Mini Lemon Meringue Tarts

Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Servings: 24
Yield: 24 servings

Description

This mini lemon meringue tarts recipe yields a light-textured, not too sweet filling with buttermilk and lemon zest. Frozen shells are a handy shortcut.

Ingredients

24 (2 inch) frozen tart shells, thawed
1 1/4 cups white sugar, divided
4 eggs, separated
1/4 cup butter, melted and cooled
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1 lemon, zested
1 1/2 cups buttermilk, shaken
4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 pinch salt
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar

Directions

1 Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2 Arrange tart shells on a baking sheet. Bake in the preheated oven until heated through, about 5 minutes. Remove from the oven; leave oven on.
3 Whisk 3/4 cup sugar, egg yolks, butter, lemon juice, and lemon zest together in a medium bowl. Whisk in buttermilk. Add flour and salt; whisk well.
4 Divide filling among tart shells, filling almost to the top.
5 Bake in the preheated oven until filling rises and appears set, about 15 minutes. Watch carefully to avoid overcooking.
6 Meanwhile, beat egg whites in a glass, metal, or ceramic bowl with an electric mixer on high speed until frothy. Add remaining 1/2 cup sugar, vanilla, and cream of tartar; continue beating until meringue is stiff and shiny.
7 Top baked tarts with meringue; press meringue down to form a seal around edges.
8 Bake in the preheated oven until meringue starts to brown, about 10 minutes more. Cool before serving.