Vanilla Shortcrust: Mix all the ingredients for the shortcrust briefly in a food processor until a ball forms.
Pour out onto the work surface, quickly mix in the flour, and form two flat balls.
Wrap in plastic wrap. Store one in the freezer for later use and the other in the refrigerator to firm up for 2 hours.
Preheat the oven to 175ยฐC.
Roll out the shortcrust to a thickness of 3 to 4 mm. Use flour or place between two sheets of baking paper. Grease the tartlet molds and flour them. Cut out circles from the dough, slightly larger than the molds, and press well into the corners. Roll a rolling pin over the tart mold to remove excess dough. Bake for 12-14 minutes until golden brown and let cool.
The lemon curd: For the lemon curd, place all the ingredients with half of the butter in a tall saucepan with a thick bottom. Bring the mixture to a boil while stirring. If thick bubbles form, stir for another minute and then add the other half of the butter.
Strain the mixture through a sieve into a mixing bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Let cool and rest for at least 6 hours (or overnight).
Fill the cooled shortcrust bases with lemon cream, smoothing the top.
The meringue: For the meringue, combine the egg whites and fine sugar in a degreased bowl and whip for about 10 minutes until all the sugar has dissolved.
Sift the icing sugar over it and gently fold it in.
Place the meringue in a piping bag. Pipe dots onto the tartlets and torch with a Bunsen burner.
Optionally finish with a thin slice of lemon.
Tips
For an extra touch, add a little lemon zest to the sand dough. Experiment with the form of the cakes for a playful presentation.