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Strawberry Tart with Pastry Cream and a Shiny Jam Glaze Recipe

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★★★★★

4.9 from 128 reviews

Tarte aux Fraises is a classic French strawberry tart featuring a crisp pâte sucrée crust filled with a rich, creamy vanilla pastry cream and topped with fresh, artfully arranged strawberry slices glazed for a beautiful finish. This elegant dessert combines textures of buttery crust, smooth custard, and juicy fruit, perfect for summer gatherings or sophisticated indulgence.

Ingredients

Scale

Pastry Cream Filling

  • 1/2 vanilla bean
  • 6 tablespoons sugar (divided)
  • 1 1/3 cups milk (divided, 330 ml total)
  • 4 egg yolks
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 1 teaspoon butter

Crust

  • 9-inch baked pâte sucrée or pâte sablée tart crust (or pie crust)

Topping

  • 1 pint strawberries
  • 2 tablespoons strawberry or apricot jam

Instructions

  1. Prepare the vanilla bean and vanilla sugar: Use a small paring knife to slit open the vanilla bean half, scrape out the seeds, and combine them with 3 tablespoons of sugar by breaking them up with your fingers.
  2. Heat milk with vanilla: Place the vanilla sugar, empty vanilla bean pod, and 1 cup milk into a saucepan. Heat over medium, whisking occasionally until the sugar dissolves and milk reaches a low boil, watching carefully.
  3. Whip egg yolks and sugar: In a stand mixer with the whisk attachment, whisk the 4 egg yolks on medium speed while slowly adding 3 tablespoons sugar. Then increase to high speed and whip until the mixture lightens in color and reaches the ribbon stage, about 3-4 minutes. Scrape down the bowl as needed.
  4. Mix cornstarch and cold milk: In a separate bowl, whisk the cornstarch into the remaining 1/3 cup milk until smooth and set aside.
  5. Combine milk mixtures: Add the cold milk-cornstarch mixture into the whipped egg mixture on low speed to combine. Then slowly pour in the hot milk from the saucepan while mixer runs on low speed.
  6. Cook pastry cream: Turn off the mixer and pour the combined mixture back into the saucepan. Over low heat, whisk constantly until it boils again and thickens, about 2 minutes. Continue whisking vigorously for another 2 minutes to remove any raw cornstarch taste and ensure smooth texture.
  7. Finish pastry cream: Whisk in 1 teaspoon butter, remove the vanilla bean pod, then scrape the pastry cream into a bowl. Cover surface with plastic wrap to prevent a skin from forming. Chill in the refrigerator until cold.
  8. Prepare tart shell and spread filling: Remove the outer ring of the tart pan and place the baked pâte sucrée tart shell on a serving dish. Whisk the chilled pastry cream to smooth out any lumps, then spread evenly over the tart crust using an offset spatula.
  9. Prepare strawberries: Slice off the tops of the strawberries and then thinly slice each strawberry vertically into 3 or 4 pieces.
  10. Arrange strawberry slices: Starting from the outer edge, arrange the strawberry slices overlapping in the same direction in concentric circles toward the center until the tart surface is fully covered.
  11. Glaze strawberries: Mix 2 tablespoons of strawberry or apricot jam with 1 tablespoon water in a small bowl. Microwave for about 10 seconds to melt and smooth the jam. Use a pastry brush to gently brush the glaze over the arranged strawberry slices to give them a glossy finish.
  12. Chill and serve: Refrigerate the tart until ready to serve, allowing the glaze to set and flavors to meld.

Notes

  • To prevent the pastry cream from forming a skin, place plastic wrap directly on its surface while chilling.
  • The tart crust must be pre-baked (blind baked) to ensure it stays crisp under the moist pastry cream.
  • If a vanilla bean is not available, use 1 teaspoon high-quality vanilla extract as a substitute.
  • For best results, use ripe but firm strawberries to hold their shape well when sliced and arranged.
  • This tart is best served the day it is assembled but can be refrigerated overnight covered tightly with plastic wrap.

Keywords: strawberry tart, tarte aux fraises, French dessert, pastry cream, pâte sucrée, fresh strawberries

Find it online: https://yumwithmia.com/strawberry-tart-with-pastry-cream-and-a-shiny-jam-glaze-recipe/