French Lemon Tart

Tammy Smith

A classic French lemon tart pairs a crisp, buttery shortcrust pastry shell with a smooth, tangy lemon curd filling. The curd is made on the stovetop with fresh lemon juice, eggs, and butter before being poured into the pre-baked shell and set in the oven. The whole process takes roughly two hours, including chilling time.

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Prep Time 45

Cook Time 30

Total Time 1 15

Course Dessert

Cuisine French

Servings slices

Calories 374 kcal

Equipment

Tart pan
Mixing Bowls
Whisk
Rolling pin
Pastry brush
Oven

Ingredients

For the Pastry Crust:

1 ½ cups all-purpose flour preferably organic
½ cup unsalted butter cold, cut into cubes
¼ cup granulated sugar
1 piece egg yolk
2 tablespoons cold water

For the Lemon Filling:

¾ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice about 3-4 lemons
1 tablespoon lemon zest grated finely
¾ cup granulated sugar
3 large eggs
¼ cup unsalted butter softened

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
To make the pastry crust, combine flour, sugar, and butter in a bowl. Use a pastry cutter or your fingers until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
Add the egg yolk and water, mixing until a dough forms. Knead lightly until smooth, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
Roll out the dough on a floured surface to fit the tart pan. Gently press into the pan, trim the edges, and line with parchment and pie weights.
Bake the crust for 15 minutes, remove weights, and bake for another 5-7 minutes until golden.
For the lemon filling, whisk together lemon juice, zest, sugar, and eggs in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir until thickened, about 10 minutes. Remove and stir in butter until melted.
Pour the filling into the baked crust, smoothing the top. Bake for an additional 5-10 minutes until just set.
Cool to room temperature, then refrigerate before serving.

Notes

For an extra burst of flavor, try adding a pinch of sea salt to the filling.
Feel free to substitute lime juice for a tart twist, or mix with lemon for a citrus blend.
If you're short on time, a store-bought pastry shell is a convenient alternative.

Nutrition

Calories: 374kcalCarbohydrates: 45gProtein: 5gFat: 20gSaturated Fat: 12gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 140mgSodium: 31mgPotassium: 84mgFiber: 1gSugar: 26gVitamin A: 667IUVitamin C: 10mgCalcium: 25mgIron: 2mg

Keyword Dessert, French Lemon Tart, Lemon Tart

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