Joulutorttu – Finnish Prune Tarts
 
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
These are a traditional Finnish Christmas treat. This is a two day process – Make the pastry and the prune filling on the first day and then place in the fridge to cool completely. Day two is when you will be compiling the tarts. Any leftover prune jam can be put in a jar and used with ice cream or croissants.
Author:
Recipe type: Dessert
Cuisine: Finnish
Serves: 20
Ingredients
Pastry
  • 3½ cups plain flour
  • 225g unsalted butter
  • 225g cream cheese
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 2 tbs milk
Filling
  • 500g prunes, pitted
  • 3 c water
  • ½ cup white sugar
  • Or make a batch of my Prunes In Port Syrup for something a little more indulgent.
Egg wash
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tbs milk
Method
  1. Place the flour, butter, milk and cream cheese into a food processor and blitz till it resembles crumbs.
  2. Tip out onto some cling film and press the pastry together with your hands.
  3. Fold up in the cling film and then place in the fridge to cool overnight.
  4. Prepare the prune filling by placing the prunes and water in a saucepan and gently simmering till the prunes have softened. Remove from the heat and let cool slightly.
  5. Place the prunes into a food processor and blitz. You could leave it at this consistency, in which case add the sugar and place in the fridge to cool overnight.OR
  6. Push the softened prunes through a sieve…This takes time but the results are much finer, and then stir in the sugar. Place in the fridge to cool overnight.OR
  7. Make up a batch of the Prunes in Port Syrup and then blitz and sieve as above. Place in the fridge to cool overnight.
  8. Stir in the sugar,
  9. On day two… Roll out the pastry and then cut out squares.
  10. Cut slits on the diagonal, leaving a space in the centre.
  11. Place a big dollop of the prune jam in the centre and then fold up the corners making a star shape.
  12. You can also use ready made puff pastry if you don’t have the time to make your own pastry.
  13. Brush with the egg wash.
  14. Bake in a pre heated oven at 225°C / 450°F for 15 mins or till golden brown.
Recipe by Finding Feasts at https://www.findingfeasts.com.au/recipe-index/joulutorttu-finnish-prune-tarts/