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Fresh, colorful, and bursting with juicy fruit, rich pastry cream, a deliciously sweet pastry crust, and an easy fruit tart glaze, this French fruit tart recipe makes a showstopper dessert that is perfect for Spring & Summer!
If you love this French fruit tart as much as we do, be sure try out our Fresh Fruit Pizza, Classic Pavlova, Raspberry Chocolate Tart!
French Fruit Tart
If you have ever been to Paris, chances are those stunning jewel-colored fruit tarts displayed in the windows of every patisserie (aka French pastry shops) caught your eye.
As much as I love chocolate croissants, baguettes, macarons, and crepes, of all the foods I tried in France, it was their fruit tarts that were my favorite over anything else. The thing I've missed most back home.
French fruit tarts are a wonderful dessert idea for entertaining, especially with the upcoming berry season when fresh berries and other fruit are at their best!
How to Make an Authentic French Fruit Tart
A tart is a sweet or savory dish made from pastry dough with a firm, crumbly crust. Tarts are typically baked in a pan with shallow sides and a removable bottom since they only have a bottom crust, and are unmolded before serving. There are 4 components to most classic French fruit tart recipes:
- A sweet pastry crust
- The vanilla pastry cream filling
- Juicy, fresh fruit
- A fruit tart glaze
You can use almost any fruit you like to create a French fruit tart!
In Paris, you will see strawberry tarts with whole strawberries standing on end, raspberry tarts with piles of delicious red or golden raspberries, or mixed fruit tarts like this one that I made with strawberries, blueberries, sliced kiwi fruit, mandarin oranges, and raspberries arranged in a decorative pattern over the vanilla pastry cream.
But blackberries, peaches, cherries, or almost any other fruit you can think of would be delicious with a sweet, shortcrust tart crust and creamy, silky pastry cream.
Don't assemble your French fruit tart too early before serving as the pastry crumb will start to soak into the crust over time. I think it's best when the tart is eaten within 1 to 2 hours of filling the tart shell.
There is a work-around I saw where you can melt a little chocolate and spread that in the bottom of your baked tart shell, then let it set to create a barrier between the crust and the filling to keep it from getting soggy, but it's not something I have tried myself.
However, since all of the components of the fruit tart can be made in advance, assembly is actually pretty quick and easy. It's a great make-ahead dessert idea that is especially fun for entertaining because of how impressive and beautiful they look!
What is Pâte Sucrée (also known as a Sweet Pastry Crust or Shortcrust Pastry Dough)?
The tart crust recipe I use for my French fruit tart is called pâte sucrée in France. But don't let the fancy name throw you!
Pâte sucrée is just a sweet pastry crust that is actually easier to make than pie dough. This buttery, sweet tart crust is actually more of a firm, crumbly shell with an almost cookie-like texture, as opposed to pie crust which is known for being flaky and light.
My sweet tart dough recipe calls for powdered sugar rather than granulated sugar, which gives it the unique, melt-in-your-mouth yet sturdy texture that really sets it apart and makes it the perfect vessel for holding the delicious vanilla pastry cream and loads of fresh fruit that we are going to fill it with.
How to Make a Tart Crust
- Combine the egg yolk, cream, and vanilla together in a small bowl and whisk together with a fork.
- Using a food processor (affiliate link), cut the butter into the flour, powdered sugar, and salt until it resembles coarse crumbs.
- Slowly pour the liquids into the flour mixture while the food processor (affiliate link) is running and let it process until it begins to come together.
- Remove the tart dough and flatten it into a disc, then wrap in plastic wrap and chill for at least an hour in the fridge.
- When the dough has chilled, roll it out on a lightly-floured surface into a circle slightly larger than your tart pan (mine is a 9-inch pan but I think this could also probably fit a 10-inch pan), then gently lift it over the pan and press into the corners and fluted sides, running a rolling pin (affiliate link) over the top to cut off any excess dough.
- Freeze the tart shell for 30 minutes, then press a double layer of foil into the tart shell and fill with pie weights. Here is a helpful resource with step-by-step pictures about how to blind bake a tart crust using pie weights.
- Bake for 30 minutes at 375 degrees before removing the pie weights and foil and baking for another 5 to 10 minutes, until golden.
What is Pastry Cream?
Pastry cream (also known as crème patissière) is a thick, creamy custard with a silky smooth texture that can be used for filling cakes, tarts, cream puffs, eclairs, and other desserts. I use it so often and in so many ways that I actually ended up doing another post entirely dedicated to vanilla pastry cream!
It was actually the component of this dessert that I felt most intimidated by having attempted a few different pastry cream varieties in the past that were either too thick, too gummy, or just plain too bland.
That's the tricky part about pastry cream - it needs to be tasty on it's own, but it also needs to be a team player in this dessert so as not to override the brightness of the fresh fruit or sweet, buttery crust.
Pastry cream is made with milk, cream, sugar, salt, cornstarch, egg yolks, butter, and vanilla for flavoring (although you could use different extracts to change it up in other desserts).
I actually use Nielsen-Massey's vanilla bean paste instead of plain vanilla because I love the flecks of vanilla bean in the pastry cream, although the same thing can be achieved by using actually vanilla beans and infusing them with the milk and cream at the start of the cooking process, then scraping out the seeds. But you can just use regular vanilla extract if that's what you have on hand.
How to Make Pastry Cream
- Bring the milk and cream to a simmer in a medium saucepan with half of the sugar. It doesn't need to boil and it doesn't take long. Medium-high heat will do the trick in less than 5 minutes.
- While the milk mixture heats, whisk together the sugar and cornstarch in a bowl so that it is evenly combined. Then whisk in the egg yolks until the mixture is light and creamy.
- When the milk is hot, temper the egg yolks by slowly pouring half of the hot liquid in to the yolks, whisking constantly. This will keep the egg yolks from scrambling when added to the pan.
- Pour the tempered egg yolk mixture into the pan with the remaining liquid, reduce the heat, and continue to whisk constantly until the pastry cream is thick and a few bubbles start to pop on the surface, then remove from the heat.
- Stir in some cold butter and vanilla bean paste (or an equal amount of vanilla extract). And that's it!
- Transfer to a shallow pan or a bowl and lay plastic wrap directly on top of the pastry cream so a skin doesn't form while it cools. Then cool completely in a fridge for 3 hours before using.
Fruit Tart Glaze
This step is so easy, but a fruit tart glaze was missing from many of the fruit tart recipes I looked at when researching how to make this lovely French dessert.
I knew from my time in Paris that the tarts there absolutely glisten in the patisserie shop windows, so I had be sure my recreation of a French fruit tart had the same jewel-like quality.
And really, all that is used to glaze a fruit tart is a warmed up, light colored jelly or jam that gets gently brushed on to make the fruit shine. Although I also like the extra little bit of flavor it adds as well.
Apple jelly or apricot preserves are my favorite options for a fruit tart glaze, although I've seen other sources call for red currant jelly.
You won't use the full amount called for in the recipe, but I find it's easiest to heat up half a cup of the preserves or jelly just until warm and stirring until it is smooth. Then just dip a pastry brush into it and dab it on the fruit decorating your tart.
More Sweet and Savory Tart Recipes You Will Love!
- Meyer Lemon Curd Tart with Fresh Blackberries
- Roasted Beet and Feta Tart
- Spring Vegetable Ricotta Tarts
- Raspberry Chocolate Tart
- Mixed Berry Tart with Lemon Pastry Cream
- Asparagus Tart
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French Fruit Tart
Ingredients
Pastry Cream
- 1 ½ cups whole milk
- ½ cup heavy cream
- ½ cup sugar divided
- Pinch of salt
- 3 Tablespoons cornstarch
- 5 egg yolks
- 4 Tablespoons cold butter cut into chunks
- 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla bean paste
Pastry Crust
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 Tablespoon heavy cream
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
- 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- ⅔ cup powdered sugar
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 8 Tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into chunks
Fruit Topping
- 3 kiwis peeled, halved lengthwise, and sliced ⅜-inch thick
- 10-12 strawberries hulled and sliced in half
- ½ cup mandarin oranges drained
- ½ cup blueberries
- ¼ cup raspberries
- ½ cup apple jelly or apricot preserves warmed
Instructions
Pastry Cream
- Combine the milk, cream, and half of the sugar in a medium sauce pan over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally until the liquid comes to a simmer.
- As the liquid heats, whisk together the remaining sugar, salt, cornstarch, and egg yolks in a medium bowl until light and creamy.
- Once the milk mixture is hot, slowly whisk about 1 cup of the liquid into the egg mixture to temper the yolks. Pour the tempered egg mixture back into the saucepan with the hot milk mixture and reduce the heat to medium, continuing to cook while whisking constantly, until thickened and a few bubbled burst on the surface, about 30 seconds.
- Remove the pastry cream from the heat and whisk in the butter and vanilla, then transfer to a bowl and cover with a sheet of plastic wrap placed directly onto the surface of the pastry cream so a skin doesn't form. Refrigerate until chilled and firm, about 3 hours.
Tart Shell
- Whisk together the egg yolk, cream, and vanilla in a small bowl.
- Combine the flour, powdered sugar, and salt in a food process and briefly process to combine. Add the cold butter pieces to the flour mixture and pulse to cut into the flour until the mixture resembles coarse meal, about 15 pulses.
- While the food process is running, add the liquid through the feed tube and continue to process just until the dough comes together around the blade.
- Turn out the tart dough onto a sheet of plastic wrap and flatten into a 6-inch disk, then wrap it tightly and refrigerate for 1 hour. Let sit out on the counter for 10 minutes to soften slightly before rolling out.
- Roll out the pastry crust on a lightly floured surface until it is slightly larger than your tart pan (mine is a 9-inch pan). Carefully transfer the dough to the pan by rolling it onto the rolling pin, then gently easing the dough into the pan, pressing into the corners and fluted sides of the pan.
- Run the rolling pin over the top of the pan so that the excess dough gets cut off on the edge of the pin, making a clean edge. Patch any edges that are too thin with excess dough, trimming away the edge again as necessary. Freeze the tart shell for 30 minutes.
- When ready to bake the tart shell, heat oven to 375 degrees F. Press a double layer of foil into the frozen tart shell, covering the edges of the pan and filling the tart shell with pie weights. Bake for 30 minutes, rotating halfway through, then carefully remove the pie weights and foil and bake another 5 to 10 minutes, until the tart shell is fully baked and golden. Cool completely before filling.
Tart Assembly
- When the tart shell is completely cooled, spread the pastry cream over the bottom of the shell. Arrange the fruit in a decorative fashion over the cream, overlapping the sliced kiwi or mandarin oranges, and mounding raspberries or blueberries in the center of the tart.
- Melt the jelly or preserves in a small saucepan or the microwave, stirring until smooth. Use a pastry brush to gently dab the melted jelly over the fruit. You may not use all of the jelly. Slice and serve.
Tara says
This looks divine! It's simple, classic flavors and I want it right now!!
Larry Kaylor says
You have made me a bit of a hero. This has become one of the most loved and requested desserts in my family for special occasions. It is great substitute for cake for birthdays. We have several that don't like cake much. Earlier this year I had a baker I highly respect offer to make me her version of a French tart. My family was so disappointed. This speaks volumes for your fabulous recipe. Thank you so much for sharing it! - Larry
Jennifer says
Your fruit tart looks absolutely stunning! This would be a showstopper at any dinner party or gathering. I really appreciate the detailed directions you included for each step of the tart as well!
Neriz @ food and journeys says
Send me a slice (or two)! It just screams 'SUMMER' to me. 🙂
I need to wait for a few more weeks to make this here in Stockholm though -- I want to make this using the best fresh berries of the season 🙂
Veena Azmanov says
It's been a long time since I made French Fruit Tart. When my kids were younger they would have it often because they love pastry cream. This looks so pretty.
Carrie Ditton says
This looks amazing! I love the idea of added the chocolate layer to keep it from getting soggy...I would have never thought of that.
Amy says
It's tasty! I had it that way but haven't tried it myself before as I always tend to make my tarts fresh and don't need the extra layer.
dorinda pitton says
Hi Amy. I was wondering if you can make the filling a day in advance
Thank you
Dorinda Pitton
Amy says
Yes, absolutely.
Natalie says
This might be a silly question, but I don’t have a food processor so my options are Vitamix or hand held mixer. Which is my best bet? Making it for my sisters 30th tomorrow so I want to make sure everything turns out perfect — thanks 🙂
Amy says
Not silly at all! Do you have a pastry cutter? Because that would be the next best thing actually. You could use it to cut the butter into the flour mixture for the tart crust, then add the cream a little at a time, stirring with a fork to combine. Another option would be to freeze your butter and grate it on the holes of a grater over the flour mixture. I wouldn't recommend using either a vitamix or a hand mixer for this tart dough.
Natalie says
So I ended up making it and loving it!! After a solid 30 minutes of struggling with the butter we found a food processor hidden in the house, thank goodness. I had to improvise because I didn’t have the correct pan, so I used a ceramic pie dish and the crust was very thin and flaky when I cut it, it just broke to the touch. Do you think it’s because I didn’t use the proper tin? I’m making it for another birthday coming up - thanks for the help!
Amy says
Sorry for my slow response! I've been so busy with homeschooling thrust on me that I have been letting other things slide. Based on what you described, I'm wondering if the reason the crust broke is because the butter was overworked into the dough. It doesn't seem like a ceramic pie dish would make that much of a difference.
Annette says
Made this and it is amazing!!!! So good. Thank you for the recipe, will make again, and again
dixya @food, pleasure, and health says
i had a similar tart for my birthday and LOVED IT. I am so happy to see this homemade version which I need to recreate it soon.
Elaine @ Dishes Delish says
Wow! This looks so delicious! I love a good tart, but haven't made one for many years!! Your beautiful fruit tart has made me want to get back into the game of tart making!!
Patti @ Patty Cake's Pantry says
Years ago, when I was just starting out with my husband, I bought one of each type of pan that was available at a discount store. One of those pans was a tart pan. I've never used it, but your post has inspired me to do so. I love all of the instructions that you've provided to make certain that my final result will turn out right. The only problem is that this fruit tart is almost too pretty to cut and eat. It's like a work of art.
Jordan says
Honestly? French and fruit in the same dessert title? Say no more. I am trying this ASAP. Going to test drive it for myself and my husband first and then surprise my ma for Mother's Day!
Ben Myhre says
I have been to France a few times and my eyes always drew to the pastry cases as we walked by any pastry shop. Everything looks so good and tasty. So does this.
Jenni LeBaron says
I ate a wonderful fruit tart a few weeks ago and have been craving another one ever since. Your pastry cream looks absolutely perfect - can't wait to bite into this!
Nicoletta Sugarlovespices says
Even in Italy this fresh fruit tart is present in every bakery, pastry shops and everybody love it. I made it for my husband's birthday, it is a showstopper. Yours look wonderful And your tips and pictures are so helpful.
Claire | The Simple, Sweet Life says
Your tart looks delicious and your presentation is gorgeous! I definitely want to give this a try and your step-by-step instructions make it seem so easy!
Anne Lawton says
This is one beautiful looking tart! This is something I would not normally attempt to make, but your instructions make it sound less intimidating!
georgie says
this looks SO freaking good! when I was a little kid my Mum and I used to go to our local French bakery and get mini french fruit tarts, this looks gorgeous!
Marlee says
I LOVE fruit tarts so much. I love your tips for making the perfect shortcrust and fruit options! Super gorgeous!
Sophie says
Hi, this looks so yummy. I'm wondering what size tart tin this will fill? Mine in 26cm/ 10in so I don't want to run out of filling upon assembly! Thanks
Amy says
That's the size I have as well! You will be fine!
Claire Scott says
I am trying this recipe but do not have a food processor. Do you think a blender(like I would use for smoothies) would do for the dry ingedients in the crust, and then should I switch to a mixer (like I would use for cookie dough)? Thank you! I can't wait to try!
Amy says
I haven't tried it, but I think it should work even without switching to a mixer. I would just add the liquid on a low speed until things start to come together and try not to overmix, which would be the biggest concern using a blender.
Natalie says
I made this all without using a food processor or blender! Pretty easy but be aware that you're hands will get a little messy from the dough.
Grace says
Hi, when I slice the assembled tart, the fruits start sliding off and it becomes somewhat messy looking. May I know if it’s normal for this to happen? Thanks!
Amy says
Yes, that can happen since the pastry cream is very soft. Some helpful tips are to make sure the fruit is small enough that you aren't slicing through the fruit and to also use a very sharp knife. I press directly into the tart and slide the knife off being careful not to use a sawing approach, which will also destablize the look of each slice. But in truth, once the tart gets sliced it just won't look as beautiful.
Joyce says
Mine was very runny. Should I cook the pastry cream longer?
Amy says
I have just made this and mine was extremely runny as well! As soon as I cut it, it basically fell apart. I’m thinking if more corn starch would have helped it.
Amy says
That's too bad! I really don't think more cornstarch is the answer because you don't want a thick, gummy pastry cream. I would recommend cooking it a little longer and make sure you are measuring your liquids correctly.
Jenny says
OK, so I made this a couple of weeks ago to impress my Italian man and his family on his 30th birthday. No pressure, they only run an Italian restaurant! It was so worth the effort, everyone loved it and the feedback was even that it was better than some of the cakes in the restaurant. So thank you!
Amy says
Your comment made my day! 🙂 I'm so glad it was a hit with everybody!
Joyce says
This looks excellent and will make it for my dinner party in December. Can I use liquid vanilla instead of the paste?
Amy says
Yes, just use an equal amount.
Joyce says
Hi Amy, I ended up doing the tart today and it was excellent. Thank you so much for sharing this great recipe. The only problem is that my pastry cream was too runny. Should I cook it longer next time?
Amy says
Yes, chances are it just needed a little bit longer to thicken a bit more. Timing can take a bit longer if the heat of the stovetop is a bit lower too.
Steve says
Yes my pastry cream also was too runny and just poured off the slice and tart with the berries. I followed the recipe exactly.
Amy says
I'm sorry to hear that! I'm guessing you either needed to cook it longer or just forgot to add the cornstarch to thicken it.
Vanessa says
Hi Am y - looks amazing and got the thumbs-up approval to serve on Xmas. However, to minimize potential issues, I'm guessing a pre-purchased short crust pastry would work in place of making my own?
Amy says
Absolutely you could use a premade crust!
Tom says
Great recipe! I did put a thin layer of chocolate between the crust and the pastry cream. No soggy crust and adds a bit of decadence with the chocolate.
Danielle says
Hi, I’m planning on making this for Xmas day!
Can I make both the pastry shell and the Creme pat a day in advance?
If I can, how do I store the shell? I’m assuming the creme pat is just stored in the fridge with the plastic film? Thank you!
Christine says
Wow! I tried all different pastry creams and this by far is the best. What a great tart too! Nice touch with the powdered sugar. Makes all the more so difference.
Anne says
I'm planning to make individual tarts for my new year party. Can I use this recipe?
Amy says
Absolutely! Go for it!
Anne says
This is a very good recipe! I made individual tarts and my guests loved them. They were all gone. My husband was impressed! My first batch of tarts burnt a little because I forgot to adjust the time since im baking them individually. But they still tasted ok. The pastry cream is so delicious and went well with the fruits. This recipe is definitely a keeper! Thanks!
Alex says
The directions aren't complete.
Says to cool the custard (which will harden in fridge). Then once shell is done, pour custard into shell.
Huhhh???? You can't pour hardened custard. How is it supposed to look appealing if hard custard is placed into shell? It will be uneven and sloppy.
Can you please explain if there is a mistake in directions and how to properly our custard into the shell?
Thank you
Amy says
The custard doesn't harden and the instructions indicate to spread it, rather than pour into the shell. It's pastry cream and has a wonderful smooth texture that spreads beautifully into the prepared shell. I hope that helps!
Kim says
What liquid and quantities go in the pasty dough? The recipe doesne’t Say and I’m at that point? Help!!
Amy says
Hi Kim - I'm not sure what you mean? All the ingredients are listed in the recipe. There is no additional liquid needed beyond the egg yolk and cream for the tart shell.
Andrew Touboul says
My custard never solidified, waited 4 hours and it was still very liquidy so I added 2 extra tablespoons of cornstarch and left it overnight and it still has the consistency o3f milk
layla jackson says
did you cook it for long enough? if its still runny you should let it thicken a little more on the stove.
Dawn Charboneau says
Made it tonight. Thank you for this recipe it was so very good 😊 wish it would allow me to post a picture of the one i made.
Samantha M Gorham says
Making this right now. Everything is setting in the fridge. Do I spray my tart pan? First time making a tart.
Amy says
No, you don't need to spray the tart pan.
Emily B says
This recipe looks amazing and I may try it tonight for a family party! What are your thoughts about making a graham cracker crust in a tart shell instead of the short crust pasty?
Amy says
My thoughts are that sounds delicious! Obviously not traditional for a French fruit tart, but I LOVE graham cracker crusts and am positive it would taste fabulous.
Emily B says
Amy,
I tried it with a graham cracker crust and it turned out amazing!!! The pastry cream was so lovely paired with the fresh fruits and sweet graham cracker crust! I’ll post a picture on Pinterest and Instagram! Thanks for a great recipe!!💛
Amy says
You are so welcome! And thank you SO much for sharing on social media! That means so much to me, you have no idea!
Emily B says
I loved this fruit tart!! I’ve made pasty cream many times, but this recipe in particular I felt was the best pasty cream I’ve ever made. The combo of fresh berries and cream is to die for. I substituted the pasty crust for a traditional graham cracker crust and thought it turned out amazing! Overall very quick and easy with the graham cracker crust... highly recommend this recipe! I will be making again!
Amy says
I'm so glad you loved it! And the graham cracker crust is a great idea for a non-traditional fruit tart! I'm going to have to try that one too!
Liv says
Hi Amy, your tart looks delicious, do you think I can susbstitute the whole milk for evaporated milk ?
Amy says
Evaporated milk is richer and creamier than regular milk. I think you could try but I honestly can't say what the result would be like (although it might be amazing and crazy delicious!). I've also heard of substituting 1/2 evaporated milk and 1/2 water for the same amount of whole milk in recipes (but again, haven't tried it in this recipe).
Priyanka P says
I made this tart yesterday in a 6" tin. I just halved all the ingredients, and adjusted the baking time for the crust accordingly. I had to cook the cream for 3-4 mins until it thickened, and it stayed put on tart slices.
I did struggle with the pastry as it turned out to be very short, it kept falling apart while handling. But overall, everything was delicious and refreshing.
Jeanette says
My tart pan must be larger than the one you used., mine is an 11 inch one. The dough would not roll out to size without breaking. Maybe you should indicate size of the tart pan. The filling was delicious but ultimately had to throw out dough and do a quick graham cracker crust
Amy says
Oh dear! Yes, mine is a 9-inch pan. I will make a note of that in the post.
Barbra says
Up above you say it’s a 10” pan!
Amy says
Hmm, I'm not seeing where I said that. I think there is enough crust to fit a 9-inch OR a 10-inch pan. The larger size will be slightly thinner and take less time to bake, but will still work fine.
Azadeh says
I tried your recipe, it was absolutely amazing and actually well described and easy to follow. Thank you for posting it.
PATRICIA says
I did not realize it was this easy! I wish I would have tried making this years ago! I only used half a vanilla bean, next time I'm using a whole one. It was not as intense as I would have preferred. Thank you!
Laura says
Hi Amy, you mention in a post of July 12, 2018, with Sophie that you use a 26cm/10" pan, but your shell instructions say 9" pan. I have a 10" tart pan. Does your recipe for the dough and pastry creme stretch enough for a 10" tart? It looks wonderful and plan to make it for Easter!
Amy says
Yes, this makes enough for a 10-inch tart pan.
Amy says
I am making it right now! I am so excited to make this for my Easter dessert! I have my pastry cream in the fridge right now! Can’t wait to taste it! I am staying up late to make it! Seemed like the perfect Easter dessert!
Amy says
It's such a fun Easter dessert! Let me know how yours turns out!
Molly says
Making this for Easter - although, I had to pout in quite a bit more liquid than indicated to get the dough to come together - like 1 cup of heavy cream instead of 1 TBSP. I hope it turns out okay! Looks delicious.
Kellie says
Pastry cream was so runny. I followed the instructions on cooking time and temp and added the cornstarch. It tasted good, but was so thin, even after hours in the fridge.
Amy says
If the correct amount of cornstarch was added, it sounds like it needed to be cooked slightly longer or at a slightly higher heat. Different stovetops will cook differently and altitude can affect things too. But the pastry cream definitely should not have been runny.
Ann Marie says
Hi Amy, i’m Confused why did you list 9/16 cup heavy cream under dairy in your list of ingredients and then when you choose make it -you have the heavy cream 1/2 cup under pastry cream and 1 tablespoon in the pastry crust section, (thank goodness for Alexa because I don’t know about anyone else but I don’t have a measuring cup that has a 9/16 measurement). As a person who likes to have all the ingredients measured before I start cooking it would have been better to list 1/2 cup heavy cream plus 1 Tablespoon .
Reading comments I did use layer of chocolate and the next day the crust was still crisp. I suggest that if the people who said their pastry cream didn’t solidify that they check the expiration date of there corn starch, also could you say what size eggs you used, recently my sister in law who makes the best cream puffs realized that when she used large eggs instead of medium, her puffs flopped , she has an old recipe when medium eggs was the norm, nowadays it seems large is the norm. That’s about it , I made this for Easter and it was a huge hit, been wanting to make one for years and happy to report it will not be my one and only time, I will definitely check out more of your recipes this is a keeper.
Amy says
I'm not sure where you see the 9/16 cup measurement. Could that have been on the pinterest pin? Pinterest tends to accumulate measurements, but they are broken out in the recipe card for you (just as you described because I agree that a 9/16 measurement would be confusing!).
Katrina says
Does tbe pastry cream HAVE to be refrigerated for 3 hours ?? So eager to bring this over to my boyfriends house but I also don’t want to rush it ! Thanks ! Also, my pastry cream came out beautifully, not runny whatsoever !! =]
Thanks for the awesome recipe<3
Amy says
Well, I guess you could use it while still warm! I'm glad it turned out well for you!
Lindsey says
I am so excited to try and make this tart tomorrow! Your instructions and tips are just wonderful. I have a question. My tart pan is 11 inches. Do you have a recommendation on how to adjust the recipe to accommodate that? Or if I just make more dough and put the excess in smaller individual tart pans, how long should I cook the crusts? Thank you!
Amy says
Yes, in this case I would just make extra dough to make sure you aren't stretching the dough too far on the tart pan. I wish I could say how long to cook the smaller individual tart crusts but I don't know off the top of my head. My best guess is around 18-20 minutes and then go from there until they have a nice color.
Lindsey says
Thank you so much! I appreciate your help! Your tart looks absolutely gorgeous! It’s like a work of art and you don’t even want to cut because it’s so perfect and beautiful!
Nancy Rarick says
This tart was delicious. I made it for my daughter's 20th birthday - fruit tarts are her favorite. If you follow the prep instructions carefully like I did you would not have any runny pastry cream or not enough pie pastry I will sure make it again. It is not difficult to make, it is just time consuming but it is worthy at the end.
Nina says
Hi Amy,
Thank you so much for posting this recipe - it's the best looking fruit tart I've seen. I attempted to make the tart pastry but it didn't come as the recipe states or displays. The pastry dough kept breaking when I tried to roll it out to put in the tart pan. Any advice on how to fix this? Maybe I didn't mix it well enough in the processor or maybe I overmixed? What exactly should the dough look like while in the food processor? Additionally, could I make the tart shell in advance?
Thanks!
Amy says
Yes, you can make the tart shell in advance. That's strange that it kept breaking - my guess is that there was not enough liquid to dry ingredients. Have you tried using the spoon and sweep method when measuring your flour where you spoon flour into the measuring cup then sweep it level with a knife so you don't compact the flour by scooping? Because my first troubleshooting thought is to make sure to measure the flour correctly. Then I would maybe add an extra 1/2 to 1 tablespoon of cream for a little extra moisture. The dough really should start to come together and clump almost like a cookie dough. You can see in the images how it should roll out even easier than a pie crust. I hope this helps!
Zoë Tate says
Thank you so much for taking the time to provide us with the tips that are needed that a straight up recipe doesn’t provide. My pastry cream thickened & bubbled and I let it cook a bit longer. It set up nicely but it did prove to be too runny once the tart was cut. I believe one or two extra egg yolks might solve this issue? I will make this again but will add at least one extra yolk.
Thank you again,
Zoë
Amy says
Interesting - I haven't had the same thing happen before where it thickens then is runny when cut. But I definitely don't think an extra yolk would hurt.
Leigh says
Could you bake the pastry and make the cream then assemble the following day?
Amy says
Absolutely!
Mariana says
Great recipe!! My pastry cream was extremely extremely runny. Like total liquid. Even after 4 hours. I just put it back on the stove on a low heat and it thickened up very quickly then I just put it back in the fridge to cool. ***sigh of relief *** Just a little FYI for anyone freaking out like I did lol.
Amy says
I'm so glad you put it back on the stove!
Allison Kalpokas says
This was so much fun to create. It was my first attempt at a fruit tart. My custard did not set up at first, I was nervous to scorch it so I did not get it hot enough. I reheated it and it set up in no time. The finished product was so beautiful and it taste even better...I love to photograph my creations and post on social media. People were floored...
Thank you for this recipe!!!
Natalie says
I'm not a super big pastry chef but I made this one day and it came out perfect! I've never had richer custard [btw was so glad to be able to make custard WITHOUT gelatin for once because I don't like the texture of custard with it]. This is surprisingly easy for someone with limited cooking experience to make, just be sure to dedicate a few hours of your time and be really attentive when you're doing it!
Allison Kalpokas says
Ok so I’ve made this several times and didn’t change a think. I’ve commented before as well...
My question now is this: I want to brush the crust with white chocolate...
How do you recommend melting the choc, should I add anything to it ?
Amy says
I always melt mine in the microwave in short 20 second bursts. With white chocolate, especially, it might not look like it is melting at first, but stirring it and kind of mash it anyway and it will melt. I talk a little more about melting white chocolate in this post and this post. I don't recommend adding anything to it like shortening, because I feel like it affects the texture in a way I don't like.
Gregg says
For people ending up with runny pastry cream, I think this recipe might be slightly confusing because of the mention of cooking it for "30 seconds". Based on my experience with pastry cream, what the recipe means is to cook the mixture over medium heat for a few minutes until it is very thick and bubbles break through, then keep cooking an additional 30 seconds before removing from the heat.
At least that's what I generally do when cooking pastry cream, including this recipe. Turns out great!
Mariam says
This looks so scrumptious! I do want to know if I can substitute all purpose flour for cake flour?
Amy says
I use all-purpose flour in this recipe. I haven't tried cake flour but I think it would work fine here.
John Quinn says
Why do you have to freeze the shell for 30 minutes before baking?
Amy says
It helps to completely chill the butter, which gives the tart shell it's classic texture.
Ashley says
So I used this recipe for mini tarts for my sisters baby shower and they were perfect...but let me just say, this shortbread crust is the star of this recipe. I have made cookies out of it 3 times in the last 2 weeks half of the 'cookie' dipped in chocolate and they are divine. I'm letting dough chill right now actually because my daughter requested I make them for her class tomorrow to celebrate her 11th birthday!
Jewel A Davis says
I would suggest you revise the below instructions. My attempt to provide this as a dessert for a special meal with friends resulted in soup. I was unable to serve the dish and resorted to day old carrot cake that had already been cut. I had the bubbles!
Pour the tempered egg yolk mixture into the pan with the remaining liquid, reduce the heat, and continue to whisk constantly until the pastry cream is thick and a few bubbles start to pop on the surface, then remove from the heat.
Antonio McDonald says
Followed the recipe exactly and the results were spot on! The cream set up perfectly. I was a bit worried when I read the comments. However, it was not necessary to be concerned at all. Thank you very much for the tips about the jelly topping over the fruit. It will add a very nice touch to my finished product. I’m sure everyone at church would love it.
Curli Taylor says
I've used this recipe in mini baking shells many times. Highly recommend!
Lori says
I have already started making and have no unsalted butter, only salted sticks. Can I just use that?
Amy says
Yes, I use salted butter and it turns out great!
Susanne says
Have not made this tart yet (tonight) just a thought for the people with runny custard. (Where do you live??)
Something that has confused me cornstarch. In Australia we use corn flour. After research and found that the terms corn starch flour and meal can actually mean different things between the U.S. UK and oz. So just food for thought as they say...
Amy says
That's a good thought - I'm in California. I'm sure this will help someone.
Danielle says
Hi, I’m planning on making this for Xmas day!
Can I make both the pastry shell and the Creme pat a day in advance?
If I can, how do I store the shell? I’m assuming the creme pat is just stored in the fridge with the plastic film? Thank you!
Amy says
Yes, you can make both parts in advance! You are correct that you can just store the pastry cream in the fridge with plastic wrap on top. The shell can be wrapped in plastic wrap as well and kept on the counter at room temperature overnight though.
k says
i tried this recipe and the cream didn’t get firm so it’s more like a soup... but the shell turned out great and the “soup” tastes very good
Amy says
Bummer! Try cooking the pastry cream longer on the stovetop. It sounds like it just didn't cook long enough or that some of the cornstarch was left out possibly.
Susanna Z says
I followed this recipe to a T and the fruit tart was fantastic.
Whole foods has recently started adding a layer of white chocolate between the crust and creme. The added layer makes it harder to eat and kind of disrupts the dessert which is why I wanted to make my own. I'm so happy I found your recipe. This is THE recipe for what I consider an authentic french fruit tart. Thank you!!!!
Amy says
You're welcome! I'm so glad you love it! There is nothing as good as an authentic fruit tart!
Dina says
Hello! I’m making the tarts ahead of time. Can the finished product be frozen?
Amy says
Hmm, truthfully I have never tried freezing them myself. I think that the bottom tart crust would get soggy by the time the tart is defrosted unless you use a thin layer of melted chocolate to protect it. And from what I've read, pastry cream separates when frozen. The shell could be made ahead and frozen though, then just make the pastry cream a day in advance and keep in the fridge until ready to assemble.
Arianna Eleanor Bailey says
If I'm piecing it together the next day, should I refrigerate the baked crust?
Amy says
No, I would not refrigerate the baked crust. I would just keep it in an airtight container on the counter.
jullie says
Superb Post amazing recipe of fruit tart. keep posting like this . My family likes this recipe so much. Thanks.
Debbie says
2 questions: can I add cocoa to make a chocolate crust? Can I use pastry flour? If yes to either, how much? Thanks!
Amy says
I wish I could answer definitively but I haven't tried either of those things with this crust before before! However, I have made a chocolate pie crust with that approach of adding cocoa powder, although you might need a little extra sugar (maybe a tablespoon or two?) so the crust isn't bitter. I think pastry flour will work just fine in the same amount as the regular flour called for in the recipe.
Jaime says
Thank you for this! I do a baking project with my five year old every week and this week, for whatever reason, she asked to make a fruit tart (like I would ever say no to a fruit tart). This recipe was very easy for us to follow.
The pastry cream was very runny at first, but I just let it cook longer and it thickened right up. Turned out smooth, velvety, and beautiful. The crust is currently cooling. This is where mistakes were made. I didn't roll it out thin enough, so even with pie weights it puffed up quite a bit. It's still tasty though. I can't wait for tomorrow when we fill it up and top it with delicious fruits. Even if it ends up looking like a first grade science project, I know it'll taste amazing.
Dyann says
While the flavors of everything were delicious, my tart custard would not hold any sort of form so once I cut and served it, the custard just oozed away and the slice form was completely lost. I followed the directions exactly with the exception of using powdered sugar instead of granulated for the custard, so wondering what could have gone wrong. Could it have been the powdered sugar?
Amy says
Yes, the powdered sugar could be the culprit. Also, next time you could cook the custard just a little bit longer. But do keep in mind that pastry cream always sets up soft (although it shouldn't ooze).
Andi says
Help! I have no idea what I did wrong. My pastry crusts look & smell amazing, but my pastry cream is liquid. I feel that I followed the directions exactly, with the 2 exceptions that I doubled the ingredients & used vanilla extract instead of paste. It's been 4 hours & my cream is a thicker milk, definitely liquid, not cream. 😖
Any thoughts on where I may have gone wrong? Also, just to be sure. The recipe says sugar. I'm assuming granulated? Thank you.
Andi says
I used granulated. Should I be using powdered?
Amy says
Nope - granulated sugar is what you want.
Amy says
Oh dear! If your pastry cream is liquid, there are two possible issues. The first is that you just didn't cook it long enough. It will thicken if the ingredients are accurate, although your time may be slightly longer than stated. If you are sure your ingredients are right but it's totally a thick milk, the only thing I can think to do to try and salvage it is to put it back on the stove or even in the microwave and cook it longer to see if it will thicken up. But my bigger worry is that in doubling the ingredients you may have accidentally forgotten to double the cornstarch, which would definitely give you a result of thick milk that doesn't thicken all the way to being pastry cream. And yes, it is granulated sugar.
Dan Teel says
I made this with fresh raspberries and it was so delicious. A question about the crust. I put in in the pan like you described and after it baked it shrank from the top of the pan. i have had this happen before. Your crust looks great so what am I doing wrong. More pie weights?
Lindsey says
Hi Amy! I am hoping to make this recipe for two smaller tarts of about 4-inches. What would the baking time for the pastry be in this case? Half the time (15 + 5 mins)?
Amy says
Yes, I would start by halving the baking time and then checking from there.
Fadilah says
Hey Amy! I wanted to recreate this tart and I don’t have a tart plate. Can I get a link to where you got yours? I can’t find one anywhere.
Amy says
I don't have a link but mine was from Sur la Table!
Anon says
Tried it! The filling was absolutely divine and went well with the fruit. I only had a cup of milk left so I added in evaporated milk for the rest that was needed and it went really well. The only problem I had was with the crust. I followed the recipe exactly but my crust was really hard afterward. The bits I could get out were scrumptious. Im not quite sure what happened. But other than that, good recipe!
Tanu Chandigarh says
This recipe is fantastic! My tarts came out so yummy and the crust was wonderfully flaky!
hibah says
hi! can i make this in a rectangular pan? do you know how i would convert the measurements?
Amy says
If you wanted to make this in a 9x13-inch rectangular baking dish I would recommend doubling the recipe.
hibah says
hi! could i use this for an 11-inch pan? how would i adjust the recipe for that?
Amy says
I think you would probably need to increase the crust and filling recipes by maybe doing 1 1/2 batches of each.
Caroline says
Wanting to make this to surprise someone for their bday tomorrow but we live in the same house. Can I make the pastry dough ahead of time? Would I bake the dough and then cover in foil or just leave it to freeze? Thanks.
Amy says
Yes! You can either bake it and cover or just keep it in the fridge or freezer overnight.
Mary Ann says
I made it!! First tart ever, thank you for making the process so easy to follow!!
Mayukh Gayen says
Beautiful and delicious. Thank you very much.
Love,
Mayukh xxx
Aaron Buxo says
I tried this yesterday as someone very new to cooking. Everything tasted fantastic (I didn't do a glaze as I didn't have the ingredients) ! However I think I baked the crust too long and it was too hard and didn't cut well, crumbling in certain parts. This was quite an eye opener to me, the amount of effort that goes into a proper pastry but I thoroughy enjoyed it.
Thanks for sharing,
Aaron
Amy says
I'm so glad you tried this even though you are new to cooking! So glad you enjoyed it!
LikeToCook says
Hello:
Thank you for the wonderful recipe, this was a winner! I made it today and it was delicious. I only had strawberries and blueberries; but it still tasted wonderful. I made another fruit tart before, but this one is fantastic
Adrienne Gasiorowski says
I made this for my son’s birthday and it was a hit with everyone! Turned out perfectly gorgeous and tasted fantastic! I used your workaround of spreading melted chocolate into the crust and it really took it to the next level. What a delicious treat! Thank you so much for sharing this delightful recipe!
Kristen says
Hi Amy, this tart looks stunning. I've made a tart before and don't recall if I made the shell using my hands since I don't have a food processor. I do have a Ninja "blender" and am wondering if that is suitable? Thank you.
Amy says
I think that would work okay.
priya sharma says
nice artical keep it up..
Anjali says
Hi this looks so good, I was wondering if I can make the cream the day before and refrigerate overnight?
Hannah says
My favorite dessert in life is a French Fruit Tart. I finally worked up the courage and made one following your recipe and it is perfection ♥️ Absolute perfection!! Thank you for sharing this lovely recipe!
Joshua Gwynne says
Isn't this just the America's Test Kitchen Recipe? If so you should really reference them and give them credit for developing the recipe. In fact I don't think it's legal to repost their recipes as you have to subscribe to them to get them.
Amy says
No, actually it's adapted from Julia Child's recipe. With classic recipes like a fruit tart, the ingredients will frequently be the same and there are no issues with sharing common measurements. Plus, I always rewrite the instructions in my own voice. I have used America's Test Kitchen recipes and like many of them, but often find them overly complex and unnecessarily difficult or intimidating for many people.
Helen says
Really lovely recipe, love the pastry cream but I found the pastry very soft and hard to pick up once rolled, and it even ripped in places and I had to make repairs once in the dish. I also found 30 mins too long for the pastry and it was over cooked. Once I’d finished decorating I was abit disappointed when I cut a slice because the cream and fruit didn’t stay in place and it looked abit messy, perhaps I should of put it in the fridge for a while before cutting? Or how about a setting agent?
I’m not used to cooking in tablespoons, rather grams and when it came to the butter for the pastry I was worried if I had measured it properly as it’s hard to get it 100% when the butter is hard. Could I get it in grams instead?
I enjoyed making this but hoping it turns out abit better second time round
M. says
Thank you for this recipe! I just finished making, and it's amazing! I didn't have whole milk on hand, so I used coconut milk. The consistency and taste were unchanged. I'll probably be making this monthly now 🙂
Sarah says
Hi! I attempted this fruit tart yesterday and the crust came out great but the cream didn't set 🙁 the milk had boiled and I wonder if that's why. I'll have to give it another try.
Amy says
If the pastry cream didn't thicken, it wasn't cooked long enough. Try cooking it longer on the store while whisking. If measured correctly, it will thicken and set up every time. If it hasn't thickened on the stove, then it just hasn't cooked long enough.
Brian Shock says
(1) Although tempering eggs is a well-established culinary tradition, the only rationale behind it is speed and efficiency in a commercial kitchen. Creme patissiere works perfectly well if you allow your milk/sugar mixture to cool down below 60 degrees C before adding your egg yolks. The sugar will not crystallize out of the milk in that time.
(2) Cornstarch isn't going to give you much more viscosity than using something traditional like flour. This allows you to avoid the odd flavor that cornstarch occasionally gives things. (3) I'm surprised you never even considered using real vanilla pods. You need to scrape them out and cook them with your milk mixture, but it's well worth the effort, especially since there are so many substandard faux vanilla pastes out there these days. (4) Adding just one pinch of salt (I define this as 0.5 grams) to your creme patissiere can improve the flavor immensely.
Ruby says
Hi Amy,
I'm in the process of making divine tart for my partner for his birthday, but the pastry cream has not thickened very much. It's still quite runny. Is there anything I can do? Or do I need to start over with that??? I'd be so grateful if you see this message - or anyone else who knows what to do. Thanks!
Amy says
Hi Ruby! If your pastry cream is still runny, try cooking it longer. It tends to thicken more as it chills in the fridge, but if you already did that step and it's still runny, I could just put it back in a saucepan and heat it over medium-low, then once it is warm, increase the heat to medium, whisking while it thickens. If it's still not thickening, then the issue is likely that there was some cornstarch accidentally left out. You could try making a cornstarch slurry with 2 extra teaspoons of cornstarch mixed with 2 teaspoons of milk and adding that to the warm pastry cream while stirring to help thicken it more.
Ruby says
Thank you! I'm feeling more french already (well almost). 😉
Amy says
I'm glad that worked for you to just cook it a little longer on the stove! That's typically the problem 99% of the time! Glad we figured it out and that's the trickiest part!
Ruby says
Phew! I managed to rescue it! I put it back on the stove and kept stirring and eventually it thickened up. I just didn't leave it there long enough. All set now. Wish me luck for the rest! x
Danielle S. says
This was amazing! We moved back to the states from Europe last year and have missed the pastries something fierce! This was spot on. Thank you for posting this and we will be making it frequently.
Jasmin says
Hi Amy, I would like to try this recipe for the 4th of July weekend and I was wondering if it’s possible to prepare the dough for the pastry crust the day before? Thank you.
Amy says
Hi Jasmin! Sure! You can make the crust ahead and wrap it well in plastic wrap and keep it in the fridge. Just be sure to give it enough time to warm up a bit on the counter so it's easy enough to roll out.
Jacks says
Made the fruit tart this week for a family get together. It was absolutely delicious, totally scrummy.
A real showstopper, lots of compliments so will definitely be making this again.
Monika Khaana says
Really nice post..
Sania Dsuza says
Keep going the good work..
Stacie says
I made this last week with freshly picked raspberries. I made it with small tart pans. They were just amazing! I am making more today to share with friends. Thank you for posting this recipe.
constance arnold says
OMG this is a great recipe, I made it for my family with fresh southern peaches and it was awesome. Thank you for your excellent instructions, and I learned a few things from the comments
Jessica Hardwick says
I’m making this today. But 12 servings from a 9” tart pan? I bought one off amazon and it’s so tiny!? I mean maybe 6 servings.... is that a typo? I’ll report back. Looks delicious.
Amy says
No, not a typo! I feel like 10-12 slices is pretty normal for this type of dessert! But you can always do more generous slices!
Rosemarie Carrara says
I made this delicious tart, but had to make a second tart crust because it burned on me. I had a. Black tart pan and it burned in 30 minutes. The second crust came great, only cooked it 20 minuets before taking the pie weights out. It was certainly worth the time.
Heather says
The recipe made a lovely tasting vanilla cream, but it was the consistency of pudding. Since that's the main element of a tart, I guess I'll try a different recipe and keep this one for home-made pudding! 😊
Rachel says
This looks amazing! I’m gonna try it for my sons 2nd birthday party! I was wondering if you could make the tart shell and the filling the night before and assemble the next day so it stays fresh?
Amy says
Absolutely!
Renate Schmitz says
OMG!!! This recipe is absolutely heavenly and delicious!!! Just made it for our daughter’s 24th birthday and it came out wonderful. Seriously, this must be one of the most delicious things I’ve ever produced. The directions are clear and easy to follow. Thank you so much. This will certainly be a staple for special occasions or perhaps even just because. 😊
Amy says
I'm so glad you loved this, Renate!
Barbra says
You say there should only be a bottom crust, yet the pictures and instructions clearly say and show it having crust up the sides also. Can you please clarify?
Amy says
By "bottom crust" I just meant it doesn't have a top crust like many pies. So yes, I guess this does have a crust up the sides that holds the filling in. It's not a tall side crust though since tart pans tend to be very short.
Sue hall says
I tried making this with tart sized pans. They get so dark almost look burnt. Any tips how to stop this. I use same temp just reduce time
Amy says
If they are looking burnt then they are just cooking too long. You will have to watch them to make sure they just get golden brown.
Olga García says
Do you know any Gluten Free recipe for the crust
Amy says
I haven't made a gluten-free version of this one, but I have had really excellent success in the past with Bob's Red Mill's 1-to-1 gluten-free baking flour and I'm very confident it would work well with this recipe too.
Iz says
so good! I was afraid to make it but it was actually pretty simple! I did it over the span of two days. Patience is key with this recipe. Tastes delicious and looks professional. Recommend!
Mallory Staskus says
The textures where great but there was too much flavoring. I won’t use any in the crust next time And probably half the vanilla in the custard.
Alina says
This is an amazing recipe. I made it exactly following instructions for my daughter‘a birthday. It turned out great, exactly as planned. The taste is awesome. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe, it is a new favorite in our home.
Annie says
I just made the pastry cream, and it was amazing! The local market was all out of heavy cream, so I used coconut cream instead and it worked out really well. Thanks for a great recipe!
Helen says
Made the pastry cream to fill small tart cases. Omg the best pastry cream ever. Just delicious.
EV3522 says
Would you know the baking time for mini tart pans?
Amy says
I've seen different sized mini tart pans, but generally speaking I would be looking at around 15 minutes baking, I think.
Alyssa says
I’ve made this a few times and absolutely love it. But I have a problem getting tapioca type balls in it. How can I fix this?
Amy says
Hmm, if you aren't getting a smooth filling, you could try pressing it through a fine mesh sieve. Also, be sure to whisk it well and cook it just long enough to thicken it but not too long. My guess is that the little balls are overcooked bits of protein or cornstarch.
Anna Goodson Hasskamp says
I wish there were a place to share a picture! There were a couple of times in the process I really wasn’t sure if everything was going to come out the right way. I didn’t have potato starch so I substituted two times the amount in flour which did not yield a light and creamy mixture. It was super thick. But I added it along with the hot mixture into my vita mix and blended it on high. Everything came out great that way. I love my Vitamix it’s a workhorse.
Brushing the fruit with preserves thinned down with some pomegranate juice was the extra step that took this dessert to the next level. I also sprinkled the fruit lightly with some Himalayan sea salt.
I got so many compliments and everyone loved the cookie like crust. Judging from your picture I think the flour substitution I may have held the custody filling together better than corn starch. You might try it.
Bella says
My food processor only have grind and chop on it. Can I leave my dough overnight and cook it the day am serving the tart?
Amy says
Yes, although I would refrigerate or freeze the tart crust if you aren't baking it. If you are just baking it in advance, then it will be fine on the counter overnight and you can fill the next day.
Bonnie says
My tart pan is 11 inches. Will I have enough dough for this?
Amy says
It might be a bit of a stretch, but I think you could make it work.
Jane Hart says
Made this— great recipe and easy to follow. I think my pastrcream needed to be a little firmer... but it delicious! Thanks!!
Lydia says
I really want to make this recipe but instead of a big tart pan, can I use smaller ones that have a diametre of 8.5 cm/3.3". How long would I need to bake those for? And also how many tarts can I make if I make this recipe just once?
Amy says
Yes, you can use smaller tart pans! I would bake for 20 minutes, then remove the weights. I have smaller tart pans as well and have made 6 of them from this recipe.
Todd says
Made recipe as written, lined crust with a dark chocolate and it was Devine! Truly delicious. Thanks for sharing.
Samantha D says
Hi! I have made the recipe numerous times now and it always comes out fantastic! However I’m not quite happy with the crust - sometimes it cracks and becomes unusable and a lot of times the sides of it shrink, I’ve tried using pie weights, poking the bottom with a fork, using parchment paper instead of foil. Help! I’m at a loss. I follow your recipe to a T! Always use cold butter and try not to overwork the dough. I would just to be able to put more filling in the pie. Thanks!
Amy says
Hmmm, this is such an interesting question. Have you tried freezing the crust after rolling it out and baking it straight from frozen with the pie weights and parchment paper? Another thought would be to add a couple extra tablespoons of flour to decrease the fat to flour ratio that can sometimes lead to shrinkage. I wish I was there to see what was happening!
Samantha D says
I made another one last night and froze it longer - about 45 minutes instead of 30 and it came out much better! Still a little bit of shrinkage but I was able to use the full amount of pastry cream this time! Yay!
M. Williams says
Can I substitute stevia for the sugar? I have to be careful with sugar because of my liver problems. Thank you.
Amy says
I haven't ever worked with stevia so I really can't say! I'm sorry! I would hope so though!
layla jackson says
Fantastic recipe. I ad a touch more vanilla (since i love it so much) but everyone in my household loves it. Its literally perfect for summer.
teribillo says
nice post thanks admin.....
Monika Kapoor says
Amazing Post....Thanks for sharing
Ann says
Looking forward to making this! I wanted to do as much prep the day before if possible. Could I make the crust dough and put it into the tart pan and freeze over night and bake it the next day?
Amy says
Sure!
Ann says
This is the best fruit tart I've ever had, and I've been to the best bakeries around the US and Paris! The crust is buttery, flavorful and like the best shortbread texture. Pastry cream so tasty and smooth. Not eggy at all! This is indeed the perfect fruit tart and it's beautiful. I made it and had it for our early Father's Day dinner tonight and EVERYONE was raving about this and got seconds. And it was very easy to make too! Thank you for this!!! I used the same brand of vanilla paste in the custard and same brand of vanilla extract in the crust. Accidentally used double the amount of extract. The good quality vanilla really shined! Also used cultured butter, which is great for pastry!
Amy says
Thank you, Ann! I'm so glad this tart got such rave reviews from someone who has eaten tarts all over, including Paris! I'm so flattered! (Also, apologies for my delay in commenting - we have been doing a lot of traveling this summer and I'm behind!).
Kiki says
Hi Amy,
As i was transferring the dough to the tart pan, the dough doesnt stick together well and kept breaking up into pieces. Do you know the reason for this?
Yours look so perfect!
Amy says
Shoot! It could be a couple of things but the main culprit is going to be moisture caused either by a little too much flour or not quite enough liquid. Next time add a splash more cream to the dough so it's a bit stickier and less crumbly and see if that helps.
Dawn Bushong says
Hi I was wondering what temp and time I should use for the crust if I am using mini tart pans.
Thank you,
Dawm
raveena says
This is a very good idea. keep it up
Marilyn Palumbo says
Can you use this recipe to make mini tarts?
Amy says
Absolutely!
Kim says
Hi!
I made it tonight and it looked beautiful but when I cut into it the pieces didn’t stay together. Initially the pastry cream seemed nice and thick but when it was cut it ran all over the place. Tasted delicious though.
Sandra D. says
We loved this recipe! It was easy and delicious!
Sandy says
Thanks for this recipe! It turned out fantastic!
Sandy says
Loved this recipe! It turned out fantastic and was easy to follow.