Valentine's Day baking: Jam tarts with hearts ♥

We don't go overboard with Valentine's Day by any means, but give me any excuse to bake and I'll jump at the chance... so, with Valentine's Day impending upon us this weekend I thought I'd bake some cute Valentine's Day inspired treats...

Jam tarts with hearts <3

I adore jam tarts! They're so simplistic {made from just pastry and jam} yet they're quintessentially English and so delicious. Do they remind you of your childhood? We always used to have them at tea parties and picnics, filled with various different flavoured jams and I'm sure they're probably one of the first things I ever baked with my Mum. They also remind me of that brilliant scene in Lewis Carroll's 'Alice in Wonderland'...

"The Queen of Hearts, she made some tarts, all on a Summer's day...
The Knave of Hearts, he stole those hearts and took them quite away"!

These jam tarts are super quick and easy to make. Usually the jam top is just left open, but a little cut-out pastry heart makes them the perfect bake for Valentine's Day. They'd make the perfect treat for your loved one! I cheated and used ready-made short crust pastry but you can, of course, be a domestic goddess and make your own.

You will need:

320g ready-rolled all butter shortcrust pastry
150g raspberry jam

1 x beaten egg

caster sugar, for dusting

Preheat the oven to 180 degrees celsius.

Roll out the pastry onto your kitchen surface and using a medium- sized pastry/cookie cutter, cut out 12 discs. Place the discs into a pre-greased muffin tin and press down.

Place a generous teaspoon of jam onto each pastry disc and spread evenly...

And then, using either a heart-shaped cutter or a knife, cut out some hearts using the left over pastry and place a pastry heart onto the top of each tart.

Brush with some beaten egg, using a pastry brush and then lightly sprinkle over some caster sugar...

And then bake in the oven for 12-15 minutes until golden brown. The jam will be bubbling away and they'll smell divine.

Roses and hearts, can you feel the love?!

Are you planning anything special for Vaentine's Day? We're off on a triple date with some friends to play crazy golf and have dinner! Not the most romantic evening, but it will be lots of fun. Plus, I've booked Rob a little surprise for next week <3

 Will you be baking some treats for your Valentine? Maybe this will be a little inspiration for you!

Lydia xxx