Mini Lemon Blueberry Tarts

Name: Mini Lemon Blueberry Tarts
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients: ¾ cup whole milk ricotta cheese (); 3 large eggs; 2 tablespoons honey (or maple syrup); ¾ teaspoon vanilla extract; 1 tablespoon lemon zest ( from 1 large or 2 small lemons, freshly grated); 1 teaspoon lemon juice; Pinch of salt; 24 mini phyllo shells; 1 cup blueberries; A handful of pomegranate seeds (as garnish (optional))

If you know me well, you know I love any ricotta or lemon recipe, like Almond Ricotta Cake or Almond Flour Lemon Cake. But today’s recipe, Mini Lemon Blueberry Tarts, is one of those, ‘my friend is coming over, I have to whip something together quick’ sort of recipes.

If you are looking for a large tart recipe including the tart crust and filling, be sure to check out Summer Berry Tart for all your warm weather gatherings.

Mini blueberry lemon tarts on a plate from the top view.

Table of Contents show

Ingredients

The ingredient list for these lemon blueberry tartlets is so short and sweet. The key is to have those little tartlets made from store-bought philo cups, but we will get to that in a bit. Here’s a quick glance at what we need:

Ricotta cheese: I use my Homemade Ricotta Cheese recipe, but any store-bought ricotta cheese will do.
Large eggs
Honey: Honey is a natural sweetener that really compliments the ricotta, lemon and blueberries. However, an equal amount of maple syrup would also work.
Vanilla extract
Lemon zest: Zest one large lemon or two small ones before slicing and juicing.
Lemon juice: Fresh lemon juice will provide the best flavor.
Mini fillo cups: Look for mini phyllo cups (sometimes labeled mini phyllo shells) in major grocery stores or online. If you have a local Greek store nearby, they will be readily available there, too.
Blueberries: Fresh sweet blueberries are your best bet; just make sure to rinse and pat dry before adding to the tarts. For a jammy sort-of blueberry layer finish, you could also finish the lemon tarts with Blueberry Sauce.
Pomegranate seeds: Optional, but I find the pomegranate seeds add such a lovely color and tangy bite.

Optional Add-Ins / Variations

Fresh berries: Change up the blueberries to any of your favorite berries, like fresh raspberries, blackberries, or diced strawberries.
Almond extract: Compliment the delicate lemon flavor with ½ teaspoon almond extract added to the ricotta mix.
Whipped cream: Dollop each individual lemon tart with Maple Whipped Cream just before serving.
Garnish: If serving immediately, you can garnish with a sprig of fresh mint for extra elegance.

How to Make Blueberry Tarts

This is the sweeter side of ricotta, with a little honey and fresh blueberries to get us there. To make these lemon and blueberry mini tarts, follow these steps:

A collage of images showing how to make the recipe.

Preheat oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Make ricotta filling: In a medium bowl, whisk together ricotta, eggs, honey, vanilla extract, lemon zest, lemon juice, and salt.
Fill phyllo cups: Place the filo cups on the prepared pan, spacing them out about 1” apart. Fill each shell with about 1 Tablespoon ricotta mixture.
Bake: Bake for 14-15 minutes, or until the filling is warm and the shells are a lightly golden brown.
Garnish: Allow the tartlets to cool slightly. Finish with fresh blueberries and pomegranate seeds, if using.

How to Store

While these mini berry tarts are best enjoyed the day they are made, they can be stored and enjoyed later in the week.

For best results, store leftover mini blueberry tarts in an airtight container in the fridge for 2 days. Remove from the fridge 5 to 10 minutes before enjoying to take some of the chill off.

FAQs:

Why is my lemon tart runny?

Lemon tarts can be runny if the filling is too wet. To ensure the filling is not runny, thoroughly mix the ricotta before mixing with the rest of the ingredients and bake until the filling is puffed and set in the middle.

Should lemon tarts be refrigerated?

Individual lemon tarts can be made in advance and stored in an airtight container in the fridge. When ready to enjoy, remove from the refrigerator 5-10 minutes before enjoying to bring up to room temperature.

Can you freeze lemon tarts?

We do not recommend freezing the lemon tartlets as the phyllo cups become too soggy once frozen and thawed.

Other Blueberry Recipes You Might Also Like:

If you try this Mini Lemon Blueberry Tarts recipe, please take a minute to rate the recipe and leave a comment below. It helps others who are thinking of making the recipe. And if you took some pictures, be sure to share them on Instagram using #foolproofeats so I can share them on my stories.