MINI LEMON TARTS WITH GRAHAM CRACKER CRUST RECIPES

Steps:

• To prepare crusts: Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 12-cup muffin tray with paper liners; lightly coat with cooking spray. Combine crumbs, melted butter, 1/4 cup sugar and 3 egg whites in a large bowl; stir until well mixed. Place about 3 heaping tablespoons of the mixture into each muffin cup, firmly pressing into the bottom and up the sides.
• Bake until lightly browned and set, about 12 minutes. Transfer the pan to a wire rack and let cool completely, about 10 minutes. Remove the crusts from the pan; remove and discard the liners. Place the crusts on a large plate.
• Meanwhile, prepare filling: Whisk eggs, egg yolks, sugar, butter, lemon zest and lemon juice together in a medium saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until thickened, about 5 minutes. Pour the mixture through a fine-mesh strainer into a medium heatproof bowl.
• Divide the lemon curd among the crusts (about 2 tablespoons each). Cover and refrigerate until chilled, about 1 hour.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Beat the 3 yolks in a bowl until smooth; set aside.
• Whisk 3/4 cup of sugar with cornstarch and flour in a saucepan until thoroughly mixed; beat in the water, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat; reduce heat to a simmer. Add the egg yolks and butter, and mix with the whisk until the filling is smooth and thickened; remove from heat. Spoon the hot lemon filling into the mini graham cracker crusts.
• Beat the egg whites in a metal or glass bowl with 1/4 cup of sugar and the almond extract with an electric mixer until the meringue is fluffy and holds stiff peaks, 1 to 2 minutes. Top each lemon pie with about 1 inch of the meringue and spread into decorative swirls and peaks with a spatula. Cover all the lemon filling with meringue.
• Bake in preheated oven until the meringue is lightly golden brown with darker brown peaks and swirls, about 10 minutes. Allow to cool before serving.