Cherry Mascarpone Tartlets

Creamy indulgent bites of heaven. I feel a little less guilty eating these despite the fact that the recipe is anything but low fat, because they are just little bites of indulgence. Instead of a whole plate full of the stuff. I also love them because they were the perfect use for the last can of canned cherries. I am on my last jar of canned cherries and the neighbor boys better come knocking with their ruby red cash crop soon.

I am pretty delighted with myself for thinking up these tasty treats to feed the husband's band on band night. Unfortunately I had a few too many tastes of the cream cheese pastry dough. It could have been a guiltless (my version of guiltless is probably different than yours) treat if only I had restrained myself. And oh that mascarpone filling. So creamy!

Cherry Mascarpone Tartlets
Makes appx 18 tartlets

I love this cream cheese pastry dough, It is easy and perfect for tartlets. I use it for all kinds of tart recipes.
1/2 Cup butter softened
1/2 Cup cream cheese, softened
1 Cup all purpose flour

Filling:
1/4 cup chocolate chips
6 oz carton of mascarpone
2 T powdered sugar
1 tsp of vanilla extract
Cherries, pitted. I used canned but fresh will be even more tasty.

Tarts
Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
Beat butter and cream cheese until smooth. Add flour and beat just until a soft dough forms.

Cover with a plastic wrap and chill one hour or overnight.

Shape chilled dough into 1 inch balls. Place each ball of dough into mini tart of mini muffin pan. Dip a tart shaper or back of spoon into flour and press into dough to form tart shells. Pierce shells with fork.

Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until light golden brown.

Remove tarts from oven and place 3 to 4 choco chips in bottom of each tart. They will melt on their own. Allow to cool.

Meanwhile prepare the mascarpone filling. Beat mascarpone, powdered sugar and vanilla until smooth. Remove tartlets from pan. Fill each tartlet with mascarpone filling and top with one or two cherries. Serve immediately or cover and keep chilled.