Italian Jam Tarts (Crostatine) – Traditional Homemade Recipe

Italian Crostatine, also known as jam tarts, are small shortcrust pastries filled with delicious fruit jams, pastry cream, Nutella, or any chocolate spread you like. When I was a child, these little tarts were always part of my breakfast or my afternoon merenda after school.

Unlike the classic English jam tarts, which usually have no pastry on top, Italian Crostatine are decorated with thin strips of shortcrust pastry. You can also get creative by adding shapes like hearts for Valentine’s Day or stars for Christmas.

For best results, I always recommend using homemade shortcrust pastry. It’s very simple to prepare—especially with a food processor—and tastes so much better than anything store-bought. The same applies to the jam: the higher the fruit content, the less it will bubble out during baking.

This recipe makes about 12 Crostatine.

Ingredients

• 1 portion of shortcrust pastry (see recipe in the “How to Make…” section)
• Fruit jam of your choice (apricot, strawberry, cherry, etc.)
• Or pastry cream, or Nutella/any chocolate spread

Instructions

Prepare the Pastry

Prepare your shortcrust pastry and let it rest in the fridge for at least 30 minutes. This helps with shaping and rolling.

Shape the Tarts

Roll out the chilled dough and cut discs about ½ cm thick. Press each disc into small tart molds to form the base and fill with the jam or cream you prefer.

Add the Decorative Top

Use the leftover pastry to cut thin strips or shapes and place them over the tarts in the classic lattice pattern. Trim the excess pastry around the borders.

Bake

Preheat your oven to 200°C / 392°F and bake the Crostatine for 15–25 minutes, depending on your oven. They are ready once lightly golden. Avoid overbaking or they will become dry and hard.

Serve and Enjoy

Your homemade Italian Crostatine are ready! Serve warm or at room temperature with tea or coffee. A perfect treat for breakfast, snack time, or to share with your family.

Buon appetito!

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