This Delicious Lemon Tart is a French Classic

Author, chef, and journalist Susan Herrmann Loomis shares her recipe (below) for a delicious lemon tart. One of the recipes in her cookbook Plat du Jour: French Dinners Made Easy, this French classic tarte au citron is the perfect balance of sweet and sour. The recipe is straightforward, and the sweet result will convince a non-dessert lover to try a bite.

In addition to publishing 14 best-selling books, Susan Herrmann Loomis founded the Dancing Tomatoes website, where you can read more about this talented lady. Based in Paris, with 20 years of teaching experience, Loomis offers live cooking classes via video link and a collection of traditional six four-course menus in the Plat du Jour video archive.

The wonderful thing about a lemon tart for dessert is that it perfectly suits every season, from spring to winter. This recipe is a bright finish to any menu when the citrus is fresh in late fall and early winter.

Classic and Amazing Lemon Tart

Susan Herrmann Loomis

A tasteful tart made with fresh lemon that is perfect for sharing!

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Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 1 day d 35 minutes mins

2 hours hrs

Total Time 2 hours hrs 55 minutes mins

Course Dessert

Cuisine French

Servings 8 people

Equipment

• food processor
• double boiler (1.5-quart)
• tart pan with removable bottom (10-inch)
• pie crust weight chain
• glass container with airtight lid (8 cups) (optional)

Ingredients

 

US CustomaryMetric

 

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For the Pastry:

• 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 tsp fine sea salt
• 7 tbsp unsalted butter chilled, cut into 7 pieces
• 1/3-1/2 cup chilled water

For the Lemon Cream:

• 7 tbsp unsalted butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 4 large eggs
• 3/4 cup lemon juice freshly squeezed (approx 3 large lemons)
• 2 tsp lemon zest just the yellow part of the peel of one lemon, minced

Instructions

 

Pastry:

• Place the flour and salt in the work bowl of a food processor and process to mix. Add the butter and process until the mixture resembles coarse cornmeal. With the food processor running, drizzle in the water and process just until the mixture comes together, but not until it forms a ball. The pastry should be pretty damp.
• Turn it onto a work surface, form it into a flat disk, cover and let sit for 1 hour. Roll it out to fit a 10-1/2 inch (26.5cm) tart pan, refrigerate for 1 hour, or freeze for 20 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C).
• Prick the bottom of the pastry with the tines of a fork, then line it with aluminum foil and weigh it down with pastry weights.
• Bake in the centre of the oven until the pastry is golden around the edges and bottom, roughly 12 to 15 minutes. Remove from the oven, remove the aluminum foil and the weights from the pastry, and return to the oven to bake until the pastry is golden (all over 10 additional minutes). Remove the pastry from the oven and let cool.

Lemon Cream:

• Place the butter and the sugar in a double boiler set over medium heat so the water is gently boiling, and stir until the butter melts.
• Add the eggs one at a time, whisking well after each addition to blend them thoroughly into the butter and sugar.
• Add the lemon juice, whisk and cook, stirring gently, until the mixture thickens, about 6 to 7 minutes.
• Remove the double boiler from the heat, remove the lemon cream container from the double boiler, and let it cool to room temperature.
• Finally, stir in the lemon zest.
• If you have made the lemon mixture the night before, transfer it to an airtight container and refrigerate. If you have made this the day you’re planning to serve it, spread the pastry with the lemon mixture and refrigerate for at least 2 and up to 3 hours before serving it.

Keyword French Desserts, Lemon, Tarts

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Additional Tarts to Try:

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Lemon Meringue Tart

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Fig and Buttermilk Custard Tart 

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Carolyne Kauser-Abbott

With her camera and laptop close at hand, Carolyne has traded in her business suits for the world of freelance writing and blogging. Her first airplane ride at six months of age was her introduction to the exciting world of travel.

While in Provence, Carolyne can be found hiking with friends, riding the hills around the Alpilles or tackling Mont Ventoux. Her attachment to the region resonates in Perfectly Provence this digital magazine that she launched in 2014. This website is an opportunity to explore the best of the Mediterranean lifestyle (food & wine, places to stay, expat stories, books on the region, travel tips, real estate tips and more), through our contributors' articles.

Carolyne writes a food and travel blog Ginger and Nutmeg. Carolyne’s freelance articles can be found in Global Living Magazine, Avenue Magazine and City Palate (Published Travel Articles).