Jan Smutsies tartlets

Jan Smutsies tartlets are filled with cake batter and apricot jam (South Africans' favourite jam). They are very good.

Jan Smuts was an eminent South African and British Commonwealth statesman, military leader, and philosopher. He was Prime Minister in the Union of South-Africa from 1919 to 1924 and again from 1939 to 1948. His political supporters preferred these tartlets over Hertzoggies.

Ingredients

Pastry:

  • 1 ½ cups flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • Pinch of salt
  • 125 gram butter
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 egg (beaten)
  • ¼ teaspoon nutmeg (optional)

Filling:

  • 125 gram butter
  • 2/3 cup sugar
  • 2 large eggs (beaten)
  • 1 cup (225 ml) flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ cup fine apricot jam
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla

Method

  1. Grease patty pans with non-stick spray.
  2. Sift flour, baking powder, salt and nutmeg together.
  3. Rub butter into flour until crumbly.
  4. Add sugar and mix well.
  5. Add egg and mix.
  6. Roll out to 3 mm thickness, on a flour covered area. Press out circles that are 8 cm in diameter and use it to line creased patty pans.
  7. Place ½ teaspoon of apricot jam on each pastry circle.
  8. Cream butter and sugar together.
  9. Add eggs and mix.
  10. Sift flour and baking powder together, add vanilla and mix into egg mixture.
  11. Add a spoonful of cake mixture into each tartlet.
  12. Bake for 15 minutes in an oven at 180°C until browned. If you press it down lightly, the tops of the cakes it must return to their original shape.
  13. Remove from pans and cool on a cake rack.

Eat within a day or two.