Crispy Tart With Fresh Fruit Recipes

FRESH FRUIT TART

Steps:

• In a small bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the flour, cornmeal and lemon juice to form a dough. Press onto bottom and up the sides of a greased 9-in. tart pan with removable bottom. Bake at 425° for 9-11 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely on wire rack., For filling, beat the cream cheese, sugar and milk until smooth. Spread over cooled crust. Arrange berries or fruit over filling. Refrigerate while preparing glaze., For fruit glaze, in a small saucepan, combine the sugar, cornstarch, apricot nectar and lemon juice until smooth. Bring to a boil over medium heat; cook and stir for 1 minute or until thickened. Cool; brush over fruit. Refrigerate for 1 hour. Refrigerate leftovers.

FRESH FRUIT TART

Steps:

• Make the Pate Sucree. Make the Pastry Cream and set it aside.
• Remove the pate sucree from the refrigerator, unwrap it, and knead it slightly to make it malleable if it feels stiff. Using a rolling pin, press the dough to flatten it into a disk about 1/2 inch thick. Generously flick flour over the work surface and the dough. Make sure the surface you are rolling on is well floured so that the dough does not stick to it; likewise, make sure the disk itself is floured well enough to keep the rolling pin from sticking to it. Carefully roll out the disk into a circle about 10 inches in diameter. Roll from the center of the disk outward and gently rotate the disk 90 degrees (a quarter-turn) after each roll to ensure that the disk gets stretched out evenly into a nice circle. Use a bench scraper to help move the dough by scraping underneath the dough and moving it around. Don't worry if the dough breaks a bit, especially toward the edges. You can easily patch these tears up once you've lined the tart pan.
• Once the dough circle is about 10 inches in diameter, dock it by poking it all over with a fork or a pastry docker (see Cook's Note). Roll it gently around the rolling pin, then unfurl it over an 8-inch tart pan. Press the dough into the tart pan, taking care to press into the corners. Trim the edge of the shell even with the top of the tart pan. Use any scraps or odd pieces to patch up any tears or missing bits. Make sure the entire tart pan is completely covered with dough, and press one last time all the way around to ensure that any holes have been patched up.
• Refrigerate the tart shell for at least 30 minutes to let the dough rest; the gluten needs a little time to relax so it doesn't shrink in the oven. (At this point you can wrap the tart shell well in plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 3 days or freeze it for up to 2 weeks.)
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and place a rack in the center of the oven. Place the tart shell on a baking sheet and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, rotating the baking sheet midway through the baking time, until it is golden brown all around. Remove from the oven and let cool completely on a wire rack. (At this point the tart shell can be stored, well wrapped, at room temperature for up to 1 week.)
• In a medium bowl, whip the heavy cream until it holds a peak and is thick and soft. Fold the pastry cream into the whipped cream until thoroughly combined.
• Gently pop the tart shell out of the pan. Place the tart shell on a serving plate. (Hint: The tart shell has a tendency to slide around a bit, so anchor it to the plate by putting a small spoonful of the pastry cream mixture directly on the plate before placing the tart shell on it.) Fill the tart shell with the pastry cream mixture and spread it evenly with a spatula.
• Stem and quarter the strawberries and place them on top of the cream with one cut side down, spaced randomly but evenly. Peel the kiwi and slice it in half lengthwise. Slice each half into 1/2 -inch-thick half-moons. (If using green grapes instead of kiwis, slice the grapes in half.) Place the kiwi slices in the cream against the cut side of the strawberries. Peel the mango and cut it into thin slices about 1 x 1 inch. Place the mango in the cream next to the kiwi. Slice the blackberries in half if they are large and place them in the cream in random places. Fill the empty spots on the tart with raspberries, blueberries, and any extra mango. The goal is to cover the whole tart with fruit and not have any cream visible. The tart must be eaten the same day it is assembled or it will get soggy. If not serving the tart immediately, store it in the refrigerator; serve within 6 hours.
• 1 large egg yolk (about 20 grams), at room temperature
• In a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream the butter, sugar, and salt together for 2 to 3 minutes, until pale and light. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl and the paddle with a rubber spatula. Add the flour and paddle on low speed for about 30 seconds, until the flour is entirely incorporated. The mixture will look like wet sand. Add the egg yolk and mix until the dough comes together, about 30 seconds. Remove the dough from the bowl, press it into a disk, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap, and let it rest in the refrigerator for about 1 hour before using. The dough can be tightly wrapped in plastic and stored in the freezer for up to 2 weeks, or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. If frozen, thaw it in the refrigerator overnight before using.
• In a medium saucepan, heat the milk on medium-high heat until just before it comes to a boil, when bubbles start to form around the edge of the pan. In a small bowl, thoroughly mix together the sugar, cornstarch, and salt. (Mixing the cornstarch into the sugar will prevent it from clumping when you add it to the egg yolks.) Whisk the egg yolks in a medium heatproof bowl until blended. Slowly whisk in the sugar-cornstarch mixture until completely incorporated. Remove the milk from the heat and slowly add it to the egg yolk mixture, whisking constantly, to temper the eggs.
• When the milk is all whisked into the egg yolk mixture, return everything to the saucepan and heat it over medium heat. Whisk continuously and vigorously for about 1 minute. At first the mixture will be very frothy and liquid; as it cooks more, it will slowly start to thicken until the frothy bubbles disappear, the mixture starts to steam, and the whole thing become more viscous. After 1 minute, stop whisking every few seconds to see if the mixture has come to a boil. If not, keep whisking vigorously. As soon as you do see it boiling, whisk vigorously for about 10 seconds, then immediately pour the pastry cream through a sieve into an airtight container. Stir in the vanilla. Cover with plastic wrap pressed directly against the surface of the pastry cream (to prevent a skin from forming) and let cool to room temperature. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours, until cold, before using. The pastry cream can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

FRUIT TARTS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
• To make the pastry, place the flour, salt, sugar and butter in the bowl of an electric mixer. Use a dough hook at low speed and mix until it is the consistency of cornmeal, about eight minutes. Add the ice water a tablespoon at a time. When the pastry becomes elastic and pulls away from the sides of the bowl, it is blended. Remove the pastry to a lightly floured surface and shape into a ball. Cover with waxed paper and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
• Roll out the pastry dough on a lightly floured surface to a thickness of a quarter inch. Set six five-inch fluted, loose-bottomed tart pans together to form a rectangle. Lift the dough and place it loosely over the tart pans. Gently press the dough into the pans and roll firmly over the pans with a rolling pin. Remove the excess dough and line the bottom and corners with the dough. Prick the dough surface with a fork. Line the pastry with foil and weigh down with aluminum baking weights or dry beans.
• Place the tart shells on a baking sheet and bake for eight to 10 minutes or until the dough begins to release from the sides of the pans. Remove the weights and foil and bake for another eight minutes or until the pastry is lightly browned. Remove and cool on a rack.
• To prepare the cream, bring the water to a simmer in the lower part of a double boiler. In the upper part of the boiler, whisk the egg yolks and sugar off the heat until the mixture becomes thick and lemon colored.
• Dissolve the arrowroot with the milk and add it to the egg mixture. Set the mixture over the bottom pan and whisk in the liqueur and vanilla. Continue whisking until the mixture becomes thick, about 10 minutes. Remove from the heat, bruise the mint and add to the cream mixture. Cool over a bowl of ice, whisking constantly. Cover and refrigerate until ready to assemble the tarts.
• When the shells have cooled, remove the tart pan collars and bottoms. Stir the pastry cream and divide among the pastry shells. Tightly fill each pastry shell with one layer of berries.
• In a small saucepan, melt the currant jelly with one tablespoon of water over medium-low heat. Brush the melted jelly over the berries. Set aside until ready to serve. Do not refrigerate.

TART RED-FRUIT CRISP

Steps:

• Heat oven to 375°F. Grease bottom and sides of 8-inch square (2-quart) glass baking dish with shortening.
• In 3-quart saucepan, mix reserved juice from cherries, the granulated sugar, cornstarch and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is bubbly and thickened. Gently stir in cherries, raspberries and cranberries. Spoon into baking dish.
• In medium bowl, mix all topping ingredients until crumbly; sprinkle over fruit mixture.
• Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until topping is golden brown and fruit mixture is bubbly.

RUSTIC FALL FRUIT TART

Steps:

• Place 2 cups flour in a bowl. Cut butter and cream cheese into flour using a knife or pastry blender until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Gently mix water into flour mixture until dough forms into a ball.
• Mix apples and cranberries with brown sugar, white sugar, 2 tablespoons flour, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a bowl until coated.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly grease a baking sheet.
• Roll dough onto a lightly floured work surface, forming about an 11-inch circle. Transfer dough to the prepared baking sheet. Arrange apple-cranberry mixture decoratively on the dough, leaving a 2-inch rim of exposed dough. Sprinkle walnuts over apple-cranberry mixture. Fold exposed crust up and over the edge of the fruit.
• Brush egg over the crust and around the edge of the tart; sprinkle with raw sugar.
• Bake in the preheated oven until crust is browned and filling is tender, 30 to 35 minutes.

CARAMELIZED SUMMER FRUIT TART

Steps:

• Put a rack in the center of the oven and heat oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with a silicone liner or parchment paper. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons Demerara sugar in an approximate 10-by-13-inch rectangle in the center of the liner or paper.
• In a large mixing bowl, whisk together granulated sugar, cornstarch and salt. Add fruit, lemon juice, honey and vanilla. With a rubber spatula or large spoon, mix well, making sure fruit is coated with the cornstarch mixture. Set aside to macerate while rolling out dough.
• On a lightly floured surface, roll the cold puff pastry out to form a 10-by-13-inch rectangle. Work quickly, as the pastry becomes sticky as it warms up. Transfer the dough to prepared baking sheet, laying it on top of the Demerara sugar. With a sharp knife, lightly score a 3/4-inch border around the edges of the puff pastry, making sure not to cut the pastry all the way through. Using a fork, prick the pastry all over inside the border at 1-inch intervals.
• Give the fruit another toss to dissolve any honey that may have clumped. Arrange fruit mixture in an even layer on pastry within the border, pouring the juices from the bowl over the top. Sprinkle the top of the tart, including the fruit and pastry borders, with more Demerara sugar.
• Bake until the pastry is puffed and deeply golden and the fruit is tender, about 30 to 40 minutes. Transfer the pan to a wire tack to cool for at least 15 minutes before serving (or up to 4 hours). If the fruit looks dry when the tart comes out of the oven, you can brush it with a little more honey while it's still warm. Serve with whipped cream, crème fraîche or ice cream.

FRESH FRUIT CRISP

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• In a medium bowl, combine flour, oats, brown sugar, cinnamon and melted butter. Stir until crumbly. Press half the oat mixture into a 9x13 inch baking dish. Cover with fruit.
• In a medium saucepan, combine white sugar, cornstarch, water and vanilla. Cook, stirring, until thick and clear, 10 minutes. Pour over fruit. Cover fruit with remaining crumble mixture.
• Bake in preheated oven 45 minutes, until bubbly and golden.

FRESH FRUIT-CUSTARD TART

Steps:

• Heat oven to 450°F. In medium bowl, stir crust ingredients until soft dough forms. Using lightly floured fingers, press dough firmly and evenly against bottom and sides of ungreased 9-inch square tart pan. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until set. Cool crust 15 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 325°F.
• In medium bowl, mix granulated sugar, 2 tablespoons flour and the salt. Stir in whipping cream, liqueur and 3 eggs with whisk until blended. Pour filling into partially baked crust.
• Bake 30 minutes or until custard is set. (Filling will puff when baked but then fall when cooled.) Cool completely in pan on cooling rack, about 3 hours.
• Arrange fruit over custard. In small microwavable bowl, microwave jelly uncovered on High 30 seconds or until melted. Brush over fruit. Store in refrigerator.

VANILLA CREAM FRUIT TART

Steps:

• In a mixing bowl, cream butter and confecioners' sugar.
• Beat in flour (mixture will be crumbly).
• Pat into the bottom of a greased 12 inch pizza pan.
• Bake at 300 for 25-28 minutes or until lightly browned.
• Cool.
• In another bowl, beat melted chips and cream.
• Add cream cheese; beat until smooth Spread over crust.
• Chill for 30 minutes.
• Arrange berries over filling (In a circular pattern, starting with raspberry in the middle looks beautiful).
• In a saucepan, combine pineapple juice, sugar, cornstarch and lemon juice; bring to a boil over medium heat.
• Boil for 2 minutes or until thickened, stirring constantly.
• Cool; brush over fruit.
• Chill for 1 hour before serving.
• Best if served same day it is made.