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Lemon Tartlets with Lemon Curd

Lemon Tartlets with Lemon Curd Recipe for Bite Sized Desserts

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4.9 from 38 reviews

Pretty lemon tartlets with the best lemon curd you’ve ever had! Definitely a crowd pleaser as an appetizer or dessert at your next party!

Ingredients

Scale

For the tart dough:

  • 1 1/3 cups (166 grams) all purpose flour
  • 1 stick (115 grams) cold unsalted butter, cubed
  • 1/3 cup granulated sugar
  • pinch of salt
  • 1 large egg

For the lemon curd: (makes extra, about 1 1/2 cup in total)

  • 1/3 cup lemon juice, about 2 lemons
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 2 tablespoons chilled unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
  • 1 tablespoon heavy cream
  • 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • pinch table salt
  • Berries for serving (optional)

Special supplies:

Instructions

Make the tartlets:

  1. Cut the butter into the flour using a pastry cutter until the mixture resembles course breadcrumbs.
  2. Stir in the sugar and salt, then add the egg and stir with a fork until just combined. Use your hands to work the mixture into a dough. It might seem too dry at first, but as you mix it it will start to come together.
  3. Roll the dough out on a floured surface to 1/8-inch thick*.
  4. Cut the pastry into rounds with a cookie cutter** and press into mini muffin tins. Freeze for 30 minutes prior to baking to prevent shrinking.
  5. Bake at 350° Fahrenheit for 20 minutes or until golden. Set aside to cool.

Make the lemon curd:

  1. Heat lemon juice over medium heat until hot but not boiling.
  2. Meanwhile, whisk eggs and yolk in a medium bowl. Gradually whisk in the sugar. While whisking, slowly pour hot lemon juice into the eggs. Return to saucepan and cook over medium heat. Stir constantly with a wooden spoon until mixture registers 170° Fahrenheit and coats the back of a spoon.
  3. Remove pan from heat and stir in butter. Once melted, stir in cream, vanilla, and salt. If the curd didn’t come together and thicken, simply return to heat and cook a bit longer, stirring constantly, until it thickens.
  4. Curd can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week, just cover with plastic wrap to prevent it from drying out.

Assemble the lemon tartlets:

  1. Spoon the lemon curd into each tartlet shell.
  2. Top each tartlet with a berry (optional) and serve.

Notes

*If you re-roll dough scraps you can get about 3 extra tarts.

** Size will vary depending on your tart pan size but typically 2.5-3″ diameter will work.