Simple Easter Basket Tarts (Puff Pastry Recipes) (2024)

Desserts | Easter | RECIPES | Spring | Teatime

ByStephanie Wilson

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These Easter Basket Tarts are a simple puff pastry recipe that is cute, easy, and fun for the holiday. Delicious with simple store-bought fillings or decadent with homemade lemon curd or chocolate ganache. Topped with coconut grass and Easter eggs, they bring a festive touch to your Easter or dessert table!

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Make your Easter extra special with these adorable Easter Basket Tarts. A simple puff pastry recipe with delicious fillings and festive decorations.

Why I Love Puff Pastry Recipes & This Edible Easter Basket

Regardless of the season, it seems there are puff pastry recipes that make a holiday or party more festive, fun… and even easier.

For me, Christmas entertaining always includes a Spinach Puff Pastry Christmas Tree. Summer entertaining, particularly on Memorial Day, includes Easy Berry Pinwheel Pastries or for picnics and backyard BBQs throughout the summer.

So it’s little wonder that when spring cleaning my freezer this year, I came across a package of puff pastry tart shells. Checking the date, I knew they needed using. Running through recipe ideas in my head, it dawned on me that they resembled Easter baskets.

The idea for these tarts came quickly. What took longer to decide was whether to use lemon curd or chocolate ganache filling.

But the answer was super simple… both!

You can decorate these little gems however you want, but I found that slightly green-dyed coconut flakes resembled grass, and Easter egg malt balls looked perfect in my new and festive edible Easter baskets.

If you try them, let me know what creative ways you decorate your baskets!

Happy Easter,

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Puff Pastry Recipe Overview

  • What it is: A simple table decor, name card holder, or quick Easter treat
  • Kitchen Tools Needed: A baking sheet
  • Time:
  • Makes: 6 tarts
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When Do You Serve Easter Basket Tarts?

I love these for an Easter brunch or dinner. They can serve as a name card holder at the top of each plate or on a dessert table. I also love them for a spring-themed afternoon tea. Whether that be for Mother’s Day or any gathering when spring is in full bloom!

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Ingredients for Easter Basket Tarts

Here are the simple ingredients needed for these puff pastry treats. The ingredient measurements are in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

  • Puff Pastry Tart Shells: I used Pepperidge Farms Puff Pastry Shells, which contains 6 frozen tart shells.
  • Filling: I love the idea of both lemon curd and chocolate ganache fillings for Easter; however, be creative, and you may come up with another spectacular filling!
  • Sweetened Coconut Flakes: I used a couple of green food dye drops to resemble grass.
  • Easter Eggs: I wanted the entire Easter basket to be edible, so I opted for Easter Malt Balls in egg-shaped pastel colors. (I found mine at Williams Sonoma, but all the markets have a version of these).

Making Homemade Filling

As I mentioned above, I think both lemon curd and chocolate ganache are perfect fillings for Easter and the spring season. While you can most definitely use store-bought fillings, you can also make your own.

Keep in mind you will need a little more than 1 cup of filling. In this post, I’m using Nutella for an upcoming dinner with several children I knew would prefer this filling. For Easter, I will make half lemon curd and half chocolate ganache.

Lemon Curd Filling

I have an easy Lemon Curd recipe I make often. It takes about 20 minutes but can be made ahead.

Chocolate Ganache Filling

You need only two ingredients to make chocolate ganache: chocolate and heavy whipping cream. You can use dark, semi-sweet, or milk chocolate. I will be using the filling from my Chocolate Ganache Mini Tarts recipe.

How to Make Easter Basket Puff Pastry Recipe

Step-by-step instructions are also in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Preheat the oven to 425℉ and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

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1

Bake puff pastry shells from frozen.

Follow the package instructions to bake the tarts from frozen. When cool, press the tart “lid” down into the puff pastry or remove all together. If you remove the tart shell, there is more room for filling, less if you press it down into the tart.

Fill the tarts.

Fill the interior of the tart with lemon curd, ganache (or Nutella), or a combination of both.

3

Decorate

Place coconut flakes in a small bowl, add a couple of drops of green food dye, and stir until even in color. Place small rings of coconut around the outside edges of the tart and place “easter eggs” in the middle.

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Puff Pastry Recipe FAQs

Do you apply an egg wash to the tart shell before baking?

While I love to add an egg wash to most pastries, this is the exception. An egg wash on this frozen tart shell can affect its rise. Which wouldn’t be good for the Easter basket shape.

What temperature do you bake puff pastry shells?

Bake according to the package instructions, but for Pepperidge Farms pastry shells, preheat the oven to 400 degrees F, place tarts about 2 inches apart, and bake for 18-20 minutes. I begin checking the tarts at 15 minutes.

More Easy Recipes You May Also Enjoy

  • Chocolate Ganache Mini Tarts
  • Easy French Ganache Tart
  • Fudgy Chocolate Cake Recipe with Ganache
  • Lemon Easter Lamb Cake (Osterlamm)

SAVE THIS AND PIN IT FOR LATER!

Make sure you don’t lose track of this recipe by pinning it for later! If you are not already, you can follow me onPinterest, as well as keep up with me onFacebook,Instagram,andYouTube. If you make this recipe, I would also love it if you’d tag me in your photos and leave a star rating below!

Simple Easter Basket Tarts (Puff Pastry Recipes) (7)

Simple Easter Basket Tarts (Puff Pastry Recipes) (8)

Simple Easter Basket Tarts (Puff Pastry Recipe)

Make your Easter extra special with these adorable Easter Basket Tarts. A simple puff pastry recipe with delicious fillings and festive decorations.

5 from 1 vote

Print Pin Save

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes minutes

Servings: 6 servings

Author: Stephanie Wilson

Ingredients

  • 1 package frozen puff pastry tart shells like Pepperidge Farms
  • Lemon Curd store-bought or homemade
  • Chocolate Ganache or Nutella
  • Sweetened Coconut Flakes
  • Easter Eggs like Easter Malt Balls

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 425℉ and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Follow the package instructions to bake the tarts from frozen.

  • Remove from the oven and cool slightly. Press the "lid" down into the puff pastry tart or remove all together. If you remove the tart shell, there is more room for a filling, but either way, it's delicious.

  • Fill the interior of the tart with either lemon curd or ganache (or Nutella), or make a combination of both. I like to add the filling to a resealable baggie and pipe it into the tart to keep it tidy.

  • Place coconut flakes in a small bowl, add a couple of drops of green food dye, and stir until even in color. Place small rings of coconut around the outside edges of the tart and place "easter eggs" in the middle.

Video

Notes

  1. Filling Amounts: I add just a heaping 2 tablespoons of filling per tart, more if you remove the tart lid instead of pressing it into the bottom of the tart. For 8 tarts, you will need a little more than 1 cup of filling.
  2. Ready-Made Fillings: If you’re looking for a super quick solution, store-bought lemon curd and Nutella are great options. If you have more time, both homemade lemon curd and chocolate ganache are simple and delicious!

Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.

Tried this recipe? Pin it Today!Follow me on Pinterest for more and use the "Pin" button at the top of the recipe card.

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Puff Pastry Recipes

Simple Easter Basket Tarts (Puff Pastry Recipes) (2024)

FAQs

Can you use Puff Pastry to make a tart crust? ›

Also great for a mincemeat, quark and apple tart. For a smallish tart of around 17.5cm/7in diametre you'll need: 180-200g/6-7oz puff pastry.

Can Puff Pastry tarts be made ahead of time? ›

Can I prepare a recipe made with Puff Pastry ahead of time and bake it later? Yes, you can (with certain recipes). To simplify your day, you can prepare the recipe ahead of time, then bake as directed prior to serving.

What is the secret to Puff Pastry? ›

Always preheat your oven for a minimum of 15-20 minutes before baking, because Puff Pastry depends on even heat to rise and puff. Place pastries 1 inch apart. If you want a flaky thin and crispy pastry that's not very puffy, prick the unbaked Puff Pastry all over with a fork, which lets steam escape while baking.

How many layers of Puff Pastry do you use? ›

A typical Puff Pastry can have a ranges of between 500 - 700 layers depending on the total of folds involved. You can fold the dough in a number of different ways and the two most common ways are called the " Single Fold / Letter Fold" and "Double Fold/ Book Fold".

Do you need to blind bake puff pastry for a tart? ›

If you're going to fill it completely, so a sauce or something, no, you shouldn't need to blind bake it. But it will effect your baking time. Rule of thumb with pie baking is, you need to have the pastry baked before the filling boils. If the filling boils, it will seep through your pastry, and it's just bad.

Should you refrigerate puff pastry before baking? ›

You can cut it into desired shapes, then store in the fridge until you're ready for the next step. Puff Pastry works best when cold.

Do I need to pre cook puff pastry before adding filling? ›

As a general rule, you do need to blind bake when cooking a dish with wet fillings. For example, if you're making a quiche or frangipane, blind baking the crust first will help ensure the pastry case stays buttery and retains its crunch.

What things should we avoid with puff pastry? ›

5 Mistakes to Avoid with Puff Pastry
  1. Unfolding frozen puff pastry before it's fully thawed. ...
  2. Leaving the puff pastry at room temperature too long. ...
  3. Not flouring your work surface. ...
  4. Handling the dough too much. ...
  5. Setting the oven temperature too low.

Is butter or egg better on puff pastry? ›

The Los Angeles Times notes that butter can still be used as a "wash," but it yields different results than egg: Instead of imparting color or crispness, it offers a more luxurious flavor and softness.

What does vinegar do in puff pastry? ›

The acidic properties of vinegar inhibit gluten, some will say. This theory proposes that once the water and flour are combined, gluten starts forming, causing the dough to grow tough. Adding an acid, the theory goes, stops the gluten in its tracks and rescues the crust from toughness.

Do you poke holes in puff pastry? ›

Recipe Notes

If you don't want the pastry to puff so dramatically, prick the dough all over with a fork (just like docking a pie crust). After baking, the pastry will be cracker-thin and shatteringly crisp.

Do you put puff pastry on hot or cold filling? ›

When making a pie with a pastry top or lid, choose a dish with a rim and allow the filling to get cold before topping with pastry. Roll out pastry large enough to cover dish and with some spare.

What are the rules for puff pastry? ›

Always cut Puff Pastry straight down, never on an angle, to prevent layers from sticking together and inhibiting the rise. Cut up and down, and don't drag the knife. You can brush an egg-wash glaze (1 egg plus 1 tsp. water) over the Puff Pastry to create a rich, golden sheen when baked.

Can I use puff pastry instead of pie crust? ›

Both pastries are fantastic for making delicious pies - but I would always recommend using shortcrust for your pastry bottom, and puff or rough puff for the top. This will give you a nice crisp bottom which is sturdy enough to hold a filling as well as a lovely flaky top which has the wow factor!

What is a substitute for a tart crust? ›

Here are some of the easiest and most flavorful crust substitutions to elevate your pie recipe.
  • Cookie dough. Nicholasbphotography/Getty Images. ...
  • Butter crackers. Touchr/Shutterstock. ...
  • Granola. Lauripatterson/Getty Images. ...
  • Puff pastry. Pinkybird/Getty Images. ...
  • Phyllo dough. ...
  • Rice cereal. ...
  • Brownie batter. ...
  • Shredded coconut.
Aug 20, 2023

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