Old Lemon Juice and Clearance Cookies

I bought some expiring sugar cookie dough and searched around for a recipe to use it besides the obvious.  I found this recipe which was perfect.  I used up a few drops of lemon juice that tasted old.  And by old I mean bad. 

Lemon Tarts
From Pillsbury
These dainty little tarts are perfect for a bridal shower or wedding reception. Candy violets or small candy flowers can be used as a garnish. They can be purchased at specialty housewares stores, craft stores, bakeries or from cake decorating mail order catalogs. 
Serves 24 

3 inches Pillsbury™ refrigerated sugar cookies 
1 medium lemon 
3/4 cup sugar
6 tablespoons butter or margarine 
2 eggs, beaten 

Heat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease 24 small tart pans or mini muffin cups. In each tart pan, place 1 rounded teaspoon dough; gently press in bottom and up side. (Wrap and refrigerate remaining dough for another use.) Place tart pans on cookie sheet.

Bake 7 to 9 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool 1 minute; carefully remove tart shells from pans to cooling racks.

Grate peel from lemon (about 4 to 5 teaspoons); set aside. Squeeze juice from lemon, adding water if necessary to equal 1/4 cup; place in 2-quart saucepan. Stir in sugar and butter. Heat over medium heat until butter is melted. Remove from heat; stir in beaten eggs. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens. Stir in lemon peel. Cool slightly, about 15 minutes. (Lemon filling can be refrigerated at this point until ready to serve).

To serve, spoon about 1 tablespoon lemon filling into each tart shell. Garnish as desired.  I topped with whipped cream.

Any remaining lemon filling can be stored in the refrigerator up to 1 week and used as a spread on muffins or English muffins.

My tips:  I cooked my filling too long and it got too thick.  Before I spooned it into cups, I warmed it a bit in the microwave (it had been refrigerated) and added water.  This worked fine.  I had trouble getting the cups out and found they must be cooked until light golden brown (like the directions) but I found it took longer than 9 minutes.  They need to be crisp throughout.  Since I used bottled lemon juice I didn't include lemon peel. 

Nutrition Facts
Serving Size: 1 Tart 
Calories 90
Calories from Fat 35 
Total Fat 4g Saturated
Fat 2g 
Cholesterol 25mg
Sodium 50mg
Total Carbohydrate 12g 
Dietary Fiber 0g 
Sugars 10g 
Protein 1g 
Daily Value Vitamin A2% Vitamin C0% Calcium0% Iron 0%