4th Of July Cream Cheese Fruit Tart Recipes

AMERICAN FLAG FRUIT TART

Steps:

• To make crust,put the flour, powdered sugar and salt in a food processor and pulse to combine.
• Add the butter and pulse until the mixture resembles cornmeal with some pea sized chunks.
• Whisk the egg yolk, and add it a little at a time, pulsing after each addition. Continue pulsing with long 10 second pulses until the mixture comes together.
• Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface and gently knead until any extra flour is incorporated.
• Press the dough into an 11-inch greased tart pan with a removable bottom. Press the dough evenly over the bottom and up the sides of the pan. Freeze the crust for at least 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
• Top with a piece of non-stick foil or buttered foil and press it onto the surface.
• Place the tart pan on a baking sheet and bake for 25 minutes or until the crust is golden brown. Remove to wire rack to cool completely.
• When crust is cooled, make filling by placing all filling ingredients in a bowl and beat until the mixture is smooth. Scrape into the tart shell and smooth top with an offset spatula.
• To decorate, select the biggest blueberries and cut strawberries in half, removing the stems and hulls. Set aside.
• Whip cream with powdered sugar and pipe some rows of cream across the surface leaving enough space between for rows of strawberries. Leave one corner free of whipped cream for the blueberries.
• Add strawberry halves, cut side down, in rows, then fill the open area with rows of blueberries.
• Keep chilled until you serve.

CREAM CHEESE FRUIT TART

Steps:

• In small bowl combine the cream cheese, sugar, lemon peel and juice.
• Beat at medium speed with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, scraping sides of bowl often, about 1 to 2 minutes.
• Spread over baked pie crust.
• Chill at least 1 hour.
• Several hours before serving, arrange fruit on filling.
• I like to use the strawberries nearest the rim of the pie shell, then a ring of overlapping kiwi slices, then a ring of mandarin oranges followed with a "bull's-eye" of the crushed pineapple in the center.
• Brush the fruit with the melted apple jelly and serve.
• You may substitute whatever your favorite fruit or berries are for the topping.

4TH OF JULY BERRY TART

Steps:

• To make the tart dough: In a food processor combine the almond meal, flour, confectioners' sugar and salt. Pulse several times to combine. Add the butter and egg yolk, process just until the dough comes together. Distribute the dough into the 13-by-4-inch tart pan (or 10-inch round).
• Lay plastic wrap over the dough and press it into the pan so that it is an even thickness. Remove the plastic and freeze the dough until it is firm, about 20 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Cover the dough with foil and fill with pie weights or beans. This will keep the dough from slouching in the pan. Bake for 25 minutes, then remove the foil and beans, bake for an additional 5 to 10 minutes or until the crust is a light golden color. Allow to cool to room temperature.
• Prepare the pastry cream: Whisk together the cornstarch and 1/4 cup of sugar. Add the egg yolks to the cornstarch and mix into a smooth paste. Set aside.
• Bring the milk, remaining 1/4 cup of the sugar, vanilla bean, and salt to a gentle simmer in a medium saucepan. Slowly, and in small amounts, whisk the hot milk into the egg mixture. Once the egg mixture is warm to the touch, pour it back into the milk in the pan.
• Bring the custard to a gentle boil, whisking continuously for 2 to 3 minutes. The pastry cream will thicken almost immediately, but it is important to cook the starch until it isn't grainy. When the pastry cream is done it will be smooth and glossy.
• Remove from the heat and add the butter and white chocolate to the pastry cream. Allow to sit for 3 minutes, then gently whisk them together. Pour the pastry cream into a shallow container. Cover with plastic wrap, pressed directly on the surface of the cream to prevent a skin from forming. Set the container in the freezer for 15 minutes (this cools down the eggs quickly) and then refrigerate for up to a few days.
• Fill the cooled tart shell with the pastry cream. Decorate the top with the berries and refrigerate until ready to serve. Dust with confectioners' sugar right before slicing and serving.

JULY 4TH RED, WHITE AND BLUE CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• To Make the Crust:
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line an 8-inch springform pan or cake pan with parchment.
• In a food processor combine the graham crackers, butter, sugar and salt, until the mixture resembles cornmeal. Press the crumbs into the bottom of the pan, and bake for 10 to 15 minutes, or just until it starts to turn golden brown. Cool the crust completely, then freeze the crust.
• To Make the Cheesecake Batter:
• Cream together the cream cheese, sour cream, sugar, salt, eggs, vanilla, lemon juice and cornstarch, until very smooth, scraping down the bowl as needed. Divide the batter equally into 3 bowls. Add the raspberry preserves and a drop of red dye to one. Add the scraped vanilla bean to the next. Add the blueberry preserves and blue dye to the last bowl.
• Pour the red layer over the frozen crust and return to the freezer for about 30 minutes, or until the batter is slightly firm to the touch. While this layer is chilling, place the other bowls of batter in the freezer to allow them to set as well.
• Once the red layer feels thick, but not frozen solid, very carefully pour the white batter over the red. Do this very slowly, in small amounts, so that it doesn't break the surface of the red layer. Freeze the pan again for about 20 minutes. Check to make sure the blue batter isn't setting too firmly in the freezer; if it is, move it to the refrigerator.
• Turn the oven temperature to 300 degrees F.
• Add the blue layer in the same careful way. Place the pan on a baking sheet. Place in the oven, then pour hot water in the baking sheet, which will help the cake bake evenly. (If you are using the springform pan, you will need to cover the bottom of the springform pan with foil, to prevent any water from seeping in). Bake for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, or when it is set in the middle.
• When the cake is set in the middle, remove from the oven and allow to cool to room temperature, then refrigerate for several hours.
• Run a hot knife blade around the edge before removing the cake from the pan. If you are using a regular cake pan, you will need to heat the bottom quickly over the stove, then cover the top with plastic, invert onto a plate and finally transfer to the serving platter. Refrigerate the cake while you make the topping.
• In a small bowl add the gelatin to the cold water, stir to combine and allow to bloom for several minutes. Once the water has absorbed all the gelatin, add it to the hot simple syrup. If you made the simple syrup ahead, heat it. Add the blueberry preserves and transfer to a clean bowl to cool.
• Once the glaze has come to room temperature, it will thicken, but still be pourable.
• Place the blueberries on top of the cake.
• Pour the thickened glaze over the berries. It will run down the sides, which I think is quite pretty. Refrigerate until the glaze has set a bit. If you prefer clean sides, use a hot metal spatula to scrape the excess off the sides (this is very easy to do).
• Use a hot blade to cut the cake to keep the stripes distinct, and enjoy!

4TH OF JULY CREAM CHEESE FRUIT TART

Steps:

• Press Cookie dough into an ungreased 12 in. pizza pan. Bake at 350 for 10 min-15 min.or until golden brown. Cool on wire rack.
• In a small bowl,beat cream cheese,sugar,and extract until smooth. Spread over cooled crust. In the center of the tart,arrange blueberries in the shape of a Star. Add a raspberries around the outer border. Place strawberries in the middle of the tart.

STAR-SPANGLED FRUIT TART

Steps:

• Press cookie dough onto an ungreased 12-in. pizza pan. Bake at 350° for 10-15 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack., In a small bowl, beat the cream cheese, sugar and extract until smooth. Spread over crust. In center of tart, arrange berries in the shape of a star; add a berry border. Refrigerate until serving.

4TH OF JULY FRUIT PARFAIT

Steps:

• In a medium mixing bowl, place the cream cheese, lemon juice, and powdered sugar. Whip with an electric mixer until fluffy. Slowly add whipping cream, a little at a time, and continue beating until the cream is incorporated and the mixture is fluffy.
• Into tall wine glasses or champagne flutes, spoon some blueberries into the glass, then a dollop of whipped cream mixture. Add some strawberries or raspberries, then another dollop of whipped cream. Continue until glass is full, then garnish with mint leaves or lemon balm.