Take Vanilla Wafer Mini-Tarts to Tailgating Parties & Potlucks

Soon there will be traditional tailgating parties and potlucks to contend with as the crisp air of autumn beckons neighbors and strangers to gather for one common cause — football.

If you are lucky enough to volunteer to bring a dessert, you can’t go wrong with these delicious but easy mini-tarts that get their quickness from ready-made vanilla wafers. I don’t know where the recipe originated, but here are two slightly different versions that are sure to please hungry game-goers, game-watchers, or other gathering crowds.

Mini-Tarts  – Version 1
These are the first mini-tarts I ever tasted, and I remember how remarkably quick and easy they always are to make.

1 package cupcake liners
2 8 oz. bricks cream cheese, softened
¾ cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 Tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon vanilla
Vanilla Wafers
Pie filling, jam or preserves

Mix first five ingredients for the mini-tarts together with fork, eggbeaters or an electric mixer until filling is light and fluffy. Put one vanilla wafer in each cupcake liner. Spoon cream cheese mixture over vanilla wafer until each liner is two-thirds full. Bake in 350 degree—¦ oven for 20-25 minutes until filling is just set.  Cool in pans. Top with your choice of pie filling, jam or preserves.  Makes about 20 mini-tarts.

Mini-Tarts – Version 2
I have successfully substituted almond or coconut flavoring in this recipe, which leaves out the lemon juice, and has a different temperature for baking. Both recipe versions are easy to make and taste great.

1 package foil cupcake liners
2 8 oz. bricks cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
12  Vanilla Wafers
Pie filling, jam or preserves

Use foil liners with a vanilla wafer placed on the bottom of each cupcake liner. Mix cream cheese, sugar and eggs until well blended. Add vanilla and mix well. Fill liners to approximately ¾ full on top of the vanilla wafer. Bake in a 325 degree—¦ oven for 25 minutes, or until filling is set firm. Cool. Top with pie filling, preserves, fruit, sugared pecans, toasted coconut, or shaved chocolate. Makes about 20.

I have had this recipe for a long time, and have added it to my family cookbook already. You may want to add this one to your family recipe cookbook, too. Just cut your favorite version and paste it into your own family cookbook template.

Happy cookbooking

Erin

About Erin Miller

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Posted in Recipes & Cooking Advice.

One Comment

  1. I’ve tried cooking mini-tars but something went wrong. I’ll give your recipe a try this weekend.

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