Star-Studded Berry Tarts with Vanilla Pastry Cream

To prepare the crust combine the flour, pecans, sugar and salt in a food processor. Pulse until the pecans are finely ground. Add the butter pieces and pulse until the mixture resembles a coarse meal. Drizzle the cold water on top and pulse until the dough comes together. Transfer the dough to a large piece of plastic wrap. Press the dough into a large disc shape and cover. Refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour. While the dough is chilling, prepare the pastry cream.

To make the pastry cream combine the milk, half of the granulated sugar and the vanilla in a medium saucepan. Bring the milk mixture to a simmer over medium heat.

Whisk 1/2 cup of the buttermilk, the egg yolks, cornstarch and the remaining half of the sugar together in a medium mixing bowl. Slowly drizzle (temper) the hot milk mixture into the egg mixture whisking constantly. Return the combined mixture back into the saucepan and heat while whisking constantly until it is thick and bubbly. Remove from the heat and add the remaining 3 tablespoons buttermilk. Pour the cream into a clean bowl and lay plastic wrap on the surface. Refrigerate about 45 minutes. While the pastry cream cools, prepare the tart crusts.

Lightly flour a large sheet of parchment paper. Roll out the dough on the parchment to about a 10-by-14 inch rectangle. Trim it into an 8-by-12 inch rectangle, reserving the scraps. Cut the rectangle into eight 3-by-4 inch rectangles. Separate the pieces slightly on the parchment and use your fingers to crimp the edges. Slide the parchment paper onto a baking sheet. Refrigerate until firm, about 20 minutes.

Lightly flour a small piece of parchment paper. Gather the dough scraps and roll out to the same thickness as the tarts, about 1/4 inch, on the parchment. Cut and crimp another 2 or 3 tarts into 3-by-4 inch rectangles and use a small star shaped cookie cutter to cut out enough stars to top each one. You should end up with about 10 tarts and 10 stars. Transfer the parchment to another baking sheet and refrigerate until firm, about 20 minutes.

If you still have a small amount of leftover dough, roll into cookie size balls and flatten to the same thickness as the crusts. Bake along with the crust for a nice lightly sweet cookie.

To bake the crust, preheat the oven to 375 F. Poke a few holes in the crusts with a fork. Brush the stars and the top of the crusts with the beaten egg. Bake until golden brown, about 25 minutes. Remove to a rack and cool completely before topping with the pastry cream.

To assemble the tarts, divide the pastry cream on top of each tart crust. Top with fresh berries and a cookie star. Sprinkle with a dusting of confectioners’ sugar and serve. Refrigerate any leftovers.

(Recipe adapted from a Food Network Kitchen recipe.)