How to Make Tarts: A Guide for Apple, Berry, Nut, and Coffee Lovers

Tarts are delicious pastries with various ingredients, such as apples, berries, nuts, or coffee. They are usually baked in a shallow pan with a removable bottom and flaky crust. Tarts can be enjoyed as a dessert or a snack, and they are easy to make at home with basic ingredients and tools. In this article, I will show you how to make five different types of tarts: mini apple tarts, blueberry lemon tart , pistachio tart , Hungarian tart , and tiramisu tart . Let’s get started!

Mini Apple Tarts

Mini apple tarts are bite-sized treats with a crispy crust and a sweet and spiced apple filling. Mini apple tarts are perfect for parties or picnics, and they can be made ahead of time and reheated before serving. Here are the ingredients and instructions for making mini apple tarts :

Ingredients:

• 1 sheet of puff pastry, thawed
• 2 large apples, peeled, cored, and diced
• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 2 tbsp lemon juice
• 2 tbsp cornstarch
• 1 egg, beaten
• Powdered sugar for dusting

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 200°C (392°F) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a small saucepan over medium heat, cook the apples, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and lemon juice, stirring occasionally, until the apples are soft and the liquid is reduced about 15 to 20 minutes.
3. Stir in the cornstarch and cook for another 5 minutes or until the mixture is thickened. Set aside to cool slightly.
4. On a lightly floured surface, roll the puff pastry into a 12 by 16-inch rectangle and cut out 24 circles with a 3-inch cookie cutter or a glass.
5. Place 12 circles on the prepared baking sheet and spoon about a tablespoon of the apple mixture into each circle, leaving some space around the edges.
6. Brush the edges of the circles with some egg and place another circle on top of each one, pressing the edges to seal them.
7. Cut some slits on the top of each tart to let the steam escape, and brush them with some more eggs.
8. Bake for 15 to 18 minutes or until golden and puffed.
9. Let the tarts cool slightly on the baking sheet before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
10. Dust with powdered sugar before serving.
11. Enjoy your mini apple tarts !

Blueberry Lemon Tart

Blueberry lemon tart is a refreshing dessert with a buttery crust and a tangy lemon curd filling. Blueberry lemon tart is topped with fresh blueberries and whipped cream for extra flavour and texture. Here are the ingredients and instructions for making blueberry lemon tart :

Ingredients:

• For the crust:
  • 200 g all-purpose flour
  • 100 g unsalted butter, cold and cubed
  • 50 g powdered sugar
  • A pinch of salt
  • 1 egg yolk
  • 1 tbsp water
• For the filling:
  • 150 ml lemon juice (from about 3 lemons)
  • Zest of 1 lemon
  • 150 g granulated sugar
  • 3 eggs
  • 100 g unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
• For the topping:
  • About 200 g fresh blueberries
  • Whipped cream

Instructions:

1. To make the crust, in a large bowl, whisk together flour, powdered sugar, and salt.
2. Add butter and rub it into the flour mixture with your fingertips until it resembles coarse crumbs.
3. Add egg yolk and water and knead the dough until it becomes a ball.
4. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate it for at least an hour or overnight.
5. Preheat oven to 180°C (356°F) and grease a 9-inch tart pan with a removable bottom.
6. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough into a 12-inch circle and fit it into the prepared pan, pressing it into the bottom and up the sides. Trim off any excess dough.
7. Prick the bottom and sides of the dough with a fork and refrigerate it for 15 minutes.
8. Line the dough with parchment paper or aluminium foil and fill it with baking beans or rice.
9. Bake for 15 minutes or until lightly golden.
10. Remove the parchment paper or foil and the beans or rice and bake for another 5 minutes or until golden and crisp.
11. Let the crust cool completely on a wire rack.
12. To make the filling, in a small saucepan over medium heat, whisk together lemon juice, lemon zest, sugar, and eggs until well combined.
13. Cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture is thick and bubbly, about 10 to 15 minutes.
14. Strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl and stir in the butter until melted and smooth.
15. Pour the filling over the cooled crust and spread it evenly with a spatula.
16. Refrigerate the tart until set, about 4 hours or overnight.
17. To make the topping, arrange the blueberries over the top of the tart and pipe some whipped cream around the edge.
18. Enjoy your blueberry lemon tart !

Pistachio Tart

Pistachio tart is a nutty and creamy dessert with a crunchy crust and a smooth pistachio filling. Pistachio tart is often decorated with chopped pistachios and whipped cream for extra flavour and texture. Here are the ingredients and instructions for making pistachio tart :

Ingredients:

• For the crust:
  • 200 g digestive biscuits or graham crackers
  • 100 g unsalted butter, melted
  • A pinch of salt
• For the filling:
  • 300 g shelled pistachios
  • 250 ml heavy cream
  • 100 g granulated sugar
  • 4 eggs
  • 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
  • A pinch of salt
  • Green food colouring (optional)
• For the topping:
  • Chopped pistachios and whipped cream

Instructions:

1. To make the crust, in a food processor, pulse the biscuits or crackers until they are finely crushed. Transfer to a large bowl and stir in the melted butter and salt until well combined.
2. Press the mixture firmly into the bottom and sides of a 9-inch tart pan with a removable bottom.
3. Refrigerate the crust for at least an hour or until firm.
4. Preheat oven to 180°C (356°F) and place the tart pan on a baking sheet.
5. To make the filling, in a clean food processor, grind the pistachios until they are finely chopped but not pasty. Reserve 2 tablespoons for garnish and transfer the rest to a large bowl.
6. Add heavy cream, sugar, eggs, vanilla extract, salt, and food colouring (if using) and whisk until well blended.
7. Pour the filling over the chilled crust and spread it evenly with a spatula.
8. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until the filling is set and slightly golden around the edges.
9. Let the tart cool completely on a wire rack before refrigerating it for at least 4 hours or overnight.
10. To make the topping, sprinkle the reserved pistachios over the top of the tart and pipe some whipped cream around the edge.
11. Enjoy your pistachio tart !

Hungarian Tart

Hungarian tart is a classic dessert from Hungary with a rich buttery crust and a sweet and sour cherry filling. Hungarian tart is often sprinkled with powdered sugar and served with whipped or vanilla ice cream. Here are the ingredients and instructions for making Hungarian tart :

Ingredients:

• For the crust:
  • 300 g all-purpose flour
  • 200 g unsalted butter, cold and cubed
  • 100 g powdered sugar
  • A pinch of salt
  • 1 egg
• For the filling:
  • 500 g fresh or frozen cherries, pitted
  • 100 g granulated sugar
  • 2 tbsp cornstarch
  • 1/4 tsp almond extract
  • A pinch of salt

Instructions:

1. To make the crust, in a large bowl, whisk together flour, powdered sugar, and salt.
2. Add butter and rub it into the flour mixture with your fingertips until it resembles coarse crumbs.
3. Add egg and knead the dough until it comes together into a ball.
4. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate it for at least an hour or overnight.
5. Preheat oven to 180°C (356°F) and grease a 9-inch tart pan with a removable bottom.
6. On a lightly floured surface, roll out about 2/3 of the dough into a 12-inch circle and fit it into the prepared pan, pressing it into the bottom and up the sides. Trim off any excess dough.
7. Prick the bottom and sides of the dough with a fork and refrigerate it for 15 minutes.
8. To make the filling, in a medium saucepan over medium heat, cook the cherries, sugar, cornstarch, almond extract, and salt, stirring occasionally, until the cherries are soft and the sauce is thickened, about 15 to 20 minutes.
9. Let the filling cool slightly before pouring it over the chilled dough, spreading it evenly with a spatula.
10. Roll out the remaining dough into a 10-inch circle and place it over the filling, tucking in the edges to seal them.
11. Cut some slits on the top of the dough to let the steam escape.
12. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until golden and bubbly.
13. Let the tart cool completely on a wire rack before dusting it with powdered sugar.
14. Enjoy your Hungarian tart !

Tiramisu Tart

Tiramisu tart is a decadent dessert that combines the flavours of tiramisu and tart. Tiramisu tart has a chocolate crust and a creamy mascarpone filling flavoured with coffee and rum. Tiramisu tart is topped with cocoa powder and chocolate shavings for extra richness. Here are the ingredients and instructions for making tiramisu tart :

Ingredients:

• For the crust:
  • 200 g chocolate cookies or biscuits
  • 100 g unsalted butter, melted
  • A pinch of salt
• For the filling:
  • 250 g mascarpone cheese, softened
  • 200 ml heavy cream
  • 100 g powdered sugar
  • 2 tbsp instant coffee powder
  • 2 tbsp rum or coffee liqueur (optional)
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • A pinch of salt
• For the topping:
  • Cocoa powder and chocolate shavings

Instructions:

1. To make the crust, in a food processor, pulse the cookies or biscuits until they are finely crushed. Transfer to a large bowl and stir in the melted butter and salt until well combined.
2. Press the mixture firmly into the bottom and sides of a 9-inch tart pan with a removable bottom.
3. Refrigerate the crust for at least an hour or until firm.
4. Preheat oven to 180°C (356°F) and bake the crust for 10 minutes or until set.
5. Let the crust cool completely on a wire rack.
6. To make the filling, in a large bowl, beat mascarpone cheese, heavy cream, powdered sugar, coffee powder, rum or coffee liqueur (if using), vanilla extract, and salt with an electric mixer until smooth and thick.
7. Spoon the filling over the cooled crust and spread it evenly with a spatula.
8. Refrigerate the tart for at least 4 hours or overnight.
9. To make the topping, sift some cocoa powder over the tart and sprinkle some chocolate shavings.
10. Enjoy your tiramisu tart