19 tart shell recipes

If you like sweet and buttery, you'll love these little gems. Quick and easy if you use store-bought mini tart shells. Or your could make your own shells out of pastry dough and bake them in a mini muffin pan.

Spiced pumpkin custard fills mini tart shells, then gets topped with a broiled pecan-sugar crust. These two-bite holiday tarts balance creamy filling with crunchy caramelized nut topping.

Cheddar olive tart: a savory custard of eggs, cream, sharp cheddar, and sliced black olives baked into tart shells. Brunch or appetizer, ready in 40 minutes from a single bowl.

Leek and goat cheese tart with balsamic-braised leeks and cream layered over crumbled chevre in a pre-baked shell. An elegant French vegetarian tart with rich, tangy flavor.

Gluten-free maple bean tarts with white kidney beans blended into a maple syrup and brown sugar filling, poured over raisins in bean-flour tart shells. Lower fat and naturally gluten-free.

Eggnog parfait pies with lemon gelatin, vanilla ice cream, nutmeg, rum flavoring, and whipped egg whites in baked tart shells. A fluffy no-bake holiday dessert topped with whipped cream.

A silky Belgian cream cheese tart with lemon juice and whipping cream, baked in an 8-inch tart shell and brushed with a glossy egg wash. Light, creamy, and elegant.

Parmesan tomato tart layers ricotta, fresh tomatoes, oregano and grated Parmigiano-Reggiano in a flaky pie shell. A light Italian-style savory tart that shines at summer brunch or lunch.

Peanut butter cup tarts made with just two ingredients: refrigerated cookie dough and peanut butter cups. The warm cookie puffs then wraps around the candy to form a mini tart shell as it cools.

Smoky mushroom tart with sauteed shiitake and button mushrooms layered over smoked mozzarella in a blind-baked butter pastry shell, topped with Asiago and walnuts.

Mini crab tarts in flaky pastry shells with Swiss cheese, cream cheese, nutmeg, and shredded carrots. Baked until set and golden for an elegant, bite-sized seafood treat.

Provençal tomato tart layered with ricotta, mozzarella, parmesan, marinated artichoke hearts, and fresh oregano in a golden pastry shell. Bring the French Riviera to your kitchen table.

Savory winter squash tart with roasted squash, buttery leeks, Gruyere, and creme fraiche in a flaky pastry shell. A rustic, elegant main dish for fall and winter entertaining.

Flaked tuna folded into creamy bechamel sauce with a splash of sherry, served three ways: over fried eggplant, in tart shells, or on buttered biscuits. Retro comfort food in 20 minutes.

Roger's scallop tarts: delicate pastry cups filled with garlic-cream cheese, seared scallops, and a tiny crown of caviar. A classy, bite-sized seafood appetizer.

Authentic Szechuan shrimp: jumbo shrimp marinated in egg, sesame oil, and rice wine, then velveted in peanut oil and wok-tossed with hot bean paste, ginger, garlic, and ketchup. Glossy, spicy, and restaurant-quality.