Description
These Strawberry Honey Custard Tarts with Lemon Curd combine the sweetness of honey custard with the refreshing zing of lemon curd, all encased in a buttery, flaky tart shell. Fresh strawberries add a pop of color and flavor, making these tarts the perfect dessert for any occasion. Light, tangy, and utterly delicious!
Ingredients
Scale
For the Tart Shells:
- 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, cold and cubed
- 1 large egg yolk
- 2–3 tablespoons ice water
For the Honey Custard:
- 3/4 cup whole milk
- 3/4 cup heavy cream
- 1/3 cup honey (preferably raw or local)
- 4 large egg yolks
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
For the Lemon Curd:
- 1/2 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (about 2 lemons)
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- 1/4 cup honey or granulated sugar
- 3 large egg yolks
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter
For Garnishing:
- Fresh strawberries, sliced
- Optional: Fresh mint leaves or a dusting of powdered sugar
Instructions
-
Make the Tart Shells:
- Prepare the Dough:
- In a food processor, combine the flour, powdered sugar, and salt. Add the cubed cold butter and pulse until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- Add the egg yolk and 2 tablespoons of ice water, and pulse again until the dough just comes together. Add more water if necessary.
- Turn the dough out onto a piece of plastic wrap, shape it into a disk, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
- Roll Out the Dough:
- Once chilled, roll the dough out on a lightly floured surface to about 1/8-inch thickness. Use a round cutter to cut out circles to fit your tart pans.
- Press the dough gently into the pans and trim any excess. Prick the bottom of each tart shell with a fork to prevent bubbling during baking.
- Bake the Tart Shells:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line the tart shells with parchment paper and fill with pie weights or dried beans. Bake for 10-12 minutes.
- Remove the parchment paper and weights, and bake for another 5-7 minutes, until golden brown. Let the shells cool completely before filling.
Make the Honey Custard:
- Cook the Custard:
- In a medium saucepan, combine the milk, heavy cream, and honey. Heat over medium heat until it just begins to simmer.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the egg yolks, vanilla extract, and cornstarch. Slowly pour about 1/4 cup of the hot milk mixture into the egg mixture, whisking constantly to temper the eggs.
- Gradually pour the tempered egg mixture back into the saucepan with the remaining milk mixture, whisking constantly. Cook over medium heat, whisking continuously, until the custard thickens (about 3-5 minutes).
- Finish the Custard:
- Once thickened, remove from heat and whisk in the butter until smooth and fully combined.
- Let the custard cool to room temperature, then refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before filling the tart shells.
Make the Lemon Curd:
- Combine Ingredients:
- In a heatproof bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, lemon zest, honey (or sugar), and egg yolks. Set the bowl over a pot of simmering water (double boiler method) and whisk constantly until the mixture thickens (about 8-10 minutes).
- Finish the Curd:
- Once thickened, remove from heat and whisk in the butter until smooth.
- Let the lemon curd cool to room temperature, then refrigerate until ready to assemble the tarts.
Assemble the Tarts:
- Fill the Tart Shells:
- Once the tart shells have cooled, spoon a layer of honey custard into each tart shell, spreading it evenly.
- Top the custard with a spoonful of lemon curd and spread it out gently to cover the custard.
- Garnish:
- Arrange sliced strawberries on top of each tart for a fresh and colorful garnish.
- Optionally, garnish with fresh mint leaves or a light dusting of powdered sugar.
- Chill and Serve:
- Refrigerate the tarts for at least 30 minutes to allow the custard and curd to set.
- Serve chilled for the best flavor and texture.
- Prepare the Dough:
Notes
- Tart Shells: If you’re short on time, you can use store-bought tart shells.
- Honey: For a more floral flavor, try using lavender or clover honey in the custard and curd.
- Vegan Option: Substitute dairy ingredients with coconut milk and a plant-based butter alternative for a vegan-friendly version.
- Prep Time: 1 hour
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 tart
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 29g
- Sodium: 80mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 90mg