This post was sponsored by Collective Bias, Inc. All opinions are my own. #PourMoreFun #CollectiveBias
Seattle’s weather has been playing hide-and-seek lately—warm one day, cold and rainy the next. It’s May and I’m ready to put away jackets, but thankfully it’s nice today and I’m hoping the sunny days stick around.
Summer always makes me crave mangoes and refreshing fruity drinks. Growing up in India, I loved powdered fruit drinks where you simply mixed the powder with water. During a recent trip to Walmart I spotted Kool-Aid Easy Mix, which only requires adding water. I picked up three flavors: Tropical Punch, Grape, and Cherry.
At home I mixed a couple of glasses—one bottle makes about 6 quarts or three pitchers, though you can prepare single servings as well. It was an easy, refreshing drink to enjoy after time spent in the sun: Open > Pour > Add Water > Enjoy.
Inspired by the bright flavors, I decided to make a simple summer dessert using Kool-Aid Easy Mix Tropical Punch: mini fruit tarts. These little tarts are quick to assemble and the Kool-Aid added all the flavor I needed for the filling.
For the crust I used my favorite shortbread recipe—it’s buttery, easy to work with, and perfect for individual tart shells. Mini desserts are my weakness; I love mini cheesecakes and mini muffins, and these mini tarts fit right in. They make perfect single-serve treats for spring and summer gatherings with minimal leftovers.
You can top the tarts with any fruit you like. I chose berries since they’re in season, but mango or other fresh fruit would work beautifully. Though I used Tropical Punch in this batch, Cherry or Grape flavors would also be delicious.
Method
For the tart shells:
- Beat room temperature unsalted butter and confectioners’ sugar in a stand mixer or with a hand mixer until creamy, about 2 minutes.
- Add salt and all-purpose flour gradually and mix until the dough comes together and mostly sticks to the paddle attachment.
- Take about 2 tablespoons of dough per tart and press into the bottom and up the sides of mini tart pans.
- Bake at 350°F for about 15 minutes, or until the tart shells are lightly golden. Remove and cool. Tip: prick the dough with a fork before baking to prevent puffing.
For the filling:
- Beat room-temperature cream cheese until smooth and creamy.
- Add 2 tablespoons Kool-Aid Easy Mix Tropical Punch and mix to combine—this gives a lovely pink color and concentrated flavor.
- Add 2 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar and mix until smooth. If the filling seems slightly loose, chill for 10–15 minutes; it will firm up and is easy to pipe into the cooled tart shells.
- Pipe or spoon the filling into the cooled tart shells and top with fresh fruit—raspberries, blueberries, kiwi, or diced mango are great choices.
These mini fruit tarts are best served fresh. They’re bright, creamy, and easy to make—perfect for a warm afternoon or a spring party.
What’s your favorite quick dessert to make when you need something impressive but simple? I’d love to hear your go-to recipes—share them in the comments.
If you’d like to try these mini fruit tarts, look for Kool-Aid Easy Mix in the “Drink Mixes” aisle at Walmart.
Mini Fruit Tarts
14
Ingredients
Tart shells
- 1¾ cups all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup unsalted butter (1.5 sticks), at room temperature
- ⅔ cup confectioners’ sugar (powdered sugar)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¾ teaspoon vanilla extract
Filling
- 8 oz cream cheese, room temperature
- 2 tablespoons Tropical Punch (I used Kool-Aid Easy Mix Tropical Punch)
- 2 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar
For topping
Raspberries, blueberries, kiwi, or other fresh fruit to decorate
Instructions
Tart shells
- Combine room-temperature butter and confectioners’ sugar in a stand mixer or with a hand mixer.
- Beat until creamy, about 2 minutes.
- Gradually add salt and all-purpose flour and mix until the dough comes together.
- Press about 2 tablespoons of dough into each mini tart pan, pressing up the sides.
- Bake at 350°F for 15 minutes or until lightly golden. Cool completely before filling.
Filling
- Beat cream cheese until smooth.
- Add Kool-Aid Easy Mix Tropical Punch and mix until combined.
- Add confectioners’ sugar and mix until smooth. Chill briefly if needed to firm up.
- Pipe or spoon the filling into cooled tart shells and top with fresh fruit. Serve immediately.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should be used as an approximation.
Additional Info
Please share comments, ratings, or suggestions to help improve these recipes.
Mini Fruit Tarts
