Pumpkin Chai Tart & Tartletts

It is clearly fall now with the brisk, chilly air, the leaves beginning to fall, football, and Halloween coming up soon.  Fall is definitely a favorite season of mine.  With it, comes exciting food changes too.  I had an amazing Pumpkin Pie Chai Tea the other day at Mayorga Coffee and decided I needed to not only make a similar recipe at home--you can find the recipe for Pumpkin Pie Chai Tea (or latte) here.
Then, I realized I also had to make it in a pie (or a tart or tartlett).  Not only is this dish absolutely amazing in terms of deliciousness, but it's a great home air-freshener too (bake this and your place will smell awesomely like fall should smell). .
Note that I included photos of both a tart (large pie size) and tartletts (approx 6" across).  You could also make mini-tartletts...just modify your cooking times (the smaller they are, the less time they need to cook).

Ingredients:

Pumpkin Chai Filling
2 Cups Chai Tea, Strongly Brewed (I used 4 bags, steeped about 5-7 minutes)
8 Ounces Cream Cheese, Softened (Reduced or Non-Fat)
1/2 Cup Agave Nectar (or could just use White Sugar if you prefer)
1/2 Cup Sour Cream
1 Egg
2 Egg Yolks
2/3 Cup Pumpkin Puree (Fresh or faster route and do canned)
1/2 tsp. Salt
1 tsp. Vanilla Extract

Shortbread Crust
3/4 Cup Butter, Softened (1 1/2 sticks, Organic, of course)

1/2 Cup Powdered Sugar
1 tsp. Vanilla Extract
1/2 Cup All-Purpose (organic) Flour
1/2 Cup Rice (organic) Flour
1/4 tsp. Salt

Directions:

Pumpkin Filling
1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Put brewed Chai tea in a small saucepan over medium-high heat.  Bring a boil and reduce to 4-5 Tbsp.  Set aside and cool.
2. In a mixing bowl, cream together agave nectar and cream cheese.  Add sour cream and mix well.  Add eggs/yolks in, one at a time.
3.  Add pumpkin, salt, vanilla, and Chai tea reduction.  Stir together.

4.  Pour into tart pan lined with shortbread crust.
5.  Bake at 350 about 45-55 minutes, or just until set for large tart.  For tartletts, bake about 35-45 minutes, or until set (25-35 minutes for mini-tartletts).


Shortbread Crust
1.  Cream together the butter and powdered sugar.  Add in vanilla.
2.  Slowly add in the flour and salt, just until combined.
3.  Cover in plastic and set in refrigerator for about an hour.
4.  Once dough is back to room temperature, roll to 1/4" thickness and mold to tart pan.
5.  Bake once filled with Pumpkin Chai Filling.

Enjoy! Sprinkle with pumpkin pie seasoning, nutmeg, or cinnamon.  Top with whipped cream or chocolate shavings.  Best enjoyed on a chilly night, snuggled up, with a mug of pumpkin pie chai tea. :)

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