Dreamy Vanilla Cream Tarts with Fresh Raspberries Recipe

Sweet, buttery pastry shells cradle a silky vanilla cream tart that whispers pure indulgence.

Delicate raspberries scatter across the creamy landscape like vibrant jewels.

The combination of smooth custard and bright fruit creates a dessert that sings with simple elegance.

Each bite promises a delightful balance of rich vanilla and tangy raspberry notes.

Crisp pastry provides a perfect contrast to the velvety filling.

These tarts represent a classic French-inspired treat that transforms an ordinary moment into something extraordinary.

Bakers of all skill levels can master this delectable dessert with a few simple techniques.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

Calories: 350 kcal

Servings: 6

Ingredients for Vanilla Cream Raspberry Tarts

• All-Purpose Flour: Provides structure and tender crumbly base for delicate pastry shell.
• Powdered Sugar: Adds subtle sweetness and helps create a delicate, melt-in-your-mouth texture.
• Cold Butter: Essential for creating flaky layers and rich, buttery flavor in the crust.
• Egg Yolk: Binds ingredients, adds richness, and helps create a smooth, cohesive dough.
• Vanilla: Introduces warm, aromatic undertones that complement the cream and fruit.
• Ice Water: Helps bind ingredients without warming the butter, ensuring a perfectly crisp crust.

• Heavy Cream: Creates luxurious, silky smooth texture for the tart filling.
• Vanilla Bean or Extract: Provides deep, complex flavor and aromatic essence.
• Sugar: Balances and sweetens the cream filling.

• Fresh Raspberries: Adds vibrant color, tangy freshness, and bright fruity contrast to rich cream.

Tools to Make Tarts with Precision

• Food Processor or Mixing Bowl: Perfect for combining dry ingredients and creating pastry dough.
• Pastry Cutter: Helps blend cold butter into flour mixture if not using a food processor.
• Mini Tart Pans or Muffin Tin: Essential for shaping and baking individual tart shells.
• Rolling Pin: Needed to roll out the pastry dough evenly.
• Fork: Used for pricking tart shell bottoms before baking.
• Parchment Paper: Prevents sticking and helps with even baking.
• Pie Weights or Dried Beans: Keeps tart shells flat during initial baking.
• Plastic Wrap: Useful for chilling the dough.
• Measuring Cups and Spoons: Ensures accurate ingredient quantities.

How to Fill and Decorate These Pretty Treats

• Whip Up the Dough Base

Mix flour and powdered sugar in a food processor, creating a smooth foundation for your delightful tarts.

• Blend in Butter

Incorporate cold butter into the mixture, working it until it looks like sandy crumbs that will give your tart a rich, melt-in-your-mouth texture.

• Bring the Dough Together

Add egg yolk, vanilla, and tiny splashes of ice water, gently mixing until the dough starts to form a cohesive ball.

• Chill and Rest

Shape the dough into a disk, wrap it snugly in plastic wrap, and let it relax in the refrigerator for half an hour.

• Prepare the Oven

Warm up your oven to a cozy 350F, creating the perfect environment for baking.

• Shape the Tart Shells

Roll out the chilled dough and carefully press it into mini tart pans, creating delicate little vessels for your creamy filling.

• Prepare for Baking

Poke tiny holes in the dough base, cover with parchment paper, and sprinkle pie weights to keep the shape.

• Bake to Perfection

Slide the tart shells into the oven and bake for 12-15 minutes until they turn a beautiful golden color, then let them cool completely.

Flavor Enhancements for Cream or Fruit

• Butter Softness Secret: Let butter sit at room temperature for 10 minutes before starting to ensure perfect pastry texture without overworking the dough.
• Gluten-Free Option: Replace wheat flour with almond or gluten-free flour blend for those with wheat sensitivities, maintaining the delicate tart shell structure.
• Flavor Boost Hack: Infuse vanilla cream with a hint of orange zest or lavender for an unexpected and sophisticated flavor profile that elevates the classic dessert.
• Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare tart shells up to 3 days in advance and store in an airtight container, allowing for stress-free entertaining and quick dessert assembly.
• Dairy-Free Twist: Substitute heavy cream with coconut cream and use plant-based butter for a delicious vegan version that doesn't compromise on richness or taste.

Sweet Ways to Plate These Summery Beauties

• Raspberry Romance: Elegant serve suggestions for Vanilla Cream Tarts
• Dessert Party Platter: Arrange tarts on a beautiful white marble board with fresh mint leaves, creating an Instagram-worthy display that highlights the delicate raspberries and golden tart shells.
• Wine Pairing Perfection: Complement these tarts with a chilled glass of moscato or sweet prosecco, enhancing the dessert's delicate vanilla and berry flavors for a sophisticated after-dinner treat.
• Brunch Centerpiece: Scatter extra fresh raspberries around the tarts, dust with powdered sugar, and serve alongside light morning coffee for a decadent weekend brunch centerpiece that feels both luxurious and casual.

How to Store Tarts with Fresh, Filling

• Fresh Tart Storage Solutions: Keep your delicate desserts in top shape with these smart strategies.
• Cooling Countdown: Let tarts cool completely at room temperature for 30-45 minutes before adding cream to prevent soggy crusts.
• Refrigeration Strategy: Store assembled tarts in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Separate layers with parchment paper to maintain the delicate raspberry and cream design.
• Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare tart shells up to 3 days in advance. Store unassembled shells in a sealed container at room temperature, keeping them crisp and ready for filling.
• Raspberry Freshness Tip: Add fresh raspberries just before serving to maintain their vibrant color and prevent moisture from softening the delicate pastry crust.

Elegant Vanilla Cream Tarts With Fresh Raspberries

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4.6 from 31 reviews

• Total Time: 45 minutes
• Yield: 7 1x

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Description

Rich vanilla cream tarts with fresh raspberries showcase French pastry elegance at its finest. Delicate pastry shells cradle silky cream and ruby-red berries, inviting you to savor each exquisite bite.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 1 ¼ cups (156 g) all-purpose flour
• ½ cup (113 g) unsalted butter, cold & cubed
• 3 large egg yolks
• 1 ¼ cups (296 mL) whole milk
• 1 cup fresh raspberries
• ¼ cup (30 g) powdered sugar
• ¼ cup (50 g) granulated sugar
• ¼ cup (80 g) apricot or raspberry jam
• 2 tbsps (16 g) cornstarch
• 1 ½ tsps vanilla extract
• 1 tbsp (14 g) unsalted butter
• 12 tbsps (177 mL) ice water
• 1 tbsp (15 mL) water
• Powdered sugar (for dusting, optional)

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Instructions

1. Pastry Preparation: Pulse flour and powdered sugar in a food processor, integrating cold butter until the mixture resembles coarse sand.
2. Dough Formation: Incorporate egg yolk, vanilla extract, and ice water, kneading until a cohesive dough forms. Shape into a disk, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate for 30 minutes to stabilize.
3. Tart Shell Crafting: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Roll out chilled dough and press into mini tart pans, creating uniform shells. Dock the base with a fork and line with parchment paper, adding pie weights to prevent rising.
4. Baking Shells: Bake for 12-15 minutes until edges turn golden brown. Remove and cool completely, allowing shells to set and firm up.
5. Cream Filling Creation: Whisk cream, vanilla, and sugar until smooth and silky, developing a luxurious vanilla-infused cream.
6. Assembly and Finishing: Pipe or spoon vanilla cream into cooled tart shells. Crown each tart with fresh, vibrant raspberries, arranging them artfully across the creamy surface.
7. Final Chill: Refrigerate completed tarts for 30 minutes to set the cream and allow flavors to harmonize, creating a perfectly balanced dessert.

Notes

• Butter Temperature Matters: Use cold butter straight from the refrigerator to create a flaky, tender pastry crust that crumbles perfectly.
• Prevent Soggy Bottoms: Always prick the tart base with a fork and use pie weights to ensure a crisp, golden crust that doesn’t become wet or soft.
• Cream Consistency Hack: Whisk the vanilla cream filling slowly and steadily to avoid air bubbles, creating a smooth, luxurious texture that pipes beautifully.
• Berry Freshness Tip: Select plump, deep-colored raspberries at peak ripeness and pat them dry before placing on the tart to maintain their vibrant color and prevent excess moisture.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: French

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 7
• Calories: 300
• Sugar: 16 g
• Sodium: 50 mg
• Fat: 18 g
• Saturated Fat: 11 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 30 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 4 g
• Cholesterol: 80 mg