Chic & Sweet Elegant Fruit Tart Recipe for Any Occasion

Sweet baking dreams come alive with this delectable fruit tart recipe that promises to dazzle your senses.

Layers of buttery pastry cradle a silky custard filling bursting with seasonal fruits.

The classic French fruit tart delivers a perfect balance of creamy and crisp textures in every bite.

Delicate pâte sucrée forms the golden foundation for this stunning dessert.

Each slice showcases a vibrant array of fresh berries, stone fruits, and citrus that dance across the smooth custard surface.

Crafted with simple ingredients and a touch of love, this elegant tart transforms an ordinary afternoon into a gourmet experience.

You’ll want to savor every delightful morsel of this irresistible dessert.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 25 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 55 minutes

Calories: 290 kcal

Servings: 8

Ingredient List for Fresh, Juicy Fruit Tart

• All-Purpose Flour: The foundation of the buttery pastry, choose unbleached flour for better texture.
• Granulated Sugar: Adds subtle sweetness and helps with golden browning of the crust.
• Salt: Enhances flavor and balances the richness of the butter.

• Egg Yolk: Creates a rich, smooth texture and helps bind the dough together.
• Ice Water: Ensures the dough stays cold and creates a flaky, tender crust.

• Cold Butter: Provides flakiness and incredible flavor, use high-quality unsalted butter straight from the refrigerator for best results.

Tart-Making Tools for Home Bakers

• Food Processor or Mixing Bowl: Essential for blending dry ingredients and creating pastry dough quickly and evenly.
• Pastry Cutter or Blender: Perfect for cutting cold butter into flour mixture, creating those delicate, flaky crumb textures.
• 9-inch Tart Pan: Crucial for shaping and baking the classic fruit tart base with its removable bottom.
• Plastic Wrap: Helps rest and chill the dough, keeping it fresh and workable.
• Rolling Pin: Needed to roll out dough into a smooth, even layer for the tart shell.
• Parchment Paper: Prevents sticking and helps with even baking of the tart crust.
• Baking Weights or Dry Beans: Keeps the tart shell flat and prevents bubbling during initial baking.
• Fork: Used for pricking the dough base to prevent air bubbles.
• Measuring Cups and Spoons: Ensures accurate ingredient proportions for perfect pastry.

Instructions for a Beautiful, Crisp Tart Base

• Create Crumbly Pastry Base

Mix flour, sugar, and salt in a food processor or bowl until well combined.

• Blend in Butter

Cut cold butter into the dry ingredients, mixing until the texture resembles coarse sand.

• Form Dough

Incorporate egg yolk and a splash of ice water, kneading gently until the mixture comes together smoothly.

• Chill the Dough

Shape the pastry into a flat disk, wrap in plastic wrap, and let rest in the refrigerator to firm up.

• Prepare Tart Shell

Roll out the chilled dough and carefully press into a tart pan, creating an even layer along the bottom and sides.

• Pre-Bake the Crust

Puncture the bottom with a fork, cover with parchment paper, and add baking weights to prevent puffing.

• Bake to Golden Perfection

Slide the tart shell into a preheated oven and bake until the edges turn a beautiful golden brown, removing weights halfway through.

• Cool and Complete

Allow the tart shell to cool completely, creating a crisp foundation for your delicious fruit filling.

Topping Ideas for a Seasonal Fruit Finish

• Pastry Perfection Tricks: Chill your butter thoroughly before cutting into the flour mixture for flakier, more tender crust.
• No-Fail Crust Technique: Use very cold ingredients and handle the dough minimally to prevent tough pastry – work quickly and gently.
• Gluten-Free Option: Swap regular flour with a gluten-free blend designed for baking, ensuring the same delicate texture and rich flavor.
• Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare the tart shell up to 2 days in advance and store wrapped tightly in the refrigerator to save preparation time.
• Fruit Flexibility: Experiment with seasonal fruits like berries, stone fruits, or tropical selections to create unique flavor combinations and stunning visual presentations.

How to Present a Tart That Shines

• Elegant Dessert Plating: Arrange slices on fine china with a delicate dusting of powdered sugar, creating a stunning visual presentation that highlights the tart's golden crust and colorful fruit.
• Fresh Fruit Garnish: Top the tart with a vibrant mix of seasonal berries, sliced kiwi, or mandarin orange segments to add a burst of freshness and complementary flavors.
• Creamy Accompaniment: Serve alongside a dollop of whipped cream, vanilla bean ice cream, or a light crème anglaise to balance the tart's buttery crust and enhance the overall dessert experience.
• Wine Pairing Delight: Complement the fruit tart with a chilled glass of moscato, late harvest riesling, or a light sparkling wine to elevate the dessert's sweet and tangy notes.

Storage Advice for Crispy Crust and Fresh Fruit

• Dough Chilling Strategy: Refrigerate the tart dough for at least 30 minutes to help butter solidify, ensuring a flakier, more tender crust that prevents shrinking during baking.
• Advance Preparation Tip: Create the tart shell up to 2 days before serving, storing it in an airtight container at room temperature to save time on the day of your event.
• Fruit Freshness Hack: Add delicate fruits like berries just before serving to maintain their vibrant color and prevent soggy spots on the tart base.
• Leftover Storage Method: Cover the fruit tart loosely with plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator for 1-2 days, allowing the flavors to meld while keeping the crust crisp and fruit fresh.

Elegant Fruit Tart Recipe

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4.8 from 27 reviews

• Total Time: 55 minutes
• Yield: 9 1x

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Description

Classic French fruit tart showcases delicate pastry filled with silky vanilla custard and adorned with fresh seasonal fruits. Bright colors and balanced flavors make this dessert a delightful finale to any meal you will savor.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• ½ cup (113g) unsalted butter, cold and cubed
• 1 large egg yolk
• 1 ¼ cups (160g) all-purpose flour
• ¼ cup (50g) granulated sugar
• ½ tsp salt
• 12 tbsps (180 ml) ice water
• 1 ¼ cups (300 ml) whole milk
• 2 egg yolks
• ¼ cup (50g) granulated sugar
• 2 tbsps cornstarch
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tbsp unsalted butter
• 1 cup fresh strawberries, sliced
• ½ cup blueberries
• ½ cup kiwi slices
• ½ cup raspberries
• ¼ cup apricot or strawberry jam
• 1 tbsp water

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Instructions

1. Dough Preparation: Pulverize flour, sugar, and salt in a food processor, creating a uniform dry blend. Dice cold butter into minute cubes and pulse until the mixture transforms into a grainy, sand-like consistency.
2. Dough Binding: Integrate egg yolk and glacial water, kneading gently until the dough coheres. Mold into a compact disc, envelop in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for thorough chilling.
3. Crust Formation: Preheat oven to 350F (175C). Unfurl the chilled dough onto a 9-inch tart pan, pressing meticulously to craft a flawless base. Pierce the bottom with fork tines to prevent unwanted inflation.
4. Initial Baking: Drape parchment paper over the crust, distribute baking weights uniformly. Slide into the preheated oven and bake until the edges turn pale golden. Extract weights and return to oven, continuing until the surface achieves a rich, amber hue.
5. Cooling Phase: Extract the tart shell and allow complete cooling, establishing a robust foundation for subsequent layers. The shell should exhibit a crisp, sturdy texture with a delicate, buttery essence.

Notes

• Chill Butter Thoroughly: Keep butter extremely cold and cut into tiny cubes for optimal pastry texture, preventing warmth from compromising the delicate crumbly consistency.
• Prevent Shrinkage Technique: Dock the crust with fork punctures and use pie weights during initial baking to maintain precise shape and prevent unwanted crust contraction.
• Water Wisdom: Add ice water gradually, monitoring dough consistency; too much liquid creates tough pastry, while insufficient moisture leads to crumbly, fragile crust.
• Temperature Control Matters: Allow tart shell to cool completely at room temperature before adding filling, ensuring structural integrity and preventing soggy bottom syndrome.

• Prep Time: 25 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: French

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 9
• Calories: 240
• Sugar: 15g
• Sodium: 80mg
• Fat: 12g
• Saturated Fat: 7g
• Unsaturated Fat: 4g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 31g
• Fiber: 2g
• Protein: 3g
• Cholesterol: 60mg