Tarte au Citron (Lemon Tart)

Tammy Smith

Tarte au Citron is a classic French lemon tart built on a crisp, buttery shortcrust pastry filled with a smooth, tangy lemon curd. The filling is made by cooking lemon juice, eggs, and sugar together until thick and set. From start to finish, expect around 2 hours including chilling time.

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Prep Time 30

Cook Time 45

Total Time 1 15

Course Dessert

Cuisine French

Servings slices

Calories 399 kcal

Equipment

9-inch tart pan
Rolling pin
Mixing Bowl
Whisk
Saucepan
Oven

Ingredients

For the Tart Dough:

1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour preferably unbleached
½ cup unsalted butter cold, cut into cubes
¼ cup granulated sugar
1 large egg beaten

For the Lemon Filling:

¾ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice approximately 4-5 lemons
1 cup granulated sugar
3 large eggs
2 large egg yolks
¼ cup unsalted butter cut into pieces
1 teaspoon lemon zest finely grated

Instructions

For the Tart Dough:

In a mixing bowl, combine the flour and sugar. Add cold butter cubes and rub them into the flour using your fingertips until the mixture resembles a coarse meal.
Add the beaten egg and mix until the dough just comes together. Form into a disk, wrap in plastic, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.

For the Lemon Filling:

In a saucepan, combine lemon juice, sugar, eggs, and egg yolks. Whisk over medium heat until the mixture thickens and coats the back of a spoon, about 8 minutes.
Remove from heat and add butter and lemon zest, stirring until smooth. Let it cool slightly.

Assembling the Tart:

Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface to fit a 9-inch tart pan. Press into the pan and trim excess dough.
Fill with the lemon mixture and bake for 25-30 minutes until the filling is set but still slightly wobbly in the center.
Cool completely before serving, enhancing the tart's texture and flavor.

Notes

Tammy’s Tips:

You may substitute limes to create a tarte au citron vert.
Ensure the butter is cold when making the tart dough for a flaky crust.
To save time, prepare the dough a day ahead and chill overnight.

Nutrition

Calories: 399kcalCarbohydrates: 48gProtein: 6gFat: 21gSaturated Fat: 12gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 185mgSodium: 41mgPotassium: 90mgFiber: 1gSugar: 32gVitamin A: 730IUVitamin C: 9mgCalcium: 30mgIron: 2mg

Keyword French Dessert, Lemon Tart, Tarte au Citron

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