Lemon Tartlets

As you can see from the poll, I was very eager to make something with fruit. For me, there is nothing more soothing in the summer than luscious fruit. Most of you chose Pierre Hermé’s Lemon Tart. I do not own a large tart-pan, so I made 4 little tartlets. It’s very simple, it only consists of a tart dough and lemon cream, yet it tastes fantastic! The lemon cream is so incredibly flavorful, lemon-lovers and non-lemon-lovers will adore it! Rating 4.5 out of 5.


Sweet Tart Dough recipe: Pierre Hermé - Desserts

Ingredients: Makes enough for three 10-inch tarts
- 2 ½ sticks (10 ounces) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 ½ cups confectioner's sugar, sifted
- ½ cup ground blanched almonds
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ vanilla bean pulp or ¼ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 large eggs, room temperature, lightly beaten
- 3 ½ cups all-purpose flour

Instructions:
- Place the butter in the bowl of a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and beat on low speed until creamy. Add the sugar, almonds, salt, vanilla and eggs, beating on low speed. Still on low, add the flour in 3 or 4 additions and mix only until the mixture comes together - a matter of seconds. Don't overdo it.
- Gather the dough into a ball and divide it into 3 or 4 pieces. Gently press each piece into a disk and wrap each one in plastic. Allow the dough to rest in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours or for up to 2 days. (mine rested 2 hours) The dough can be wrapped airtight and frozen for up to a month.
- Work with one piece of dough at a time; keep the remaining dough in the refridgerator. Working on a lightly floured surface, roll the dough into a round 1/8 inch thick. Roll the dough up and around your rolling pin and unroll it onto the tart ring. Fit the dough into the bottom and up the sides of the ring, then run your rolling pin across the top of the ring to cut off the excess. If the dough cracks or splits, patch the cracks with scraps, moisten the edges to 'glue' them back in place. Prick the dough all over with a fork and chill for 30 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Fit a circle of parchment paper or foil into the crust and fill with pie-weights (dried beans or rice). Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, then remove the pie weights and bake for another 5 to 7 mintes, until golden. (I don't have pie weights, so I skipped that, because I used 4 little tart pans, mine needed to bake for about 15 minutes, the tart will not turn really 'golden' so bake the recommended time, not longer)

* This recipe makes enough dough for three 10-inch tarts. If you want a smaller recipe, I recommend Martha Stewart's Tart Dough. Click here for that recipe.

Lemon Cream recipe: Pierre Hermé - Desserts

Ingredients: Makes 2 ½ to 3 cups, you will need about 1 cup (I halved it for myself, but this is the full recipe)
- 1 cup sugar
- Zest of 3 lemons
- 4 large eggs
- ¾ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 2 sticks + 5 tablespoons (10 ½ oz) unsalted butter, softened

Instructions:
- Put a saucepan of water heat and bring water to the simmer. Place the sugar and lemon zest in a large metal bowl that can be fitted over the pan of simmering water. Off the heat, rub the sugar and zest together between your fingers until the sugar is moist and aromatic. Whisk in the eggs and then the lemon juice.
- Fit the bowl into the pan of simmering water. Cook, stirring with the whisk, until the cream thickens and reaches 180°F. As you cook the cream, whisking all the while to keep the eggs from overheating and scrambling, you’ll see that at first the cream is light and foamy, then bubbles get larger, and finally, as the cream starts to thicken, the whisk leaves tracks; the tracks mean the cream is almost ready. Keep whisking, check the temperature and keep your patience; it could take as long as 10 minutes for the cream to reach 180°F.
- Pull the cream from the heat as soon as it is cooked and strain it into the container of a blender or food processor. Let the cream rest, stirring occasionally, until it cools to 140°F, about 10 minutes. Make sure it is not over 140°F, before you add the butter!
- Working with the blender on high speed, beat the cream adding the pieces of butter. Scrape down the sides as needed. When all the butter is incorporated, continue beating the cream for another 3 to 4 minutes.


The incredibly flavorful lemon cream. Delicious!


Cooled and baked tart crust.


Filled with 4 tablespoons of lemon cream.


And 4 tartlets later: the finished product!


After me and my brother got a hold of it.


Yum! So luscious and flavorful. I don't think there are many lemon pastries or cakes that can top this lemon tartlet!

Comments

Sweetie said…
i was hoping the grape dessert would win bc it seemed so unusual but after seeing this beautiful tart, i'm feeling differently!

GO CHOCOLATE SCONES, GO! ; p
apparentlyjessy said…
It looks simply perfect and delicious! Another one to bookmark and try!
Rose said…
ooo just found your yummy blog, Im so glad I have because im looking forward to trying some of the recipes!
I made some eclairs like the ones in your header a couple of months ago, they were so yummy!

Rose
Eliana said…
I am a total lemon lover so I will have to try these as they seem super simple to make. Thanks for posting.
Justine said…
These look so delicious, and the strawberry muffins look awesome too. I'm going to have to give each a try!

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