Recipe: Easy Fresh Fruit Tart

1 (9 1/2 by 9-inch) sheet puff pastry, thawed overnight in refrigerator

2 teaspoons sugar

1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon

4 ounces cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons strawberry jelly

1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 cups fresh berries

Turning Puff Pastry into a Tart Shell

Brush a 1/2-inch border along the edges of the pastry with water. Fold the long edges of the pastry over by 1/2 inch, then fold the short edges over by 1/2 inch.

Working lengthwise, lightly score the outer edge of all folded edges of the tart shell with a paring knife.

To prevent the center of the tart from puffing up in the oven, poke the dough repeatedly with a fork.

Adjust oven rack to upper-middle position and heat oven to 425 degrees. Line baking sheet with parchment paper. Unfold thawed pastry onto baking sheet and, following photos at right, prepare pastry shell.

Combine sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle mixture over inside of tart shell. Transfer to oven and bake until pastry and sugar are deep golden brown, 15 to 22 minutes. Transfer to wire rack and let cool at least 1 hour.

While crust is baking, stir softened cream cheese, 2 tablespoons jelly, and vanilla in bowl until smooth. Refrigerate until ready to use. (Mixture can be made up to 2 days in advance; stir well before using.)

Spread cream cheese mixture over inside of cooled tart shell. Place remaining jelly in large microwave-safe bowl and microwave on high power until jelly melts, about 30 seconds. Add berries to bowl and toss gently until coated with jelly. Spoon berries over cream cheese mixture and refrigerate until jelly is set, at least 1 hour and up to 4 hours. Let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes. Serve.

Recipe from Cook's Country magazine August/September 2007