How do I make aesthetically appealing jam tarts

[handlemecarefully]

They usually taste just fine - but I want them to look pretty!

The pastry seems to bubble a bit whilst in the oven and comes out looking all irregular, and the jam usually laps over the side (probably putting too much jam in)

is this just inevitable or is it all in the technique?

I have never made a jam tart in my life

which is totally irrelevant to the question but rather surprised me

Never ?

can you prick the pastry with a fork

never ever

they just don't seem appealing

I yam da muffin man instead

Yes I know what you mean Speccy - but all the same I am on a quest for perfection

Ummm pricking them - will try that

they taste ok, they look ok.

I don't think jam tarts are made for excellence. I don't think they can be raised above mediocre.

How's about a blob of meringue on top?

Bah humbug pointdog! Jam tarts mediocre? (or jam hearts as my lo's call them). It is a travesty to suggest such a thing!

know what you mean hmc - ours are always a bit crumpled as well.
How about making them in mini muffin cases? Or using a fluted cutter?

jam tarts need a complete overhaul to make them aesthetically pleasing. I've mulled it over. And I know I'm right.

no amount of fluting is going to help them that much

lol pointdog - you're not that keen on them are you

My big tip for jam tarts is this;

1)scrape out all the minging jam

2)replace with a lovely big dollop of Nuttella or that fudgy caramel stuff you get by boiling a tin of condensed milk

3)serve (to me)

Voila!!!

The perfect, aesthetically pleasing jam tart.

Jeremy have you tried the condensed milk thing? did it work? I failed but then realised I had used evaporated

I think Mr Kipling cheats and puts his jam in after he's baked the cases. And he has special unbubbly pasty - like those unfilled tart cases they sell in M&S - how do they get them so regular?

Home-made jam tarts are supposed to look...well...home-made (we always made jam tarts with the left over pastry when Mum had made pies...my poor kids are deprived as I only ever bake for school fairs).

Fill with two-thirds jam and top up afterwards.

Do strawberry ones and after they've come out, put 1/2 a strawberry in the middle of each.

Nice.

Lol - think you know why it didn't work dont you?!

Yes it did work for me, boil the can whole for about 2 hours....um...i think.

Yummmmm.

Will give it another try! Didn't realise they were so different.

Case in point. Pesto's version sounds ok, a slight improvement. But if you've got the strawbs, strawberyy tarts would be a whole lot tastier and more wow.

In fact, good bread and jam would be a whole lot nicer than jam tarts.

Go away Pointy - my children love jam tarts. It's part of childhood!

like semolina

I love semolina

And tapioca