges are golden. Tip cookies onto a clean towel (mine popped right out with a gentle tap on the counter). Turn cookies right side up to cool to room temperature. They will cool faster on a wire rack.

How to Make Whipped Cream:

• Beat 1 cup heavy whipping cream on high speed until soft peaks form then add 2 Tbsp powdered sugar and 1/2 tsp vanilla and continue to beat on high speed until stiff and spreadable (mine took about a minute). Don’t over-beat it or it will be buttery.
• Refrigerate cream until ready to use.

Assembling your Tartlets:

• Spoon the lemon curd over each tartlet crust (about 1 - 1/2 tsp on each one) - you can be generous; you may even have a few Tbsp left over.
• You can spoon on the whipping cream or pipe it on. I used my Wilton 1M open start tip. Garnish with fresh basil leaves, or raspberries if desired and serve! Refrigerate any tartlets that don't get eaten.

Notes

Tips on whipping cream:
Freeze or refrigerate your mixing bowl and whisk attachment 10-15 minutes prior to beating cream. Keep cream refrigerated until ready to use. The colder it is, the better it whips. Also, make sure you are using HEAVY whipping cream.

• Full Nutrition Label
• Nutrition Disclosure

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: Russian, Ukrainian

Keyword: Korzinki, Tartlets with Lemon Curd

Skill Level: Medium

Cost to Make: $$

Are you craving one yet?