Black Currant Fruit Tart (Printable)

Classic French tart with buttery crust, black currant curd, and fresh berries for an elegant dessert.

# What You'll Need:

→ Tart Crust

01 - 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed
03 - 1/4 cup powdered sugar
04 - 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
05 - 1 large egg yolk
06 - 1 to 2 tablespoons cold water

→ Black Currant Curd

07 - 1 cup fresh or frozen black currants
08 - 1/2 cup granulated sugar
09 - 2 tablespoons lemon juice
10 - 2 large eggs
11 - 1 large egg yolk
12 - 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, cubed

→ Assembly

13 - 1/2 cup fresh black currants or mixed berries
14 - Powdered sugar for dusting
15 - Fresh mint leaves for garnish

# How-To Steps:

01 - In a food processor, pulse flour, powdered sugar, and salt together. Add cold cubed butter and pulse until mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs. Add egg yolk and 1 tablespoon cold water, then pulse until dough just comes together, adding additional water only if necessary.
02 - Shape dough into a disk, wrap tightly in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
03 - Preheat oven to 350°F. On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to fit a 9-inch tart pan. Press dough into pan, trim edges, prick base with a fork, and chill for 10 minutes.
04 - Line tart shell with parchment paper and fill with pie weights or dried beans. Bake for 15 minutes, then remove weights and parchment. Continue baking for 10 to 12 minutes until golden brown. Cool completely.
05 - In a saucepan, combine black currants, sugar, and lemon juice. Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, for 5 to 7 minutes until fruit softens and bursts. Purée mixture and strain through a fine-mesh sieve to remove skins and seeds.
06 - Return strained purée to saucepan. Whisk in eggs and egg yolk. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly, for 7 to 10 minutes until mixture thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon. Do not allow to boil.
07 - Remove from heat and whisk in cubed butter until smooth and fully incorporated. Pour curd into a bowl, cover surface directly with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 30 minutes until slightly set.
08 - Spread black currant curd evenly into cooled tart shell. Arrange fresh berries on top in a decorative pattern. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving.
09 - Dust tart with powdered sugar and garnish with fresh mint leaves if desired. Serve chilled.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Sophisticated Flavor: The black currant curd offers an intense, sweet-tart profile that is more complex than traditional lemon curd.
  • Classic Technique: Master the art of the French tart crust and a silky smooth fruit curd.
  • Breathtaking Presentation: The natural deep violet hue of the currants provides a dramatic and elegant aesthetic.
  • Vegetarian Friendly: A luscious dessert that everyone can enjoy.
02 -
  • Temperature Control: Ensure your butter is cold and cubed when making the crust to achieve maximum flakiness.
  • Curd Consistency: When cooking the curd, stir constantly and remove from heat as soon as it coats the back of a spoon to maintain smoothness.
  • Preventing Skin: Press plastic wrap directly onto the surface of the curd while it chills to prevent a skin from forming.
  • Setting Time: Chilling the assembled tart for at least one hour is crucial for clean slices.
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