Lemon Tart – Sugar Spun Run
9 min read
My simple lemon tart recipe begins with a crisp, shortbread-esque crust and is full of a {smooth}, shiny lemon filling. It’s a refreshing dessert that’s excellent for hotter climate, however is admittedly great any time of 12 months. Recipe features a how-to video!

A Easy, Selfmade Lemon Tart
Making up for the dreary climate we’ve been having lately with this shiny and sunny lemon tart.
It’s pure sunshine with a crisp, buttery crust cradling a silky-smooth lemon curd filling that’s equally tangy and candy. High it off with a fluffy cloud of selfmade whipped cream and simply attempt to hold your self from going again for a second slice. Resistance/willpower… a talent I’m but to grasp 🥴
I used to seek out tarts to be intimidating, however they’re truthfully easy to make and never a lot completely different than a pie. Essentially the most troublesome half is having persistence, because it should chill within the fridge in a single day earlier than serving, so hold that in thoughts should you’re making it for an occasion. On that word, it’s excellent for making prematurely!

My recipe consists of three well-balanced layers:
- Pâte sucrée crust: Tender, candy, and buttery pastry that holds up effectively in opposition to the creamy filling. It’s sweeter than conventional pie crust and tastes much like a shortbread cookie. It will be scrumptious by itself, however after all we’re going to be filling it with…
- A wealthy, tangy lemon filling: A pleasant steadiness of sweetness and tanginess that units up simply agency sufficient to neatly slice. That is primarily the identical filling utilized in my lemon bars.
- Non-compulsory whipped cream topping: Provides a light-weight, creamy end that tempers the tartness of the lemon. This may be piped or dolloped to fit your most popular presentation fashion. I piped it prettily for footage, however in actuality I usually simply plop a big spoonful on high of my slice earlier than having fun with.
What You Want
Use high-quality components ensures a vibrant, scrumptious, and superbly textured lemon tart. Particularly, you will have:

- Butter. Use unsalted butter and ensure it’s tremendous chilly earlier than you add it to the crust (you may even place it within the freezer for 10-Quarter-hour beforehand). If you could find it and wish to spring for it, European butter works very properly right here!
- Eggs. We’ll use eggs in each the crust and the filling. For the crust, be sure your egg is chilled earlier than including it. For the filling, we’ll use two complete eggs and some additional yolks. In the event you’d like to make use of your leftover egg whites as a substitute of throwing them away, you should utilize them to make meringue cookies, French macarons, or a batch of marshmallow frosting. You would even use it to make a meringue to high off the pie, however I choose to make use of whipped cream as a substitute.
- Lemons. Squeeze your individual lemons! The bottled stuff simply doesn’t come shut flavor-wise (I had a couple of relations who insisted it didn’t make a distinction, however a taste-test left me vindicated, and Bon Appetit also validates my claim, discussing the oxidation of the bottled stuff and whatnot) . That is vital, and I solely assure tasty outcomes should you comply with this rule 😉
- Powdered sugar. We’ll use a little bit of powdered sugar within the crust for tender, shortbread-esque outcomes.
- Vanilla extract. I don’t use any vanilla within the filling because it undermined the lemon taste relatively than flattered it, however a splash within the crust and the whipped cream on high does accent the filling properly.
SAM’S TIP: It is very important hold your tart crust components as chilly as potential! In the event that they get too heat, the perimeters of your tart might collapse whereas baking. A meals processor is my most popular device for getting ready the crust because of this (a meals processor works rapidly and also you don’t want to make use of your fingers, which may heat the components), however you might alternatively use a pastry cutter as a substitute.
That is simply an summary of the components I used and why. For the total recipe please scroll right down to the underside of the submit!
Easy methods to Make Lemon Tart
Make the tart crust (pâte sucrée)

- Pulse collectively the flour, sugar, and salt in a meals processor, then add the butter and pulse once more till coarse crumbs kind.
- Mix the egg and vanilla (I whisk them collectively in a small dish to evenly distribute the vanilla extract) then pour into the meals processor and pulse till the dough begins to cling collectively.
- Type the dough right into a disc, wrap in plastic (or parchment paper), and place within the fridge to sit back for 1 hour. See these specks all through the dough within the photographs above? That’s butter, you wish to see that!
- Roll the dough right into a 10-11″ circle earlier than urgent right into a 9″ tart pan. Tip for whenever you’re rolling out your dough: achieve this on a floured floor and periodically use a spatula to scrape up the underside of the dough to maintain it from sticking. To switch the dough to the tart pan, merely roll it up round your rolling pin then unroll it over the tart pan (I show this in my video).
Bake the crust

- Prick the underside of the crust throughout with a fork, cowl with parchment paper, and fill with pie weights. I crumple (and un-crumple) my parchment paper a number of occasions in order that it matches properly within the pie shell. Chill within the freezer for half-hour.
- Bake the crust for 20 minutes at 375F, then fastidiously take away the parchment and pie weights and bake for an additional 5 minutes/till gentle browning happens.
Put together the Filling

- Whisk collectively all components besides the butter in a medium sized pot. Add the butter and switch the warmth to medium low.
- Stir always whereas the combination cooks. As soon as it thickens and coats the again of a spoon, take away the curd from the warmth.
- Pour the filling by means of a wonderful mesh strainer right into a heatproof bowl, then pour into your tart crust. The strainer is key, it filters out any impurities, seeds, or small bits of cooked egg which will have occurred. It’s essential to use one for a silky {smooth} filling.
- Evenly unfold the filling into the crust, and {smooth} the floor. Let cool at room temperature for one hour, then switch to the fridge for a minimum of 6 hours.
Whipped Cream

- Whip the cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla till stiff peaks kind.
- Unfold or pipe onto the chilled tart, slice, and revel in!
SAM’S TIP: When you can at all times simply unfold the whipped cream on high of your lemon tart, I like to make use of the Ateco 848 piping tip (linked within the recipe card beneath) to create a fairly piped design.

Regularly Requested Questions
In case your lemon tart is runny, the largely seemingly trigger isn’t cooking the filling lengthy sufficient. It needs to be properly thickened whenever you pull it off the range. In the event you’d like a visible, see the video beneath to see the precise consistency mine is when it’s carried out; I prefer to examine to verify it coats the again of a spoon earlier than I pull it off the warmth. After I run my finger by means of the curd (on the again of the spoon) the path that my finger makes ought to maintain and the curd shouldn’t circulation again over it.
Sure, I feel limes, oranges, and even grapefruits would work effectively.
Sure! Since this tart comprises an egg-based custard filling, I like to recommend refrigerating it. Be sure that to maintain it lined to stop any fridge odors from absorbing into the tart.
Pâte sucrée is the traditional selection, however you possibly can substitute my graham cracker crust as a substitute.

As soon as completed, you may embellish your lemon tart with recent berries, mint sprigs, and even edible flowers. Do you like to embellish yours, or hold it plain (should you go all-out with the adorning, ensure you tag me on Instagram so I can see it!)?
Get pleasure from!
Let’s bake collectively! I’ll be strolling you thru all of the steps in my written recipe and video beneath! In the event you do this recipe, you’ll want to tag me on Instagram, and you too can discover me on YouTube and Facebook

Lemon Tart
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Servings: 8 servings
Energy: 561kcal
Elements
Whipped Cream (elective):
Stop your display from going darkish
Directions
For the tart crust:
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To the basin of a meals processor, add flour, sugar, and salt. Briefly pulse to mix.
1 ½ cups (190 g) all-purpose flour, ½ cup (65 g) powdered sugar, ¼ teaspoon salt
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Add butter and pulse till coarse crumbs kind (about ten 1-second pulses)
8 Tablespoons (113 g) unsalted butter
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In a separate, small dish, whisk collectively egg and vanilla. Drizzle over flour combination, and pulse till dough simply begins to cling collectively.
1 giant egg, ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
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Rigorously take away from meals processor (watch the blade) and form dough right into a disc, wrap in plastic wrap, and chill for 1 hour.
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Roll chilled dough right into a 10-11″ (25cm) disc and press right into a 9″ (23cm) tart pan. Prick the underside throughout with a fork, line with parchment paper, and fill with pie weights or dry beans. Freeze for half-hour, in the meantime preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
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As soon as crust has chilled and oven is preheated, bake crust in middle rack of 375°F (190°C) oven for 20 minutes or till edges are gentle golden brown. Take away parchment and weights (fastidiously), then bake for an extra 5 minutes (the underside of the tart needs to be starting to show evenly golden). Put together lemon filling
Lemon Filling
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In a medium-sized saucepan, mix eggs, egg yolks, lemon juice, sugar, and salt. Add butter and cook dinner over medium-low warmth, stirring always, till combination is thickened and coats the again of a spoon.
2 giant complete eggs, 4 giant egg yolks, ½ cup (120 ml) freshly-squeezed lemon juice, 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar, ⅛ teaspoon salt, ½ cup (113 g) unsalted butter
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Take away from warmth and pour combination by means of a wonderful mesh strainer right into a bowl, then pour into tart crust and unfold evenly. Cool at room temperature for 1 hour, then refrigerate for a minimum of 6 hours or in a single day.
Whipped Cream (elective)
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Mix heavy cream, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract. Beat on excessive pace till stiff peaks kind. Pipe or dollop whipped cream onto tart earlier than serving. I used an Ateco 848 so as to add the ornamental whipped cream on high.
¾ cup (177 ml) heavy cream, ¼ cup (30 g) powdered sugar, ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Notes
Tart pan
I don’t grease my tart pan.
When making an attempt to line the unbaked tart crust with parchment paper (step 5) it’s useful to crumple the parchment paper, uncrumple, crumple once more, then uncrumple earlier than utilizing. This helps it match snugly and extra flush into the tart crust.
Filling
The tart crust doesn’t should be utterly cooled earlier than including the lemon filling, the truth is the filling might be added when the crust is scorching proper out of the oven. Typically I’ll start getting ready the lemon filling whereas the crust continues to be within the oven.
Storing
Retailer lined within the fridge for as much as 5 days. I retailer my tart within the tart pan and don’t take away until I wish to put it on a serving plate. Whereas I haven’t personally frozen this tart, I feel it could freeze wonderful (after cooling and setting utterly).
Vitamin
Serving: 1serving | Energy: 561kcal | Carbohydrates: 56g | Protein: 7g | Fats: 35g | Saturated Fats: 21g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 2g | Monounsaturated Fats: 10g | Trans Fats: 1g | Ldl cholesterol: 244mg | Sodium: 147mg | Potassium: 103mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 37g | Vitamin A: 1252IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 47mg | Iron: 2mg
Dietary data relies on third-party calculations and needs to be thought of an estimate solely. Precise dietary content material will fluctuate primarily based upon manufacturers used, measuring strategies, cooking methodology, portion sizes, and extra.
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