Sparkling Cranberry Orange Tartlets

Recipe Introduction: Say Hello to Festive Flavors!
Ever find yourself staring into the pantry wondering what to bake for New Year's? These Sparkling Cranberry Orange Tartlets are the answer! They're bursting with tangy cranberry and sweet orange, a flavor combo that screams "celebration".
A Bit About These Festive Wonders
These aren’t your average biscuits. These delicious holiday tart recipes blend together textures and flavors. Picture a buttery shortbread crust recipe , filled with a vibrant cranberry curd recipe , and crowned with glistening sugared cranberries .
They're elegant enough for a New Year's Eve party but easy enough to whip up any time you need a little festive cheer.
These elegant desserts for new years are the perfect New Year's Eve desserts and would be amazing at any event.
These bite sized beauties are inspired by classic English baking, with a tart, fruity filling nestled in a tender crust. They're moderately easy to make, taking about 2 hours total, including chilling time.
This recipe yields 6-8 tartlets.
Why You'll Love Them: Hello New Year Desserts !
Honestly, what's not to love? Cranberries are packed with antioxidants, so you can feel slightly virtuous while indulging. Plus, these tartlets are perfect for easy New Year's desserts , or any winter gathering.
If you are looking for make-ahead desserts new year , look no further, since you can also prepare everything in advance.
What makes them truly special is the combination of textures: the crisp, buttery crust, the smooth, tangy curd, and the sweet, crunchy cranberries.
They're like a party in your mouth! Next, let's gather our ingredients and get baking!
Ingredients & Equipment for Showstopping New Year Desserts
Want to make some amazing new year desserts ? Let’s talk about what you’ll need. These Sparkling Cranberry & Orange Tartlets are perfect! Honestly, they're easier than they look.
Even a shortbread crust recipe is no sweat, promise.
Main Ingredients: The Building Blocks
Shortbread Crust:
- 1 1/2 cups (192g) all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup (1 stick, 113g) cold, cubed unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup (50g) granulated sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon (1.5ml) salt
- 3-4 tablespoons (45-60ml) ice water
For that crust, you need cold butter. Seriously! It makes all the difference for a flaky shortbread crust recipe . Get the best butter you can find; it shows.
Cranberry Orange Curd:
- 1 cup (240ml) fresh or frozen cranberries
- 1/2 cup (120ml) fresh orange juice
- 1/2 cup (100g) granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup (60g) unsalted butter
- 2 large egg yolks
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
Fresh cranberries are ideal, but frozen work fine. Seriously, I've used both for these holiday tart recipes . Also, fresh orange juice? It's worth the effort for these elegant desserts for new years .
Sugared Cranberry Garnish:
- 1/2 cup (120ml) water
- 1/2 cup (100g) granulated sugar
- 1 cup (240ml) fresh cranberries
These little gems add a proper festive touch to these festive desserts .
Seasoning Notes: Flavour Boosters
Cranberry and orange are a match made in heaven. It adds a vibrant taste to these new year desserts . The orange zest brightens up the cranberry curd recipe , giving it that zing!
For the spice rack, nothing crazy needed. Just a bit of salt enhances everything. If you're feeling adventurous, a tiny pinch of cardamom in the crust is lush.
Equipment Needed: Keep It Simple
For these easy New Year's desserts , you don't need much.
- Food processor (optional, pastry blender works too)
- 6-8 tart pans (4 inch diameter)
- Saucepan
- Whisk
- Small bowl
- Parchment paper
- Pie weights or dried beans
- Wire rack
Tart pans with removable bottoms are great but not essential. If you don't have pie weights, dried beans do the trick just fine.
I've used rice in a pinch for these New Year's Eve desserts . This is a great recipe, you can even make-ahead desserts new year .
Enjoy your cranberry orange tartlets !
Cooking Method: Perfecting Your Cranberry Orange Tartlets
These sparkling cranberry orange tartlets are the perfect addition to your New Year's Eve desserts spread. Honestly, who needs a cheese board when you can have these delightful little bites? And speaking of delights, these are truly elegant desserts for New Years .
Let's dive into how to make them shine.
Prep Like a Pro: Mise en Place Magic
First, get your mise en place sorted. That means all your ingredients prepped and ready to go. Cube that butter, measure the sugar, zest that orange.
It might seem like a faff, but trust me, it’ll save you a ton of time and stress later, especially when you're trying to nail down these holiday tart recipes .
Plus, you don't want to be fumbling around for ingredients when that curd is threatening to scramble!
step-by-step to Tartlet Triumph
- Make the Shortbread Crust: Combine flour, sugar, and salt in a food processor. Pulse in cold butter until it resembles coarse crumbs.
- Add ice water slowly, pulsing until the dough comes together. Chill for at least 1 hour .
- Roll out the dough, press into tart pans, and dock the bottoms with a fork. Chill again for 15 minutes .
- Preheat oven to 375° F ( 190° C) . Bake crusts for 15 minutes with weights, then 5- 10 minutes without, until golden brown.
- Cranberry Curd Time : Simmer cranberries, orange juice, and sugar in a saucepan until cranberries burst.
- Strain the mixture, then return liquid to the pan. Add butter, egg yolks, and egg.
- Cook over low heat, whisking constantly, until the curd thickens ( 5- 7 minutes ). Don't boil!
- Pour the curd into cooled crusts and top with sugared cranberries. Chill for at least 30 minutes before serving these festive desserts .
Pro Tips for Stellar Tartlets
- Cold butter is key! It's essential for a flaky shortbread crust recipe . I can't stress this enough.
- Avoid overworking the dough. It'll turn tough on you. Nobody wants a tough crust.
- Wanna get ahead? The cranberry curd recipe can be made up to 2 days in advance. This is a game changer for make-ahead desserts new year ! And, of course, don't forget those sugared cranberries for the perfect finishing touch. These little easy New Year's desserts , and it´s hard to make a little batch or a large one, the key is to have your materials on hand.
Recipe Notes
Alright, so you're tackling these sparkling cranberry & orange tartlets , huh? Ace! Honestly, these are gonna be the talk of your New Year's Eve desserts spread.
Think of them as posh, festive desserts , but you know, totally doable. I promise, even if you're not a seasoned pro, you can nail these easy New Year's desserts .
Here are a few notes to help you out.
Serving them Up Like a Pro
Okay, so presentation is key! For plating and presentation ideas, I like to dust these beauties with a little icing sugar.
Makes them look all snowy and wintery! Serve them on a pretty platter, maybe with a sprig of rosemary. To compliment these holiday tart recipes , I would suggest sparkling wine or Prosecco is a must.
A cheeky glass of dessert wine would also be a winner! Or, for a non-alcoholic option, a cranberry infused sparkling water would be fab.
Storage Secrets
Leftovers? If you can't eat all the elegant desserts for new years , it is not a problem! Here’s the deal with storage.
The tartlets, once assembled, are best kept in the fridge. I'd say they're good for up to 3 days, max.
Just make sure to keep them in an airtight container. This will prevent the shortbread crust recipe from getting soggy.
I wouldn't recommend freezing them. Freezing doesn't do well with the cranberry curd recipe . Reheating? If you want to warm them up a tad, a few minutes in a low oven (about 200° F ) should do the trick.
Tweak it ‘Til You Make It
Got dietary needs? Let’s adjust! For a gluten-free version, sub in a gluten-free flour blend for the shortbread crust recipe .
Works a treat! To explore flavour options, switch things up with the seasons. Instead of orange, try using clementines in winter.
Nutrition: The Nitty Gritty
Okay, so let's talk nutrition - each tartlet clocks in around 350 calories. It’s a treat. Sugared cranberries provides vitamin C.
Cranberries are brilliant for your urinary tract! And the orange zest? That’s packed with antioxidants, you know!
So there you have it! These cranberry orange tartlets are the perfect make-ahead desserts new year , and they're packed with flavour and festive cheer.
Don't be intimidated. Just have fun with it. And remember, even if they aren't perfect, they'll still taste amazing! Now, go get baking!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make these Sparkling Cranberry & Orange Tartlets ahead of time for my New Year's Eve party?
Absolutely! The shortbread crusts can be baked a day or two in advance and stored in an airtight container at room temperature. The cranberry orange curd can also be made up to 2 days ahead and refrigerated.
Just wait to assemble the tartlets until shortly before serving to keep the crust crisp and the sugared cranberries looking their best. Nobody wants a soggy bottom, as they say on Bake Off!
My cranberry orange curd didn't thicken properly, what did I do wrong?
Curd thickening woes! This usually happens if the heat is too high or you aren't whisking constantly. The egg yolks are what thicken the curd, but they can scramble if overheated. Make sure you are cooking it over low heat, stirring constantly, and have patience. It can take 5-7 minutes to thicken.
If it really doesn't thicken, a tiny cornstarch slurry (1 tsp cornstarch mixed with 1 tbsp cold water) whisked in can help as a last resort, but cook gently for another minute.
I'm looking for gluten-free New Year desserts. Can this recipe be adapted?
Yes, definitely! For a gluten-free version of these Sparkling Cranberry & Orange Tartlets, use a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend in the shortbread crust. Make sure it’s a blend designed for baking and follow the recipe instructions as directed.
You might need to add a touch more ice water to bring the dough together. The curd itself is naturally gluten-free, so no worries there!
What's the best way to store leftover New Year desserts tartlets and how long will they last?
Store leftover tartlets in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They'll be best within 2-3 days. The crust will soften over time due to the moisture from the curd, but they'll still be delicious.
You can try to crisp them up a bit by putting them in a low-heat oven (around 300°F) for a few minutes before serving, but no promises they'll be exactly like new!
Any tips for making the sugared cranberries extra sparkly for these New Year desserts?
For extra sparkly sugared cranberries, let them dry completely after simmering in the sugar syrup. This could take several hours, or even overnight. Once they are dry, roll them in granulated sugar.
For an even more intense sparkle, use superfine sugar (caster sugar) it coats the cranberries more evenly and creates a dazzling effect. They'll look like tiny jewels, fit for any New Year's Eve celebration!
Can I use store-bought shortbread cookies for the crust to save time?
You absolutely can! This is a great shortcut if you're short on time but still want to impress with these New Year desserts. Simply crush the shortbread cookies into fine crumbs (a food processor works best) and mix with a bit of melted butter to bind them together.
Press the mixture into your tart pans and bake for a few minutes until set. This saves you the steps of making the pastry from scratch but still delivers that delicious shortbread flavor!
Sparkling Cranberry Orange Tartlets

Ingredients:
Instructions:
Nutrition Facts:
| Calories | 350 calories |
|---|---|
| Fat | 18g |
| Fiber | 3g |