Very rich and sophisticated, this tart will impress even your mother-in-law. It’s actually not hard at all. There are a number of layers, but each layer is very simple to produce. My dad proclaimed it better than key lime pie. If you knew how much my dad loves key lime pie, you would understand just how big a statement this is. Serve this for brunch, tea, social clubs, or as a special dessert anytime. The almond taste is very pronounced.

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Mascarpone is an extremely rich creamy cheese from Italy that has been gathering more and more of a following in the USA. It’s the main ingredient of Tiramisu, and is the reason for its smooth richness. It used to be hard to find, but now almost every grocery store carries it. You can find it in tubs with the gourmet meats and cheeses. I decided to make these tarts as a Valentine’s Day treat. Since fresh berries are very expensive in February, I made them with frozen berries. You can use frozen black cherries, strawberries, or any berry you can find. I only own 3 of the heart-shaped springform pans, so I just make 3 of the shells at a time. You can use any tart pans you like, or you can make this into a couple of larger tarts. The recipe can also be halved.

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This is an amazingly light pie, fluffy and airy. Normally, I would present something this light and fruity in the summer, but it’s pink and pretty, making it a good choice for Valentine’s Day. In the summer, you could add some fresh raspberries or strawberries to top it off. The natural tartness of the pomegranate juice means you don’t need to add any lemon juice to get a sweet/tart taste. As you are eating this, you should feel very justified with every bite, after all, it’s full of anti-oxidants.

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Desserts tend to follow trends. Salted caramels are the hot ticket at the moment, and if you try it, you’ll see why. A little bit of salt cuts the sweet of the caramel, and brings out the depth of the flavor. This pie is fun because you have two caramel layers, yet only have to make the caramel once. For the pie crust, don’t prick the bottom of the crust before you bake it, or you run the risk of a caramel leak. Instead, use pie weights or even dry beans to keep the pie shell from bubbling. Make sure to leave enough time for all the cooling steps, and the overnight chill.

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Here are the tarts that tempt you from the top of the page. This is your chance to get creative! Each one can be different from the next one. Have star fruit and kiwi on one for a mini tropical vacation, or use different kinds of berries for a more classical tart. If you don’t own that many tart pans, you can bake them in shifts. The shells freeze very well, just pull them out and fill them when you want them. For easy transport, buy large pizza boxes from the neighborhood pizzeria. It’s fun to offer to bring dessert for a dinner party, then show up with a stack of pizza boxes. You’ll get puzzled looks at first, then laughs when your host opens them. These are so pretty that people will have trouble believing you didn’t buy them from a restaurant.

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