Celebrate the vibrant taste of summer with these delicious Mini Peach and Cream Cheese Tarts. This small batch recipe combines homemade pastry, fresh peach slices, and cream cheese, topped with a cinnamon, lemon, and honey glaze. The result is a rustic yet flavorful dessert that’s perfect for any occasion!

Full Recipe:

Ingredients

Tart Dough

• ¾ cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

• 2 teaspoons granulated sugar

• ¼ teaspoon salt

• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter (cold, cut into cubes or grated)

• 3 to 4 tablespoons ice water

• ¼ teaspoon white distilled vinegar

• 1 tablespoon heavy cream (for brushing dough)

• Cinnamon sugar (for sprinkling dough)

Peach Tart Filling

• 1 fresh peach (half cut into slices)

• 3 to 4 ounces cream cheese (room temperature)

Honey Drizzle

• 2 tablespoons honey

• 1 teaspoon lemon juice

• ⅛ teaspoon ground cinnamon

• ⅛ teaspoon ground ginger

Directions

1. Make the Tart Dough: Combine flour, sugar, salt, and butter in a mixing bowl. Use a pastry cutter or your fingers to cut the butter into the mixture until it resembles peas. Add ice water and vinegar, stirring to form a rough dough. Wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.

2. Prepare Peach Filling: Slice the peach into even slices. Slice the cream cheese into thin slices, aiming for 2 slices per tart.

3. Make Honey Drizzle: Mix honey, lemon juice, cinnamon, and ginger in a small bowl.

4. Shape the Tarts: Preheat the oven to 425°F. Roll the dough into a 9×9-inch square, folding it like a letter twice to create flaky layers. Cut into 4 squares. Place on a baking sheet and fold up the edges to form a border.

5. Assemble: Place 2 slices of cream cheese in the center of each square, drizzle with honey glaze, and arrange peach slices on top. Brush the dough edges with heavy cream and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.

6. Bake: Bake for 18–22 minutes, until golden brown. Let cool slightly before drizzling with additional honey glaze. Serve warm.

Nutrients (per serving)

• Calories: 432 kcal

• Carbohydrates: 55g

• Protein: 7g

• Fat: 21g

• Saturated Fat: 12g

• Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g

• Monounsaturated Fat: 5g

• Trans Fat: 0.5g

• Cholesterol: 56mg

• Sodium: 222mg

• Potassium: 144mg

• Fiber: 2g

• Sugar: 15g

• Vitamin A: 813 IU

• Vitamin C: 2mg

• Calcium: 38mg

• Iron: 3mg

The Allure of Homemade Pastry

The foundation of any great tart is the pastry. While store-bought crusts can be convenient, there’s something special about the taste and texture of homemade pastry. This recipe calls for a buttery, flaky dough that is surprisingly simple to prepare. The dough itself comes together with just a few key ingredients: flour, sugar, salt, butter, and a touch of vinegar. The addition of vinegar helps to tenderize the dough, ensuring it stays light and flaky once baked.

Unlike many other tart crusts that may require multiple steps or chilling for extended periods, this pastry dough requires just 30 minutes in the fridge before it’s ready to be rolled out. The result is a beautifully flaky crust that serves as the perfect vessel for the creamy filling and fresh peaches. The extra step of brushing the dough edges with heavy cream and sprinkling cinnamon sugar before baking adds an extra touch of flavor and visual appeal, turning these tarts into mini masterpieces.

Cream Cheese and Peach Filling: A Match Made in Heaven

The cream cheese filling provides the perfect balance to the sweetness of the peaches. Cream cheese, when softened, takes on a wonderfully smooth texture that melts into the tart’s crust, creating a rich and creamy base. Its subtle tanginess contrasts beautifully with the fresh peach slices, highlighting the natural sweetness of the fruit.

Peaches, being a quintessential summer fruit, are at their best during the warmer months. They add a burst of color and flavor to the tarts, bringing both sweetness and a touch of tartness. Sliced thinly, the peaches not only enhance the flavor but also create a stunning visual effect when arranged atop the cream cheese filling. Fresh peaches are ideal for this recipe, but if they are out of season, canned peaches or frozen alternatives can also be used as a substitute.

The combination of cream cheese and peaches offers a refreshing yet indulgent filling that holds up beautifully against the light, crisp crust. Together, these elements create a dessert that’s both decadent and refreshing, making it a crowd-pleaser every time.

The Importance of the Honey Drizzle

What truly sets this dessert apart is the honey drizzle. The honey glaze, infused with lemon juice, cinnamon, and ginger, adds an extra layer of complexity to the tarts. Honey, with its natural sweetness and smooth texture, complements the cream cheese and peaches while tying the flavors together beautifully. The slight acidity from the lemon juice helps to balance the sweetness of the honey, preventing the tarts from becoming overly sweet.

Cinnamon and ginger add warmth and spice, making the glaze not just a sweet topping but a flavor-enhancing element that rounds out the entire dish. The glaze is drizzled over the tarts both before and after baking, ensuring that each bite is infused with the rich, aromatic flavors. It also gives the tarts a glossy finish, making them even more tempting.

Baking the Tarts to Perfection

The baking process is where the magic truly happens. Preheating the oven to a high temperature ensures that the pastry cooks quickly and evenly, resulting in a beautifully golden-brown crust that is both crisp and tender. Baking the tarts for just 18 to 22 minutes allows the peaches to soften while still maintaining their texture, and the cream cheese filling to set perfectly without becoming too runny.

The addition of heavy cream brushed on the dough edges before baking helps the crust turn a lovely golden brown and gives it a slightly shiny, appealing finish. The cinnamon sugar sprinkled on top adds a sweet, spiced touch that contrasts nicely with the tart fruit and creamy filling. Once baked, the tarts should be left to cool slightly before being drizzled with the remaining honey glaze, allowing the flavors to meld and the glaze to set.

Why These Tarts are Perfect for Any Occasion

Mini Peach and Cream Cheese Tarts are ideal for various occasions. Their bite-sized nature makes them perfect for serving at parties, picnics, or gatherings where guests can enjoy a little indulgence without feeling guilty. The individual tarts also make them easy to portion out, ensuring that everyone gets a fair share of this delicious treat.

Additionally, the versatility of the recipe allows for customization. You can swap out the peaches for other seasonal fruits like nectarines, plums, or berries, creating a tart that reflects the flavors of the current season. The cream cheese filling can also be modified with a dash of vanilla or almond extract to suit your taste preferences, making this recipe adaptable to different flavor profiles.

Whether served at a formal dinner or a casual get-together, these tarts are sure to impress your guests with their beautiful presentation and delightful flavor. Their rustic yet refined appearance makes them an excellent addition to any dessert table, providing both a visual and flavorful treat that will be remembered long after the last bite.

Conclusion: A Sweet End to Your Summer Meal

Mini Peach and Cream Cheese Tarts offer a perfect way to celebrate the best of summer’s fresh produce. With their flaky, buttery crust, creamy filling, and sweet peach topping, they embody the flavors of the season in every bite. The honey drizzle with cinnamon and lemon adds a unique twist, making these tarts stand out from traditional fruit desserts.

This recipe is a wonderful addition to your repertoire, as it’s easy to make yet impressive enough for special occasions. The balance of textures and flavors—from the crisp pastry to the creamy filling and juicy peaches—ensures that these tarts will be a hit at any event. Whether you’re celebrating a summer picnic, hosting a dinner party, or simply treating yourself to a homemade dessert, Mini Peach and Cream Cheese Tarts are sure to delight. So, gather your ingredients, follow the simple steps, and enjoy a slice of summer today!