Description
Short Description: These Strawberry and Mascarpone Tartlets with Lemon Curd feature a buttery tart crust filled with a creamy mascarpone filling, a swirl of tangy lemon curd, and fresh strawberries on top. A perfect summer dessert that's simple to make yet stunningly elegant.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Tartlet Shells:
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tbsp granulated sugar
- Pinch of salt
- ½ cup cold unsalted butter, cubed
- 1 egg yolk
- 2-3 tbsp ice water
For the Lemon Curd:
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup fresh lemon juice (about 2 lemons)
- 1 tbsp lemon zest
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter, cubed
For the Mascarpone Filling:
- 8 oz mascarpone cheese, softened
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 tbsp powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
For Garnish:
- 1 ½ cups fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
Instructions
Prepare the Tartlet Shells:
- In a food processor, pulse together the flour, sugar, and salt. Add the butter and pulse until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- Add the egg yolk and pulse until combined. Gradually add ice water until the dough just comes together.
- Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Roll out the dough on a floured surface and cut into circles to fit into tartlet pans. Press the dough into the pans and trim any excess.
- Line with parchment paper, fill with pie weights, and blind bake for 12-15 minutes. Remove the parchment and bake for another 5 minutes until golden. Cool completely.
2. Make the Lemon Curd:
- In a medium saucepan, whisk together the eggs, sugar, lemon juice, and lemon zest over medium heat. Stir constantly until the mixture thickens (about 8-10 minutes).
- Remove from heat and whisk in the butter until smooth. Allow the curd to cool completely.
3. Make the Mascarpone Filling:
- In a mixing bowl, whip the heavy cream and powdered sugar until stiff peaks form.
- In a separate bowl, beat the mascarpone cheese and vanilla extract until smooth. Gently fold the whipped cream into the mascarpone mixture until fully combined.
4. Assemble the Tartlets:
- Once the tartlet shells have cooled, spoon the mascarpone filling into each shell, smoothing it out.
- Add a dollop of lemon curd on top of the mascarpone and gently swirl with the back of a spoon.
- Top with sliced fresh strawberries for garnish.
- Chill in the fridge for at least 1 hour before serving.
Notes
- Blind Baking Tip: Be sure to properly blind bake the tart shells to prevent them from becoming soggy once filled.
- Make-Ahead: You can prepare the tartlet shells and lemon curd in advance. Store the shells at room temperature and the curd in the fridge for up to 1 week.
- Fruit Substitutes: While strawberries are ideal, you can also use other berries like raspberries or blueberries.
- Whipped Cream Alternative: If you prefer a lighter filling, you can replace the heavy cream with Greek yogurt for a tangier result.
- Prep Time: 45 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
Nutrition
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 17g
- Sodium: 45mg
- Fat: 18g
- Carbohydrates: 27g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 55mg
