Black Currant Fruit Tart (Printable)

French pastry with buttery crust filled with tangy black currant curd and topped with fresh berries for a vibrant, elegant dessert.

# What You'll Need:

→ Tart Crust

01 - 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed
03 - 1/4 cup powdered sugar
04 - 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
05 - 1 large egg yolk
06 - 1 to 2 tablespoons cold water

→ Black Currant Curd

07 - 1 cup fresh or frozen black currants
08 - 1/2 cup granulated sugar
09 - 2 tablespoons lemon juice
10 - 2 large eggs
11 - 1 large egg yolk
12 - 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, cubed

→ Assembly

13 - 1/2 cup fresh black currants or mixed berries
14 - Powdered sugar for dusting
15 - Fresh mint leaves for garnish

# How-To Steps:

01 - In a food processor, pulse flour, powdered sugar, and salt until combined. Add cold cubed butter and pulse until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add egg yolk and 1 tablespoon cold water, then pulse until dough just comes together, adding additional water only if necessary.
02 - Shape dough into a disk, wrap tightly in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
03 - Preheat oven to 350°F. On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to fit a 9-inch tart pan. Press dough into pan and trim edges. Prick base with a fork and chill for 10 minutes.
04 - Line tart shell with parchment paper and fill with pie weights or dried beans. Bake for 15 minutes, then remove weights and parchment. Continue baking for 10 to 12 minutes until golden brown. Cool completely.
05 - In a saucepan, combine black currants, sugar, and lemon juice. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, for 5 to 7 minutes until fruit softens and bursts. Purée mixture and strain through a fine-mesh sieve to remove skins and seeds.
06 - Return strained purée to saucepan. Whisk in eggs and egg yolk. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, for 7 to 10 minutes until mixture thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon. Do not allow mixture to boil.
07 - Remove from heat and whisk in butter until smooth. Transfer curd to a bowl and press plastic wrap directly onto surface. Refrigerate until slightly set, approximately 30 minutes.
08 - Spread cooled black currant curd evenly into cooled tart shell. Arrange fresh berries on top in desired pattern. Refrigerate tart for at least 1 hour before serving.
09 - Dust tart with powdered sugar and garnish with fresh mint leaves if desired. Serve chilled.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • Vibrant Contrast: The deep purple currant curd offers a stunning visual and flavor contrast against the golden crust.
  • Elegant Presentation: Topped with fresh berries and mint, it looks like it came straight from a French patisserie.
  • Silky Smooth: The homemade curd is velvety and rich, providing a luxurious mouthfeel in every bite.
02 -
  • Smooth Finish: Don't skip straining the purée; removing the skins and seeds is essential for a velvety curd.
  • Direct Contact: When chilling the curd, place plastic wrap directly on the surface to prevent a skin from forming.
  • Low Heat: Be patient when cooking the curd; keeping the heat low prevents the eggs from scrambling.
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