The Boyfriend Chef & I love watching “The Best Thing I Ever Ate” on the Food Network.  Not so long ago they aired the “Ever made for the holidays” episode and we were determined to made Beau MacMillan’s Caramelized Butter Tarts.

I fancy myself a baker more than a cook.  I like having a specific recipe, making specific measurements, and having the end product exactly as planned.  What I never realized was the limited baking exposure I have.  Cakes, cookies, brownies, & cupcakes have always turned out quite well on the first try.  These tarts?  While they were delicious I did have a few issues.

First, this was a spur of the moment baking.  We had just finished eating and were contemplating dessert when I adamantly decided to whip these up.  The kitchen was still a disaster from dinner, so I was working with limited counter space.  Second, in an effort to get them done quickly I skipped the mis en place.  Mid-mixing I had to ask the BF Chef to run out for milk & brown sugar.  Third, I didn’t quite have the right tools.  I think the dough would have been mixed better if I had a dough blender and the crust not as thick if I had made 24 vs. the 18 the recipe calls for.

Believe us…these were still scrumptious.  The tarts had a slight crispness and the caramelized part was still a bit gooey the next day.  This will definitely be added to my repertoire and I can’t wait to try again!

Here are a couple of photos of the finished product: