Crumbly Lemon Cream Tart
- Difficulty: Easy
- Prep time: 30 min
- Cook time: 60 min
- Serving: 8
- Cost: Low
- Note + the chilling times in the fridge for the cream and the pastry
PRESENTATION
So here's the thing, the flaky lemon cream tart is like a hidden gem in Southern Italy. Perfect for big family gatherings or a laid-back Sunday lunch. And you know what? It all kicks off with the classic pasta frolla—which is just a fancy way of saying shortcrust pastry—buttery and super fragrant. The dough, with its fresh lemon zest, already has a golden, sunshiny smell even before it hits the oven. Really, it's true. The crust comes out crispy at the edges yet stays tender inside.
Now, in places like Campania or Sicily, folks fill this up with a smooth, rich lemon pastry cream. And look, this lemon cream? It’s not just sweet—it is got that tangy zing and a gentle creaminess that’s like eating a bite of sunshine. And then it’s all topped with crisscrossed dough strips and a sprinkle of powdered sugar. So, so pretty.
Bring out a homemade lemon tart and watch everyone’s eyes light up. You can really taste how the flavors blend. Honestly, the crumbly crust and the soft, creamy middle—it's a match made in heaven. Southern Italian cooks? They keep it pretty simple, letting the fresh lemon juice and zest steal the show. Keeps it super fresh and not too heavy.
This lemon tart recipe manages to feel both traditional and sorta modern—ideal for a relaxed weekend or when you want a quick treat with friends. It's kinda like a lemon cream pie’s cool cousin, thanks to the Italian flair and that citrus pop. As soon as you smell that freshly baked tart crust—seriously good—you can’t help but get excited. For anyone craving a moist, creamy, and sweet end to a meal, this one’s a no-brainer. Really, it's an easy choice.
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INGREDIENTS
- For the shortcrust pastry (for an 11 x 8 in pan)
- Type 00 flour 2 ½ cups (320 g)
- Butter 14 tbsp (200 g) - cold
- Powdered sugar 1.1 cups (130 g)
- Eggs 2 oz (55 g) - (about 1 medium)
- Lemon peel to taste
- Fine salt 1 pinch
- For the filling
- Whole milk 3 cups (700 g)
- Sugar 12 tbsp (150 g)
- Egg yolks 2.6 oz (75 g) - about 4 medium
- Type 00 flour 4 ½ tbsp (35 g)
- Potato starch 3.8 tbsp (30 g)
- Lemon juice 2 tbsp (30 g)
- For dusting
- Powdered sugar to taste
How to prepare Crumbly Lemon Cream Tart
To prepare the crumbly lemon cream tart, start with the pastry cream: squeeze the lemon juice and heat the milk in a small saucepan. In a separate bowl, add the egg yolks and the sugar 1 and whisk them together 2. Once you have a smooth mixture, add the strained lemon juice 3.
Also add the starch 4 and the flour 5 and incorporate the dry ingredients with the whisk 6.
Now pour the hot milk little by little 7, stirring constantly with the whisk 8. Transfer the mixture to a small saucepan 9.
Cook over low heat, stirring continuously, until the cream has thickened 10. Pour the cream into a shallow dish that you have previously chilled in the freezer 11. Level the surface and cover with plastic wrap directly on the cream 12. Let it cool slightly at room temperature and then place it in the refrigerator to firm up.
Meanwhile, prepare the shortcrust pastry: in a bowl place the flour and the cold butter cut into cubes 13, then add a pinch of salt 14 and the grated lemon zest 15.
Work with your fingertips until you obtain a crumbly mixture 16, then add the powdered sugar 17 and the egg 18.
Knead quickly with your hands, first in the bowl 19 and then on the work surface 20, until you form a compact, homogeneous dough. Wrap it in plastic wrap 21 and let it rest in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.
After the pastry has rested, roll it out on a lightly floured surface to a thickness of about 1/8 in (3 mm) 22. Transfer the pastry to an 11 x 8 in pan 23 and press it to adhere to both the base and the sides. Trim the excess pastry with a small knife 34 and keep the scraps.
Prick the base with a fork 25. Take the cream from the refrigerator and stir to soften it, then pour it into the shortcrust shell 26 and level the surface 27.
Now knead the pastry scraps again and roll them out to the same thickness, then cut diamond shapes with a fluted pastry wheel 28. Place the diamonds diagonally over the surface of the tart, first in one direction 29 and then in the other. Bake in a preheated static (conventional) oven at 338°F for about 50 minutes 30.
When the shortcrust is golden, remove from the oven and let cool completely 31. Finally, dust with powdered sugar to taste 32. Your crumbly lemon cream tart is ready to be enjoyed 33!