This Fruit Tart Recipe looks complicated but don’t be fooled. In fact, it is easy, simple to make and not too sweet. A crowd pleaser with its sweet pastry crust filled with sweet creamy custard filling topped with colorful array of fresh and juicy fruits.

When making this fruit tart, you are not limited to any fruits. Throw-in your favorite fruits and chill in the fridge for creamy goodness.

A close up of the half of fruit tart on a cake stand and below it are some strawberries.

The fruit tart topped with strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, kiwi, mandarin orange and raspberries on a cake. Couple of strawberries on the table and red napkin.

How can you not love this beautiful, colorful and delicious Fruit Tart? It takes more time to chop and lay the fruits than to make the crust nor the filling.

Long before I visited Paris, it has been one of my favorite dessert. Wholefoods has some awesome desserts including fruit tart. Now that I have the time, I’ve made it a few times already.

Don’t be deterred by the long detailed instructions. Make it once or twice and you can be an expert in making this simple, beautiful and refreshing dessert. I make it all year round, topping it with fruits that are in season.

Today's Delight has reached another milestone. We've been online for a year this month. Thank you for all your support. It was a wonderful year and continues to be a great one. Let's celebrate with this delicious fruit tart.

How to make a fruit tart

There are three easy steps to making this gorgeous fruit tart recipe. First, make the tart crust. Second, make the creamy custard filling and third cut the fruits if you like.

1^st step - make the fruit tart crust

The sweet pastry crust known as pate sucree in France, is firm and crisp in texture so it can easily hold the sweet creamy custard filling.

The crust is pre-baked and sealed with very thin beaten egg white. You can leave the pastry crust for a couple of days at room temperature before using.

When ready to use, spread a very thin layer of apricot glaze to prevent filling from penetrating and softening the crust.

Honestly, I like it when the top layer of crust is a bit soft but not all the way. Some people don’t.

2^nd step – make the sweet custard filling

The pastry cream also known as crème patissiere is a rich, thick and creamy custard filling that is poured over the crust.

The custard cream is made with milk, eggs, sugar, vanilla, flour and thickened with cornstarch and cooked on the stove.

Another good thing about making a fruit tart, you can make the cream a couple days in advance and store it in the fridge. Just before using, give it a quick whisk for a smoother texture.

3^rd step – prepare the fruits

This dessert is not complete without the fresh fruits. You can use a single fruit or an array of vibrant colorful fruits.

Depending on your preference, you may cut some of the fruits or add it as a whole. Again, you can use whatever fruit you desire, as long as it is sweet and at its best.

If you are not sure how to decorate or pile the fruits, go to Google and type "pics of fruit tarts". This will give you ideas on how to decorate your fruit tart.

To prevent the fruits from drying out and retain its vibrant color, brush the top of fruits with a very thin layer of apricot glaze.

I have tried many fruit tart recipes, but this one is the closest to my liking. This decadent recipe was adapted from Joy of Baking. Thank you for sharing this delicious recipe.

I am picky when it comes to the custard cream to which I added a few ingredients like lime juice, apricot preserve and salt.

I love this cream since it is not too sweet nor overly rich and it blends well with the fruits. This fruit tart recipe is a keeper.

Looking for more delicious dessert recipe, check out Today's Delight Desserts.

A sliced of fruit tart with fork on a plate and the whole fruit tart on a cake stand in the background.

Would you like to try other delicious desserts

French Macarons
Strawberry Cake
Chocolate Cake
Fruit Cocktail Cake
Maple Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

Recipe

Fruit Tart Recipe

This fruit tart is simple, easy to make and not too sweet. You can pre-baked the crust and make the custard cream ahead of time. When ready to assemble just add an array of vibrant and juicy fruits as toppings.

Print Pin Rate

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: French

Prep Time: 15

Cook Time: 1 45

Total Time: 2

Servings:

Calories: 310kcal

Ingredients

Sweet Pastry Tart Crust:

1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
⅛ teaspoon salt
½ cup unsalted butter at room temperature
¼ cup granulated white sugar
1 large egg lightly beaten
1 egg white beaten for sealing the crust

Pastry Custard Cream:

1 ¼ cups milk
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste
3 large egg yolks
¼ cup granulated white sugar
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons cornstarch corn flour
1 teaspoon lime juice
1 teaspoon apricot jam or preserve
⅛ teaspoon salt
½ tablespoon liqueur like Grand Marnier Brandy, Kirsch (optional)

Apricot Glaze: (optional)

½ cup apricot jam or preserves
1 tablespoon water

Topping:

3 to 3 ½ cups fruits like raspberries blackberries, strawberries, blueberries, kiwifruit, mandarin orange or whatever fruit you like.

Instructions

How to Make a Tart Crust

In a bowl, whisk the flour and salt. Set aside.
In your mixer bowl, place butter and beat until softened.
Add sugar and beat until light and fluffy.
Slowly add beaten egg until incorporated.
Add flour mixture all at once and mix until it forms a ball.
Flatten pastry into the size of the bottom of pan and cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 15-30 minutes or until firm or place in freezer for about 10-15 minutes.
Use an 8 - 9 inch (20 - 23 cm) tart pan with a removable bottom and lightly grease with butter and flour, or spray with non-stick vegetable cooking spray.
Place chilled pastry at bottom center of pan and spread evenly at the bottom and sides of the pan to form the crust. Cover with plastic or saran wrap and place in the freezer for about 15 minutes.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F and place rack in center of oven.
To prevent dough from puffing up when baking, lightly prick the bottom of pastry crust with a fork for about 10 times. Also, I have another set of removable bottom that I placed above the crust to weigh it down. This is optional.
Place tart pan on a cookie sheet for easy access and bake crust for 5 minutes.
After 5 minutes, reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees F and continue to bake for about 15 minutes or until dry and lightly golden brown.
Do not over bake crust. When lightly golden brown remove from oven. As soon as it is out of the oven, brush crust with lightly beaten egg white to seal. The egg white will dry out or if you like put it back in the hot oven for another minute. This is optional. Place on a wire rack to cool completely before filling.
When completely cooled, remove crust from pan. Place one hand under the removable pan and gently pushing the removable pan with the tart crust straight up. With the other hand, hold the side fluted pan while lifting the removable pan. Let the side fluted pan rest in your arm or elbow while transferring the removable pan with the tart crust to your other hand. Lay the removable pan on a flat surface.
Insert a knife or cake metal spatula between the tart crust and removable pan. Slowly slide the knife around the edges of the crust to detach from bottom pan.
Transfer crust to a platter.

How to Make a Custard Cream Filling

In a medium sized heat resistant glass bowl, mix sugar and egg yolks together. Don't let the mixture sit too long or you will get pieces of egg mixture forming.
Sift flour and cornstarch together then add to the egg mixture, mixing by hand until you get a smooth paste.
In a sauce pan, bring the milk just to boiling or until milk starts to bubble up.
Remove sauce pan from heat. Slowly add hot milk to egg mixture and whisk constantly to prevent curdling. If you happen to get egg curdling in the mixture, pour it through a strainer for a smoother texture.
Once completely mixed, pour the egg mixture into a medium saucepan. Cook over medium heat until boiling, whisking constantly.
Once it boils, whisk mixture constantly for another 30 - 60 seconds until it becomes thick. Remove mixture from heat and immediately whisk in the liqueur if desired but optional.
Whisk in vanilla extract.
Pour into a clean bowl and immediately cover the top surface of the cream with plastic or saran wrap to prevent crust from forming.
Set aside to cool at room temperature. Refrigerate if not using right away. Can be stored up to 3 days. Before using, beat or whisk for a smoother cream.

How to Make an Apricot Glaze

Combine and heat the apricot jam or preserve and water in a small saucepan over medium heat until incorporated or use a microwave for 20 to 30 seconds. Remove from heat. Pour mixture into a fine strainer to remove any fruit lumps.

How to Assemble a Fruit Tart

Place cooled crust on a cake turntable for easy decorating.
Spread a thin layer of apricot glaze mixture inside the bottom and sides of the baked tart crust to prevent the crust from softening. Set aside for 20 minutes for glaze to dry.
Pour and spread the pastry cream onto the center of the tart crust. Spread the cream evenly starting at the center going towards the sides.
Place fruits on top of cream depending on how you like to decorate your fruit tart. Again, to get some ideas on how to arrange the fruits – go to Google and type "pics of fruit tarts".
When done laying the fruits, warm up the apricot glaze mixture. To keep the fruits from drying out and retaining its vibrant colors, gently brush a light coat of apricot glaze.
In my opinion, it is best to refrigerate and chill for a few hours before serving. But it depends on your preference. Serve it at room temperature, if desired.
To some people it is best served on the day it was assembled or a day later.
Cover any leftovers with plastic or saran wrap and refrigerate.
Serves about 6 to 8 people.

Notes

When baking crust, aside from poking it with fork so it doesn't puff up, I have another set of removable bottom pan that I placed on top of crust to weigh it down.
Do not over bake the crust. You want a firm and crisp crust but not hard.
After baking crust, coat lightly with beaten egg white to seal it. It is not required to put it back in the oven since crust is still warm. Egg white will eventually dry out. I placed it back in the oven for 1 minute which is optional.

Nutrition

Fruit Tart Recipe (Not Too Sweet)