Best 20 Tart Pastry Recipes

SWEET TART PASTRY

Steps:

• Sift together the flour, sugar, and salt into a bowl.
• Toss butter through flour mixture to coat pieces. Using fingertips, rub fat into flour, working it until you have created a coarse meal with a few pea-size particles of fat.
• Empty crumbs onto a cool surface. Form mixture into a mound. Make a 4 to 5 inch well in center of the mound. Combine egg and vanilla and pour mixture into the well. Using a fork, draw crumbs into egg mixture, about 1 - 2 tablespoons at a time. When all crumbs are added, toss mixture a few times with a pastry blender to form large clumps, then scrape into a mound.
• Using the heel of your hand, push 2 - 3 tablespoons of the dough at a time, outward in 6 to 8 inch sweeps. This will blend fat and flour and give crust a delicate texture. If your hand becomes sticky, flour it as needed. Repeat process until all dough has been worked. Gather dough into a mound again. Repeat procedure 2 more times.
• After third time, flour your hands. Gently knead the dough 5 or 6 times to make it smooth. Shape into a 5 inch disk. Dust disk lightly with flour, score with side of your hand, cover with plastic wrap, refrigerate for 20 minutes before shaping. DO NOT LET DOUGH BECOME TOO HARD or it will be difficult to roll. If this happens, let pastry soften at room temperature.
• Roll out to 1/8 inch thickness. After dough has been rolled, position rolling pin 4 inches from top of the pastry. Lift dough over top of rolling pin and gently roll dough toward you. Lift pastry up. Make sure you keep a finger pressed against barrel of rolling pin to keep it from slipping. Position pastry, leaving about 1 1/2 inches of dough hanging over edge of pan on side closest to you. Then unroll pastry over an ungreased tart pan, moving pin away from you. Immediately lift overhang into pan to prevent sharp edge of the pan from cutting dough.
• Working a small portion of the dough at a time, mold it into crease of the pan. Trim excess pastry from top edge of pan. Chill pastry in refrigerator or freezer for up to 30 minutes. Tear an 18 inch square of tin foil. Make a buttered circle in center of foil 2 inches larger than size of pan. Place foil buttered side down, centering it into the baking pan. Using your hand, press foil flush against the sides.
• Heat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Position shelf in lower third of oven. Fill pan with enough dried beans or baking nuggets to just cover surface of pan. DO NOT OVERFILL. Bake pastry shell on a shallow pan with sides. Bake crust 15 to 18 minutes or until sides begin to brown. Remove pan from the oven. Let stand about 30 seconds. Gently remove foil and beans. Reduce oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Continue to bake crust for 3 to 5 minutes or until it is golden. If bottom of pastry shell puffs up, tap it gently with bottom of a fork to expel the air. Do this carefully so the pastry crust doesn't break. When crust is done, cool completely before filling.

APPLE PUFF PASTRY TART

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Unroll puff pastry sheets onto a floured work surface. Cut each sheet into 6 small squares. Arrange squares on 2 baking sheets. Spread cream cheese over the center of each square.
• Mix apples, sugar, and cinnamon together in a separate bowl. Spoon mixture onto the squares. Pinch corners of each square together.
• Bake in the preheated oven until puffed up and golden, 20 to 25 minutes.

FRESH RASPBERRY CREAM CHEESE PUFF PASTRY TART

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit, or to the temperature recommended on your package of puff pastry. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Sprinkle a little flour on your pastry surface and, with a rolling pin, roll pastry sheet to approx 11-inches by 14-inches in size. Transfer pastry to baking sheet. With a butter knife, lightly score a 1/2-inch border around the edges, then fold the edge up and toward the center, pressing lightly, to create a neat border. Score the center lightly with a knife, taking care to not cut all of the way through (but if you accidentally do, it'll be okay). Bake until golden brown, about 10-12 minutes, or the time indicated on the package of puff pastry. Remove from oven and let cool completely.
• Affix a stand mixer or hand mixer with the whisk attachment. In the bowl of the mixer or in a large bowl, beat the heavy whipping cream until soft peaks form. Scoop whipped cream into a medium bowl. To the bowl of the mixer or the large bowl, add the cream cheese, 3 tablespoons honey, lemon zest, lemon juice, and vanilla extract. Whip until smooth and a little fluffy, about 2 minutes.
• Fold cream cheese mixture into whipping cream, gently stirring and folding just until blended. Pile the filling into the center of the cooled puff pastry tart shell and, with a butter knife. spread the filling gently toward the edges. Line the top with raspberries, bottoms up. Drizzle with remaining 3 tablespoons honey. Cut into squares and serve.

PASTRY CREAM FOR RASPBERRY TART

Steps:

• Prepare an ice bath, and set aside. In a medium bowl, combine cornstarch, flour, 1/2 cup sugar, and salt; stir to mix. In another medium bowl, whisk eggs until smooth. Add flour mixture to egg mixture, and whisk to combine.
• In a medium saucepan, combine milk and remaining 1/2 cup sugar. Bring mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat; whisking constantly, slowly pour into egg mixture.
• Transfer mixture to a clean saucepan set over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil, whisking constantly, until thickened, about 3 minutes.
• Transfer mixture to a large heat-proof bowl. Whisk in butter and vanilla; set bowl in ice bath, stirring occasionally, until completely chilled, 10 to 12 minutes. Cover with plastic wrap, pressing it directly on surface of pastry cream to prevent a skin from forming. Place in refrigerator until ready to use.

SAVORY MUSHROOM, ONION, AND BACON PUFF PASTRY TART

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Unroll puff pastry onto a baking sheet. Score edges at 1/4-inch intervals using a paring knife or press edges using a fork. Return pastry to the freezer until you're ready to use it.
• Heat a large skillet over high heat. Add 1 tablespoon oil and heat for 1 minute. Reduce heat to medium-high. Add bacon and cook until crisp around the edges but stiff soft in the center, 3 to 4 minutes. Reduce heat to low. Add onions, mushrooms, and thyme. Sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon salt to help vegetables release water. Cook, stirring often, until vegetables begin to wilt and most of the water has evaporated, 5 to 7 minutes. Season with black pepper to taste. Remove from heat and transfer mixture to a platter.
• Place ricotta cheese in a bowl. Beat in egg yolk and remaining oil until smooth. Season with salt and black pepper. Spread ricotta mixture to within 1/2-inch of the edges of the puff pastry. Sprinkle Gruyere cheese on top, then cover with mushroom mixture.
• Bake in the preheated oven until crust is golden brown and crisp, 20 to 25 minutes.

PLUM TART WITH ALMOND PASTRY CRUST

Steps:

• For the filling: Fill a large stockpot halfway with water and bring to a boil. While water is boiling, take a paring knife and cut a 1/2-inch X on the bottom of each plum. Set aside. Fill a large bowl with ice and water and set aside. When water is boiling, gently drop plums into water for 30 to 45 seconds. Remove with a slotted spoon and immediately submerge in ice water for 2 to 3 minutes. Remove and dry plums gently with a paper towel. Over a medium-sized bowl, remove skins from plums - they should slip off fairly easily. Slice plums in half and remove pits. Toss with sugar, cinnamon, and lemon juice and set aside.
• For the crust: Preheat oven to 375 degree F.
• Grind the almonds in a food processor until they are a fine crumb. Add the pastry flour, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg and sugar to the almond in the processor and pulse 5 times to incorporate. Add butter and oil and pulse for about 20 seconds, until mixture forms small clumps. Add the egg white and pulse an additional 20 to 30 times, until mixture forms a ball, being sure not to over-process. Dough will hold together, but be slightly sticky. Evenly press dough into the bottom and sides a 9-inch tart pan with a detachable bottom. Bake for 8 to10 minutes, or until surface of tart is no longer shiny. Remove from oven and let cool. Place tart shell on a cookie sheet. Toss plum halves in their own juices in bowl. Arrange plums, cut-side down, in the tart shell, crowding as many plums as you can into tart. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until fruit is slightly tender but still firm. Remove from the oven and let cool.
• For the glaze: Heat preserves over a low flame or in microwave until melted. Combine with water and brush surface of tart.

TART PASTRY

Steps:

• Blend together flour, sugar, salt, butter and shortening with your fingers or a pastry blender (or pulse on a processor) just until the mixture resembles coarse meal, the mixture should be pea-size.
• Drizzle the ice water starting with 3 tablespoons over the flour mixture; gently stir with a fork (or pulse with a processor) until incorporated.
• Squeeze a small amount in your hands, if it does not hold together add in more ice water 1 tablespoon at a time, stirring or pulsing with a processor until JUST combined.
• Test again, but be careful not to overwork the mixture, as the pastry will be tough.
• Transfer the mixture onto a lightly floured surface and divide into 6 portions.
• Using the heel of your hand, smear each portion once or twice in a forward motion.
• Gather dough together with a scraper and press into 1 ball.
• Flatten into a 6-inch disc.
• Wrap in plastic wrap and chill for about 1 hour.
• Roll out dough with a floured rolling pin into a 13-inch round on a lightly floured surface.
• Fit into the 11-inch tart pan.
• trim any excess dough leaving a 1/2-inch overhang.
• Fold the overhang inward and press against the side of the pan to reinforce edge.
• Lightly prick the bottom and sides of the pastry with a fork.
• Chill for 30 minutes.
• Set oven to 375 degrees.
• Line the shell with foil and fill with pie weights or raw rice.
• Bake in the center of the oven until the pastry is golden along the rim (about 20 minutes).
• Remove the shell from the oven, and carefully remove the foil and pie weights, return back to oven and bake for another 10 minutes or until golden all over.

SMOKED SALMON AND HERB PUFF PASTRY TART

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F with a rack in the center. Line a baking sheet with parchment.
• Lightly flour a work surface and gently unfold the puff pastry dough. Using a rolling pin, roll out the dough into a 10-by-12-inch rectangle. Score a 1-inch border along all four sides with a sharp knife then prick the area inside the border all over with a fork. This allows steam to release and a rim to rise around the tart.
• Transfer the puff pastry to the prepared baking sheet and bake, rotating the pan halfway through, until golden brown and puffy, about 18 minutes total. Remove the pastry from the baking sheet and allow it to cool on a cutting board or wire rack for 10 minutes. (see Cook's Note)
• While the pastry is baking, whip the cream cheese, yogurt, lemon juice, 1/4 teaspoon salt and several grinds of black pepper in a large bowl with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Fold in the capers, lemon zest, 2 tablespoons chopped dill and 2 tablespoons chopped chives and set aside.
• Just before serving, evenly spread the cream cheese filling over the baked pastry with an offset spatula, leaving the 1-inch border exposed. Arrange the smoked salmon and cucumber on top and sprinkle the tart with the dill fronds, remaining 1 tablespoon chives and some black pepper.

PLUM TART WITH ALMOND PASTRY CRUST

Steps:

• For the filling:
• Fill a large stockpot halfway with water and bring to a boil.
• While water is boiling, take a paring knife and cut a 1/2-inch X on the bottom of each plum. Set aside.
• Fill a large bowl with ice and water and set aside.
• When water is boiling, gently drop plums into water for 30 to 45 seconds.
• Remove with a slotted spoon and immediately submerge in ice water for 2 to 3 minutes.
• Remove and dry plums gently with a paper towel.
• Over a medium-sized bowl, remove skins from plums - they should slip off fairly easily.
• Slice plums in half and remove pits.
• Toss with sugar, cinnamon, and lemon juice and set aside.
• For the crust:
• Preheat oven to 375 degree F.
• Grind the almonds in a food processor until they are a fine crumb.
• Add the pastry flour, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg and sugar to the almond in the processor and pulse 5 times to incorporate.
• Add butter and oil and pulse for about 20 seconds, until mixture forms small clumps.
• Add the egg white and pulse an additional 20 to 30 times, until mixture forms a ball, being sure not to over-process.
• Dough will hold together, but be slightly sticky.
• Evenly press dough into the bottom and sides a 9-inch tart pan with a detachable bottom.
• Bake for 8 to10 minutes, or until surface of tart is no longer shiny.
• Remove from oven and let cool.
• Place tart shell on a cookie sheet.
• Toss plum halves in their own juices in bowl.
• Arrange plums, cut-side down, in the tart shell, crowding as many plums as you can into tart.
• Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until fruit is slightly tender but still firm.
• Remove from the oven and let cool.
• For the glaze:
• Heat preserves over a low flame or in microwave until melted.
• Combine with water and brush surface of tart.

APPLE MARZIPAN PUFF PASTRY TART

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil.
• Roll puff pastry out into a 14- to 15-inch circle on a floured surface. Place onto the prepared baking sheet.
• Place marzipan between 2 pieces of plastic wrap and roll into a circle about 11 inches in diameter. Remove plastic wrap and place marzipan in the center of the puff pastry.
• Toss apples, cornstarch, butter, flour, cinnamon, and nutmeg together in a large bowl. Add brown sugar and toss quickly.
• Arrange the apple slices in concentric circles onto the marzipan, leaving about 3 inches of pastry free at the edges. Pile the apple filling high up in layers and add all the dry bits remaining in the bowl. Sprinkle with pecans.
• Fold edges of the puff pastry up around the filling, leaving center open and pinching the edges where it overlaps. Press pastry gently around the filling to squeeze out any excess air in between. Brush a little egg around the top.
• Place in the preheated oven and immediately reduce the temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Bake until puff pastry is golden brown and apples are fork-tender, 35 to 40 minutes.

CAPRESE PUFF PASTRY TART

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Combine cherry tomatoes, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt, and pepper in a bowl; toss until well combined. Spread cherry tomatoes evenly on the prepared baking sheet.
• Roast in the preheated oven until skins start to wrinkle and insides are soft, 15 to 20 minutes. Let cool.
• Line another baking sheet with parchment paper. Unroll puff pastry sheet on top. Make shallow cuts 1 inch from the edges to create a border, being careful not to cut all the way through. Prick the inner rectangle all over with a fork.
• Bake in the preheated oven until puffed up slightly, about 10 minutes.
• Spread pesto over the center. Cover with 1/2 of the tomatoes. Scatter mozzarella cheese on top. Distribute remaining tomatoes over the cheese.
• Bake until pastry is golden and cheese is melted, 5 to 10 minutes more.

FRENCH TART PASTRY

Steps:

• Fit bowl of food processor with the metal blade; add in the flour, sugar, salt, and butter.
• Process on/off for 10 seconds (ten 1 second pulses) until the mixture resembles coarse meal.
• Add the egg and water to a small bowl; beat to mix.
• Through the feed tube, add the egg/water mixture and continue to process briefly (about 20 seconds) only until the mixture barely (but not completely) holds together.
• Turn mixture out onto a large unfloured board or smooth work surface; knead briefly (only a few seconds) until the mixture is smooth and holds together; press the mixture together to form a ball.
• Smooth the sides and flour it lightly.
• *Unless the kitchen is terribly hot, or unless you have handled the mixture too much (enough to melt the butter), it is not necessary to refrigerate this before using; if you must, refrigerate it for only about an hour or less; if it is refrigerated too long it will crack when you roll it out.
• Roll out and fit into tart pan.

CHICKEN AND BACON PUFF PASTRY TART

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Place bacon in a large skillet and cook over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until evenly browned, about 8 minutes. Drain bacon slices on paper towels; crumble into smaller pieces. Reserve drippings in the skillet.
• Cook onions and apples in the same skillet until tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in chicken strips, jalapeno jelly, thyme, and salt.
• Unfold puff pastry sheet on a lightly floured surface. Roll into a 9x10-inch rectangle. Transfer to the prepared baking sheet.
• Spread chicken mixture over the pastry, leaving 1 inch around the edges. Sprinkle with Cheddar cheese and black pepper. Press edges with a fork, forming a decorative border.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes. Remove and sprinkle with bacon. Continue baking until pastry is golden brown, 5 to 10 minutes more. Sprinkle with parsley.

SAVORY PUFF PASTRY TART WITH SMOKED SALMON

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a tart pan.
• Combine eggs, creme fraiche, parsley, chives, salt, and pepper in a bowl and mix until well combined.
• Line the greased tart pan with puff pastry. Spread smoked salmon over the bottom, followed by Gruyere cheese. Pour egg mixture on top.
• Bake in the preheated oven until eggs have set and puff pastry has risen and browned, about 45 minutes.

BLOOD ORANGE TART WITH CARDAMOM PASTRY CREAM

Steps:

• For crust:
• Combine flour, sugar and salt in processor. Add butter and cut in, using on/off turns, until mixture resembles coarse meal. Whisk 2 tablespoons ice water and yolk in small bowl. Add to dry ingredients and blend just until moist clumps form, adding more water by teaspoonfuls if dough is dry. Gather dough into ball; flatten into disk. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate at least 1 hour and up to 1 day.
• Preheat oven to 375°F. Roll out dough on lightly floured surface to 13- to 14-inch round. Transfer dough to 11-inch-diameter tart pan with removable bottom. Press in overhang, forming double-thick sides. Pierce dough all over with fork. Freeze crust 30 minutes. Bake until golden brown, pressing with back of fork if crust bubbles or slips, about 30 minutes. Transfer to rack and cool.
• For pastry cream:
• Bring milk and cardamom to boil in medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Remove from heat. Cover and let steep 15 minutes. Strain milk into bowl. Whisk yolks, sugar and flour in medium bowl to blend. Gradually whisk in milk. Return to saucepan and cook over medium heat until pastry cream thickens and boils, whisking constantly, about 5 minutes. Whisk in butter, then vanilla. Transfer to bowl. Press plastic wrap onto surface. Chill until cold, at least 4 hours and up to 1 day.
• For topping:
• Cut peel and white pith from oranges. Slice into 1/4-inch-thick rounds. Drain rounds on paper towels. Whisk preserves and grenadine, if desired, in small bowl to blend. Spread pastry cream evenly in tart crust. Arrange oranges in overlapping concentric circles on pastry cream. Brush apricot glaze over oranges. Chill until set, about 15 minutes. (Can be made 6 hours ahead; keep refrigerated.)

TART PASTRY

Steps:

• Combine the flour, sugar and salt. Cut the butter into eight pieces. Cut it into the flour or work it with your hands until the mixture is the texture of corn meal and begins to hold together when pressed (you may do this in a food processor).
• Combine the lemon juice or the lemon peel and water with the vanilla. Work it into the flour mixture and add a little more liquid, if necessary, to make the dough hold together. Press the dough into a ball, wrap with plastic. Chill for 30 minutes.
• Press an even layer into an 11-inch fluted tart pan with a removable rim. Make sure you press the dough down evenly otherwise some parts will cook more quickly than others. Cover with plastic and place in freezer for 30 minutes or overnight.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• Bake the tart shell for 20 to 25 minutes until golden brown. You do not need to fill the shell with beans for baking.

SUMMER TOMATO AND RICOTTA TART WITH OAT PASTRY

Steps:

• For the pastry:
• Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F). Place the oats, chia seeds and salt in a food processor and process for 1 minute or until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Add the flour and almond meal and pulse to combine.
• Place the oil and water in a small jug and whisk to combine. With the food processor running, gradually add the oil mixture to the oat mixture and process until well combined but still crumbly.
• Spoon the pastry into a 24cm-based 3cm-high (9½ in x 1 in) round loose-based fluted tart tin and press firmly over the base and sides until smooth. Prick the pastry base all over with a fork and bake for 20 minutes or until light golden.
• For the filling:
• While the tart shell is baking, place the ricotta, lemon zest, Parmesan, salt and pepper in a large bowl and mix to combine.
• Allow the tart shell to cool completely before carefully lifting it from the tin. Place on a serving plate and fill with the ricotta mixture. Top the tart with the tomato and basil. Drizzle with oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper and slice into wedges to serve.

FRESH FRUIT TART WITH PASTRY CREAM

Steps:

• Pastry Cream: Heat the half-and-half, 6 tablespoons of the sugar, and the salt in a saucepan over medium heat until simmering. Meanwhile, whisk the egg yolks in a medium bowl until thoroughly combined. Whisk in the remaining 2 tablespoons sugar and whisk until the sugar has begun to dissolve and the mixture is creamy, about 15 seconds. Whisk in the cornstarch until combined and the mixture is pale yellow and thick, about 30 seconds. When the half-and-half mixture reaches a full simmer, gradually whisk it into the yolk mixture to temper. Return to the saucepan, scraping the bowl; return to a simmer over medium heat, whisking constantly, until a few bubbles burst on the surface and it is thickened, about 30 seconds. Off the heat, whisk in the butter and vanilla. Strain. Press plastic wrap directly on the surface and refrigerate 3 hours. Crust: Whisk together the yolk, cream and vanilla in a small bow. Place the flour, sugar and salt in a food processor and combine. Scatter the butter pieces over the flour mixture; process to cut the butter until the mixture resembles coarse meal. With the machine running, add the egg mixture and process until dough just comes together. Turn the dough onto a sheet of plastic wrap and press into a 6-inch disk. Refrigerate 1 hour. Remove the dough. Unwrap then roll out to a 13-inch round. Transfer the dough to tart pan. Remove the excess dough. Prick the bottom and sides of the dough with a fork. Freeze for 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Press foil into the frozen tart shell and over the edge, and fill with weights. Bake for 30 minutes, rotating halfway through the baking time. Remove the foil and weights. Continue to bake 5 to 8 minutes longer. Cool. Spread the cold pastry cream over the bottom of the tart shell. Arrange the kiwi slices in an overlapping circle around the inside edge of the pastry. Arrange the raspberries inside the kiwi. Mound the blueberries in the center.

PASTRY FOR A FRENCH TART

Steps:

• This is much more easily done in a food processor than by hand, but either method is acceptable. If the processor is used, put the flour into the container of the processor. Cut in the butter and add the sugar.
• Start processing while adding the water a little at a time. Add only enough water so that the dough can be held together and shaped into a ball.
• Or put the flour into a mixing bowl. Cut the butter into small pieces on top and sprinkle with sugar. Using a pastry cutter, cut the butter into the flour. Remove the pastry cutter. Using the hands, start working the mixture while adding the water a teaspoon or so at a time. Add only enough water while working the dough until the dough can be gathered into a ball. Shape the dough into a ball.
• Flatten the dough into a round patty about one and a half inches thick. Wrap closely in foil or wax paper. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.

GINGER PEAR PUFF PASTRY TART

Steps:

• INSTRUCTIONS Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place the puff pastry on a clean, lightly-floured work surface. Cut a rectangle about 6" wide by 10" long, so that the puff-pastry is about 3/4" wider than the pear slices on each side. Place the pastry on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Combine the butter, brown sugar, ginger, vanilla extract and cinnamon, mixing well. Using a pastry brush, generously brush the top of the puff pastry with the butter mixture. Leaving a 3/4" border, layer the pear slices on top of the puff pastry, alternating directions to create a wave-like pattern. Brush the top of the pears with the remaining butter mixture, and sprinkle with the demerara sugar. Bake for 15-18 minutes or until the pastry is golden brown. Remove from oven and let cool for five minutes. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream or fresh whipped cream.