Description
A delightful and elegant dessert featuring a crisp tart shell filled with rich pastry cream and topped with a colorful assortment of fresh fruits. Perfect for any special occasion or a refreshing treat on a sunny day.
Ingredients
– For the tart shell:
– 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
– 1/4 cup powdered sugar
– 1/4 tsp salt
– 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed
– For the pastry cream:
– 1 cup whole milk
– 1/2 cup heavy cream
– 1/2 cup granulated sugar
– 3 egg yolks
– 1/4 cup cornstarch
– 1 tsp vanilla extract
– 2 tbsp unsalted butter
– For the fruit topping:
– 1 cup sliced strawberries
– 1 cup kiwi slices
– 1 cup blueberries
– 1 cup mandarin orange segments
– Optional: fresh mint leaves for garnish
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Prepare the tart shell:
– In a bowl, mix together the flour, powdered sugar, and salt.
– Cut in the cold butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
– Press the mixture evenly into a 9-inch tart pan with a removable bottom.
– Bake for 20-25 minutes until lightly golden. Remove from the oven and let cool completely.
3. Prepare the pastry cream:
– In a saucepan, heat the milk and heavy cream over medium heat until just simmering.
– In a separate bowl, whisk together the sugar, egg yolks, and cornstarch until smooth.
– Slowly pour the hot milk mixture into the egg mixture while whisking continuously.
– Return the mixture to the saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until it thickens (about 3-5 minutes).
– Remove from heat, then stir in the vanilla extract and butter until smooth.
– Strain the cream through a sieve for extra smoothness and let it cool to room temperature.
4. Assemble the tart:
– Spread the cooled pastry cream evenly into the tart shell.
– Arrange the fresh fruits artfully on top of the cream.
– Garnish with fresh mint leaves if desired.
5. Chill the tart in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour before serving.
Notes
– You can substitute fruits based on seasonal availability.
– The tart shell can be made ahead of time and stored in an airtight container.
– For a glossy finish, brush the fruits with a light apricot glaze (apricot jam thinned with water).
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 280 kcal
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 16g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 60mg