Summer fruit tart

There's just something so different between the fruits of summer and the fruits of winter. Summer fruits are so much more refreshing and clean, for lack of a better word. The desserts that you make with them reflect the fruits themselves. That's what I love about this tart. All the fruits are raw, crisp, and super fruity.

 

The fruits that are in season during Summer are just too beautiful: strawberries, blueberries, peaches, blackberries, etc. They are so vibrant and just bursting with flavor. I couldn't think of anything better than to make a refreshing fruit tart, which is actually quite simple to make. It consists of only pâte sucrée, lemon pastry cream, and your choice of seasonal fruits. You can even make the pâte sucrée and pastry cream a few days ahead. They keep well in the refrigerator.

Originally, I was just going to make a plain vanilla pastry cream, but then I realized that adding lemon zest would really enhance the refreshing fruits. I think I made a pretty good decision because the addition of the lemon zest really added a nice burst of citrus and acidity. I would recommend adding the zest rather than the juice of a lemon since the zest carries more flavor than the juice. Also, it wouldn't mess with the consistency of the pastry cream. 

As for the fruits, you can really choose to use any fruits that are in season. I chose strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, and raspberries because I had them all on hand. Any combination of fruits that you enjoy will suffice, though. You really can't go wrong.

Summer Fruit Tart
makes 1, 10-inch tart

Lemon Pastry Cream
adapted from Christine Beanie
ingredients:

2 cups milk

1/4 cup white sugar 

2 egg yolks 

1 egg

1/4 cup cornstarch 
1/3 cup white sugar 
2 tablespoons butter 
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon lemon zest 

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directions: 

In a heavy saucepan, stir together the milk and 1/4 cup of sugar. Bring to a boil over medium heat.

In a medium bowl, whisk the egg yolks, egg, and 1/3 cup of sugar until thick and pale. This should take about 5 minutes of vigorous whisking. Then stir in the cornstarch. When the milk comes to a boil, drizzle one ladle full of it into the egg mixture. This is called tempering. Once mixed, pour the egg mixture into the the saucepan, and slowly bring to a boil, stirring constantly so the eggs don' t curdle or scorch on the bottom.

When the mixture comes to a boil and thickens, remove from the heat. Stir in the butter and vanilla, mixing until the butter is completely blended in. Pour into a heat-proof container and place a piece of plastic wrap directly on the surface to prevent a skin from forming. Refrigerate until completely chilled, about 4 hours.

Pâte Sucrée
ingredients:
2 cups all-purpose flour

1/3 cup sugar

1/2 tsp kosher salt

1 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed

1 large egg

1 large egg yolk

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directions: 

On a stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment, combine the flour, sugar, and salt. Mix until just combined. 

Next, with the mixer on low, slowly add the cubed butter. "Beat" the mixture until the butter resembles the size of peas. While the mixer is still running, add the egg and egg yolk. Keep the mixer running until the dough mixture forms a ball. Take the ball of dough out of the mixer and knead until the dough is no longer crumbly, it should take only 5-7 kneads. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for one hour. 

On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough to about 1/8-inch thick. Make sure that the dough is about 2 inches wider than the diameter of the pan. Gently place the rolled out dough into the tart pan. Trim the edges of the dough by rolling the rolling pin over the edges of the pan or by using a knife. Prick the dough with a fork. Chill the dough for another 45 minutes or place in the freezer for 30 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Put the tart on a baking sheet and bake for about 15-20 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown. If you want, rotate the pan halfway into the baking process to ensure even browning. Cool the crust in the pan, completely, before you fill it with the pastry cream. 

Assembly:
Place the cooled tart shell onto a cake stand. Fill the shell with the lemon pastry cream. (I used a piping bag fitted with a round tip). Smooth out the cream and make sure that there are no gaps. Top the tart with your choice of fruits. (I started with layering blueberries, then added raspberries and blackberries on top of any gaps, and then placed a few strawberries randomly to add more color). Finished! 

Like I said, this tart really is quite simple. The only "difficult" part is waiting for all the elements to cool down. It is also so forgiving. If you crack the tart shell just a bit, no worries, because the pastry cream will cover it all up. I hope you try this recipe and enjoy it as much as my family did.

As always, 
Happy Baking! 

Raspberry Pistachio Tarts

I love making tarts. They're so wonderful to look at and to eat. Especially those with many components and contrasting flavors and textures. Such as my raspberry pistachio tarts. They are the perfect combination of sweet, tart, crunchy and creamy. What's in them, exactly? Well, I'll tell you: pâte sucrée, almond cream, pistachio whipped cream, raspberries, and chopped pistachios. 

What I love most about these tarts is the beautiful pop of red against the pastel green. They're just so beautiful to look at. And best of all, if you somehow manage to not finish them in one go, they can be refrigerated for up to one week.

Lately, I've been obsessing over pistachios in desserts. In one week I managed to make these tarts, pistachio cake, and pistachio ice cream. I guess I love pistachios more than I thought. These tarts are very similar to my strawberry tarts. The shell (pate sucree) and almond cream both come from that recipe. Speaking of recipes, why don't I share this recipe with you now? 

Raspberry Pistachio Tarts 
makes approximately 6 small tarts or 1 large tart 
 

Tart Shell
Almond Cream 
(Follow the same procedure as the strawberry tarts)

Pistachio whipped cream 
adapted from Wendy 
ingredients: 
70gm pistachios
10gm cornstarch
2 egg yolks
100gm heavy cream
1 drop food coloring

200gm whipping cream
2 Tbsp sugar
1 tsp gelatin
1 Tbsp water 

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directions:

To make powdered pistachios: In a food processor, combine the pistachios and cornstarch. Blitz until finely ground; approx 20 seconds. Set aside.

For the pastry cream: Combine the egg yolks and heavy cream in a saucepan over low heat. Stir until slightly warmed. Next, stir in the powdered pistachios and continue to cook over low heat until the mixture thickens. Once the mixture has thickened, transfer it into a bowl and chill in the refrigerator until completely cooled. 

Once the mixture is completely cool, begin the whipped cream process. In a small bowl, combine the water and gelatin. Let the gelatin bloom. Next, put the small bowl into a bowl filled with hot water or a microwave and melt the gelatin. This process should only take 10-15 seconds.

In a chilled mixing bowl, add the heavy cream and beat until streaks start to show. Then, add in the gelatin and continue to beat until stiff peaks are formed. Remove the cold pastry cream from the fridge and fold some whipped cream into it. Once incorporated, fold the rest of the whipped cream into the pastry cream. If needed, add some green food coloring to brighten the green color. Use immediately or chill before using. 


Garnishes:
2 pints raspberries (I picked out the nicest ones)
chopped pistachios 

Assembly: 
Pipe a swirl of pistachio whipped cream onto the cooled tart base (I used an Ateco #827 tip). Next, place the raspberries around the pistachio cream. Finally, sprinkle some chopped pistachios on the cream.   

  

May I just say...these tarts are absolutely delicious. The raspberry adds just the right amount of tartness to the sweet almond cream and whipped cream. The tart shell is just crispy enough to add texture without overwhelming the delicate cream. It was a big hit in my family and I hope it is a big hit in yours too!  

As always, Happy Baking!!  

Strawberry Tarts

It saddens me to say that I am allergic to strawberries. Such a horrible fruit to be allergic to. They are beautifully red and deliciously sweet and juicy. Yet, that does not stop me from using strawberries in my baked goods. What I have chosen to make with them are gorgeous strawberry tarts. I wish that I could take the credit for this recipe but sadly, I have borrowed it from Keiko's Cakes. If you are someone who is very serious about baking, I would highly recommend becoming a member of this 'cooking school'. Keiko is a master pastry chef who really knows what she is doing. I found her videos to be extremely helpful and even though the recipes may look tough, they are not too difficult to follow. I definitely would not recommend beginners to use these recipes though.

Now back to the tarts. What I love about these tarts is that they are perfectly balanced in terms of textures and flavors. The tart shell has just the right amount of crunch and density to hold the smooth custard. The custard has just the right thickness to hold the strawberries. And the strawberries...well they are just the right amount of wonderful. Using pistachios to cover the edge of the strawberries is not only aesthetically pleasing but they also add a nice kick of saltiness. From bottom to top the tart is made up of: tart shell, almond cream, pastry cream, strawberries, whipped cream, pistachios. The whole tart is sweet, salty, crunchy, creamy, light and...well why don't you just make it and see for yourself. 


Strawberry Tarts
adapted from Keikos Cakes 
makes approx 6 small tarts or 1 large tart

Tart shell
ingredients:
Butter 110 g (cold)
Icing sugar 75 g
Flour 185 g
Almond powder 25 g
Egg 50 g (one medium size egg)

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directions:

In a food processor, combine the flour, icing sugar, and almond powder. Blitz for 10 seconds. Then, add in the cold butter and process until you have fine crumbs. Transfer the mixture into a small bowl and slowly work in the egg. Once the mixture starts to come together, transfer it onto a flat work surface and knead until all the ingredients have fully incorporated. Work the mixture into a ball, flatten it, wrap it in plastic wrap, and put the dough into the fridge for one hour.

 

After one hour, roll out the dough to a 3 mm (0.1 inches) sheet and place the dough in the tart pan. Make sure not to stretch out the dough in this process. Roll out the remaining dough and cut out round sheets with a ring cutter slightly larger than the size of your tartlet pan. Place the dough sheets in the tartlet pan. Again, do not stretch the dough. Cut the excess dough with a knife. Prick the bottoms with a fork. Bake for 20 minutes in your pre-heated oven at 375°F.

Almond Cream
ingredients:
Butter 140 g
Sugar 140 g
Egg 140 g, beaten
Almond powder 140 g, sifted
Flour 20 g, sifted

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directions:

In a stand mixture, cream the butter until it is pale and fluffy. Add the sugar and mix. Then, add the egg little by little. Mix well after each addition. Finally, fold the sifted almond powder and flour into the batter.  

Fill the almond cream into a pastry bag and pipe out a large spiral onto the baked large tart shell. Also fill the small tart shells with almond cream. Bake the filled tart for another 20 minutes in your pre-heated oven at 350°F. After baking, remove the tarts from the tart pans and let them cool down completely.
 

Pastry Cream

ingredients:

Milk 300g
Butter  20g
Sugar 60g
Egg yolk 60g

1/2 Vanilla bean or 2 tsp vanilla extract
Flour 35g

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directions:

Combine the milk with the scraped vanilla pod, 1/4 of the sugar, and butter in a medium saucepan on medium heat. When the milk starts boiling, remove the saucepan from the heat and cover it with a plate. Leave it for 5 minutes to let the vanilla flavors infuse into the milk.
 

In the meantime, mix the egg yolk and remaining sugar in a large bowl. Mix until the egg mixture is thick, pale, and creamy. Next, add the sifted flour and mix well. Pour the hot milk mixture into the bowl with the egg yolk and mix gently. Remove the vanilla bean and pour the mixture back into the saucepan. Put the saucepan back on medium head and stir until the pastry cream thickens. Pour the hot pastry cream into a flat pan and let it cool completely. 

Garnishes:

Strawberries, sliced in half

Whipped cream

Chopped pistachios    

Melted apricot preserves  
 

Assembly:

Pipe the cooled pastry cream into the tart shell until it reaches the rim. Then, gently place the sliced strawberries in the middle of the tart (refer to the pictures). Brush the strawberries with the melted apricot preserves. This gives the strawberries a nice shine and also preserves them. Next, pipe a small swirl of whipped cream on top of the strawberries. Last, but not least, cover the edge of the strawberries with the crush pistachios.

Voilà! You now have successfully made strawberry tarts. Granted, this recipe is extremely time consuming and can be a little bit difficult. However, the results are well worth the effort. Good luck! 

Happy Baking!!