She Strengthens

Impressive Strawberry Tart Recipe

A Show-Stopping Dessert for Any Occasion

This stunning strawberry tart is sure to impress your dinner party guests without requiring expert baking skills. The combination of a crunchy, buttery crust, a creamy vanilla-citrus pastry cream, and fresh strawberries arranged in a beautiful pattern will make it a standout dessert.

Preparation is Key

To ensure that your tart turns out perfectly, it’s essential to prepare the components ahead of time. The tart shell and pastry cream can be made up to a day in advance, allowing you to assemble the tart just before serving.

Special Equipment Needed

For this recipe, you’ll need a 9-inch tart pan with a removable bottom. This type of pan is essential for creating a smooth, even crust.

Game Plan: Assemble Just Before Serving

While it may be tempting to assemble the entire tart ahead of time, it’s crucial to wait until just before serving. This ensures that the flavors and textures are at their best. Prepare the tart shell and pastry cream, wash and dry the strawberries, and then assemble the tart just before serving.

Ingredients

For the tart dough:

• 8 tablespoons unsalted butter (1 stick), melted
• 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon fine salt
• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more as needed

For the citrus pastry cream:

• 1 1/2 cups whole milk
• 1/2 vanilla bean, split lengthwise and scraped, seeds and pod reserved
• 1/3 cup granulated sugar
• 3 large egg yolks
• 3 tablespoons cornstarch
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (1/4 stick), cut into small pieces and at room temperature
• 1/2 teaspoon finely grated orange zest
• 1/4 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
• 1/8 teaspoon fine salt

Instructions

Tart Dough

Combine the butter, sugar, and salt in a large bowl and stir until evenly incorporated. Add the measured flour and stir until just combined and a soft dough forms. Sprinkle the dough over the bottom of a 9-inch tart pan with a removable bottom. Using a measuring cup or your fingers, evenly press the dough into the bottom and up the sides of the pan (flour the bottom of the cup occasionally to prevent sticking). Cover the tart shell with plastic wrap and let it rest in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.

Citrus Pastry Cream

Place the milk, vanilla pod, and vanilla seeds in a medium saucepan over medium heat until the milk just comes to a simmer. Remove from the heat. Meanwhile, place the sugar and egg yolks in a medium heatproof bowl and mix until incorporated. Set a fine-mesh strainer over the egg mixture. Place the cornstarch and flour in the strainer and sift them into the egg mixture. Stir to combine. Wash and dry the strainer and place it over a second medium heatproof bowl; set aside. Remove and discard the vanilla pod from the milk. While whisking constantly, slowly add all of the milk to the egg mixture. Return the mixture to the saucepan and place it over medium-low heat. While whisking constantly, cook until the mixture thickens and when the whisk is scraped across the bottom of the pan, it leaves a clear line, about 2 to 3 minutes. Immediately remove from the heat. Using a rubber spatula, transfer the pastry cream to the strainer and stir until completely strained, leaving any solids behind. Scrape the cream clinging to the underside of the strainer into the bowl and discard any solids left inside. Add the butter and stir until melted and smooth. Stir in the citrus zests and salt.

Assembling the Tart

Heat the oven to 350°F and arrange a rack in the middle. Prick the shell all over with a fork and bake until golden brown, about 20 to 25 minutes. Remove to a wire rack and let cool completely before filling. Meanwhile, wash and dry the strawberries thoroughly; set aside. Just before assembling, hull the strawberries and slice them 1/4 inch thick. Remove the pastry cream from the refrigerator, whisk until smooth, and spread into an even layer in the cooled crust. Starting from the outside and working your way to the center of the tart, evenly shingle the strawberries, pointed ends angling slightly up, in an overlapping circular pattern. Serve immediately.