Description
This Fresh Strawberry Tart with Vanilla Cream is a classic French-inspired dessert featuring a buttery, crisp tart crust filled with silky vanilla pastry cream and topped with juicy, ripe strawberries. Elegant and refreshing, it’s ideal for dinner parties, Mother’s Day, or any celebration that calls for a fruity, crowd-pleasing treat. Keywords: strawberry tart, vanilla cream tart, fresh fruit tart, French tart, strawberry dessert, summer dessert
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- Tart Crust (Pâte Sucrée):
- 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed
- 1 egg yolk
- 1–2 tbsp ice water
- Vanilla Pastry Cream:
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 4 large egg yolks
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 tsp vanilla extract or 1/2 vanilla bean
- Topping:
- 1 lb fresh strawberries, hulled and halved
- 2 tbsp apricot jam (for glaze)
- Optional: mint leaves or powdered sugar for garnish
Instructions
- Make Tart Crust: In a food processor or bowl, combine flour, powdered sugar, and salt. Add butter and pulse or cut in until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Mix in egg yolk and ice water just until dough comes together.
- Flatten dough into a disk, wrap in plastic, and chill for 30 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Roll out dough and press into a 9-inch tart pan. Prick bottom with a fork. Line with parchment and pie weights.
- Bake for 15 minutes, remove weights, and bake another 10–12 minutes until golden. Cool completely.
- Make Pastry Cream: Heat milk until just boiling. In another bowl, whisk sugar, cornstarch, and egg yolks. Gradually whisk in hot milk. Return to saucepan and cook until thickened, about 3–5 minutes. Remove from heat, stir in butter and vanilla.
- Cool pastry cream with plastic wrap directly on surface. Chill until ready to use.
- Assemble Tart: Fill cooled crust with vanilla cream. Arrange strawberry halves on top.
- Warm apricot jam slightly and brush over strawberries for a glossy finish. Chill until ready to serve.
Notes
- You can substitute strawberries with a mix of berries for variety.
- Pastry cream and crust can be made a day in advance.
- For extra shine, use a clear glaze or gelatin mixture instead of jam.
Nutrition
- Calories: 310
- Sugar: 20g
- Sodium: 140mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 115mg
