Quick & Dreamy Strawberry Tart Recipe: A Sweet Summer Treat

Sweet strawberry tarts embody a delightful fusion of vibrant flavors and delicate textures that dance across your palate.

Culinary enthusiasts adore these elegant desserts for their refined simplicity and artistic presentation.

The classic strawberry tart represents a perfect balance between buttery pastry and luscious fruit filling.

Pastry chefs meticulously craft each component, ensuring a harmonious blend of crisp crust and smooth cream.

Rich custard forms the luxurious foundation, complementing the bright, tangy berries nestled atop the delicate base.

Seasonal ingredients revolutionize this dessert into a celebration of summer’s most beloved fruit.

Passionate bakers and dessert lovers alike will find pure joy in creating this irresistible treat.

Strawberry Tart That Steals the Show

• Effortless Elegant Dessert: This strawberry tart delivers restaurant-quality sophistication with surprisingly simple preparation steps that anyone can master.
• Texture Paradise: Combines crisp buttery crust with silky smooth cream cheese filling and juicy fresh strawberry slices, creating a delightful multi-layered sensory experience in every single bite.
• Quick Weekend Showstopper: Takes just over two hours from start to finish, including chilling time, making it perfect for casual weekend gatherings or impressing guests without spending entire day in kitchen.
• Versatile Crowd-Pleaser: Offers flexible serving options- can be prepared ahead of time, looks stunning on dessert table, and appeals to both kids and adults with its classic flavor profile and beautiful presentation.

What Goes Into a Classic Strawberry Tart

• All-Purpose Flour: Provides the base structure and texture for the tart crust, choose unbleached flour for better flavor.
• Granulated Sugar: Adds subtle sweetness and helps with browning in the crust.
• Salt: Enhances overall flavor and balances the sweetness.
• Unsalted Butter: Creates flaky layers, best when cold and high-quality.
• Egg: Binds the dough together and adds richness.

• Heavy Cream: Creates light and airy texture, look for full-fat cream with high butterfat content.
• Powdered Sugar: Sweetens and helps stabilize the whipped cream.
• Vanilla Extract: Adds warm, complex flavor, pure vanilla provides the best taste.
• Cream Cheese: Provides creamy base and tangy notes, room temperature for smooth mixing.

• Fresh Strawberries: Bright, sweet topping that adds color and freshness, choose ripe, deep red berries with no soft spots.

Baking the Perfect Strawberry Tart

Step 1: Create Magical Crust Mixture

Toss flour, sugar, and salt into a food processor. Pulse quickly to blend. Drop in cold butter cubes and pulse until the mixture looks like rough sandy crumbs. Drizzle beaten egg and pulse until the dough starts forming clumps.

Step 2: Shape And Rest The Dough

Gently shape the dough into a smooth disc. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and let it relax in the refrigerator for one hour. This gives the gluten time to settle and makes rolling easier.

Step 3: Prepare Tart Pan

Roll out the chilled dough on a lightly floured surface. Carefully transfer to a 9-inch tart pan. Press dough into edges and bottom. Use a fork to create tiny holes across the surface. Freeze for half an hour to prevent shrinking during baking.

Step 4: Blind Bake The Crust

Preheat oven to 375°F. Line crust with parchment paper and fill with pie weights or dried beans. Bake for 20 minutes until golden. Remove weights and let cool completely.

Step 5: Whip Dreamy Filling

• Heavy whipping cream
• Powdered sugar
• Vanilla extract
• Cream cheese
• Pinch of salt

Whip cream with half the sugar and vanilla until stiff peaks form. In another bowl, beat cream cheese with remaining sugar and salt until silky smooth.

Step 6: Combine Filling

Gently fold whipped cream into cream cheese mixture. Use a light touch to keep the filling airy and delicate.

Step 7: Assemble And Decorate

Spread filling evenly over cooled crust. Arrange fresh strawberry slices on top in a beautiful pattern. Chill for 30 minutes before serving to let flavors meld together.

Strawberry Tart Secrets You Should Know

• Chill Dough Thoroughly: Ensure your butter is ice-cold and let the dough rest in the refrigerator for exactly one hour to develop a flaky, tender crust.
• Prevent Soggy Bottom: Blind bake the crust with pie weights to create a crisp base that won't get mushy from the creamy filling.
• Slice Berries Strategically: Cut strawberries just before assembling to maintain their fresh appearance and prevent excess moisture.
• Fold Cream Gently: Use a light hand when combining whipped cream and cream cheese to preserve the airy texture of the filling.
• Serve Chilled: Refrigerate the tart for at least 30 minutes before serving to help the filling set and enhance the flavor melding.

Keep Your Strawberry Tart Fresh and Tasty

• Refrigerate: Store the strawberry tart covered with plastic wrap in the refrigerator for up to 2 days to maintain freshness and prevent soggy crust.
• Freeze: Wrap individual slices tightly in plastic wrap and aluminum foil, then freeze for up to 1 month. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving.
• Reheat: Enjoy the tart chilled directly from the refrigerator. For slightly softened texture, let sit at room temperature for 10-15 minutes before serving to enhance flavor and cream cheese filling's smoothness.

Toppings and Drinks That Go with Strawberry Tart

• Sip Sweet Champagne Elegance: Pair this strawberry tart with a chilled glass of brut champagne to complement the creamy filling and enhance the fresh strawberry flavors with its crisp, light bubbles.
• Match Creamy Vanilla Accompaniment: Serve alongside a scoop of rich vanilla bean ice cream, which will provide a cool contrast to the tart's smooth cream cheese filling and highlight the dessert's sweet berry notes.
• Brew Delicate Tea Harmony: Choose a light, floral tea like Earl Grey or jasmine green tea to balance the tart's richness and cleanse the palate between bites of the delicate strawberry dessert.
• Create Whipped Cream Decadence: Add an extra dollop of freshly whipped cream on the side, garnished with a mint leaf, to elevate the tart's texture and provide an additional layer of creamy indulgence.

Ways to Reimagine Strawberry Tart

• Citrus Sunrise Tart: Replace vanilla extract with orange zest and add a splash of Grand Marnier to the cream cheese filling for a vibrant, zesty flavor profile.
• Chocolate Berry Fusion: Incorporate melted dark chocolate into the cream cheese mixture and garnish with chocolate shavings alongside fresh strawberries for a rich, decadent variation.
• Nutty Mediterranean Tart: Mix ground pistachios into the tart crust and sprinkle chopped toasted almonds over the strawberry topping for added texture and nutty complexity.
• Lavender Honey Dream: Infuse the cream cheese filling with lavender extract and drizzle local honey over the strawberries for a delicate, floral-sweet experience.

Strawberry Tart Recipe

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4.9 from 17 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 50 minutes
• Yield: 8 1x

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Description

French pastry chefs carefully craft this strawberry tart with delicate, buttery pastry and luscious cream. Ripe, ruby-red strawberries crown this elegant dessert, promising sweet indulgence that will delight and refresh you.

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Ingredients

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Tart Crust:

Main Ingredients:

• 1 ½ cups (190 g) all-purpose flour
• ½ cup (66 g) powdered confectioner’s sugar
• ½ cup (113 g) unsalted butter, cold and cubed

Fat and Binding Ingredients:

• 1 large egg, cold and beaten
• ¼ teaspoon salt

Filling:

Dairy Components:

• 6 ounces (170 g) cream cheese, softened
• ⅔ cup (157 g) heavy cream
• ½ cup (66 g) powdered sugar

Flavor Enhancers:

• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/8 teaspoon salt

Fruit Topping:

• 1 ½ pounds (680 g) strawberries, hulled and sliced

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Instructions

1. In a food processor, blend the dry ingredients – flour, sugar, and salt – creating a uniform base for the tart crust.
2. Introduce cold cubed butter to the mixture, pulsing until the texture transforms into coarse, sandy crumbs.
3. Integrate the beaten egg, processing until the dough coheres and forms a unified mass.
4. Gently shape the dough into a compact disc, encase in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for one hour to solidify.
5. On a lightly dusted surface, roll out the chilled dough to precisely fit a 9″ tart pan.
6. Carefully press the dough into the pan, using a fork to create strategic perforations across the surface.
7. Transfer the prepared crust to the freezer for a brief 30-minute resting period to ensure structural integrity.
8. Heat the oven to 375°F (190°C), preparing parchment paper and pie weights for blind baking.
9. Line the crust with parchment, distribute pie weights evenly, and bake until the edges achieve a golden-brown hue, approximately 20 minutes.
10. Allow the crust to cool completely, ensuring a crisp foundation for the filling.
11. Whip heavy cream with half the powdered sugar and vanilla, beating until stiff, glossy peaks form.
12. In a separate bowl, thoroughly blend cream cheese with remaining sugar and a hint of salt until silky smooth.
13. Delicately fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture, maintaining the light, airy texture.
14. Spread the luscious filling evenly across the cooled crust, creating a uniform layer.
15. Elegantly arrange sliced strawberries atop the filling moments before serving to preserve their vibrant freshness.

Notes

• Make the crust ahead of time and chill for at least an hour to ensure a flaky, tender texture that melts in your mouth.
• Freezing the unbaked crust helps prevent shrinking and maintains the beautiful shape during baking.
• Use cold butter and handle the dough minimally to create a light, crisp pastry that crumbles perfectly.
• Blind baking the crust with pie weights prevents a soggy bottom and creates a golden, crisp foundation.
• Gently fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture to keep the filling light and airy, avoiding deflating the delicate texture.
• Fresh, ripe strawberries are key to creating a vibrant, juicy topping that complements the creamy filling.

• Prep Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Category: Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: French

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 8
• Calories: 404
• Sugar: 22 g
• Sodium: 143 mg
• Fat: 27 g
• Saturated Fat: 16 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 38 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 4 g
• Cholesterol: 70 mg