French Style Orange Custard Tart Recipes

FRENCH-STYLE ORANGE CUSTARD TART

Steps:

• Make the pastry: whisk together the flour and salt in a big bowl; with a pastry blender, cut in the butter until the mixture resembles small crumbs.
• Add the water 1 tablespoon at a time, mixing lightly with a fork after each addition, until the dough just comes together if a small bit is pressed between your fingers; do not overmix.
• Shape the dough into a disk; wrap in wax paper, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or for up to 2 days (if it has been chilled overnight or longer, let the dough stand at room temperature for 20 minutes before rolling it out).
• On a lightly floured surface, with a floured rolling pin, roll the pastry into a 14-inch round.
• Fold the pastry in half and transfer it to an 11-inch fluted tart pan with a removable bottom.
• Unfold the pastry and gently press it into the bottom and up the sides of the pan with your fingertips.
• Trim the overhanging pastry to 1 inch.
• Fold the overhang in and then press the dough against the sides of the pan so it extends about 1/4 inch above the rim; refrigerate for 15 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 425°.
• Press a piece of heavy-duty foil snugly into the bottom and up the sides of the pastry shell and fill with uncooked rice or dried beans; bake for 15 minutes.
• Remove the foil and rice, and bake for 8-10 minutes longer, until golden (if the shell puffs up during baking, gently press it down with the back of a spoon); let cool on a wire rack; decrease oven temperature to 350°.
• Make the filling: whisk together the eggs, sugar, orange zest, lemon zest, orange juice, lemon juice, and salt in a medium bowl until well combined; whisk in the creme fraiche.
• Carefully pour the filing into the cooled tart shell; place on a baking sheet and bake for 30 minutes, or until the edges are set but the center is still slightly jiggly; cool completely on a wire rack.
• To serve, remove the side of the pan and cut into wedges; you may dust the tart with powdered sugar and serve with fragrant ripe strawberries.

FRENCH ORANGE TART

Steps:

• Place the very soft Butter in the bowl of your mixer with the Powdered Sugar and mix together with the leaf/paddle attachment until smooth and creamy.
• On low speed, stir in the Egg then the Almond Meal and Orange Zest (optional). Scrap the edges of the bowl with a spatula if needed.
• Add the Plain Flour and Salt and mix it in on low speed until the dough comes together.
• Bring the pastry together into a ball then thinly roll between two sheets of baking paper (1). Place over a flat tray and put in the fridge to rest for at least an hour.
• Once the pastry has chilled, line your Pastry Ring or Tart Pan and dock the pastry (2). If baking straight away, place it in the freezer for at least 30 minutes then bake for 25 to 30 minutes in an oven pre-heated on 160'C / 325'F. Otherwise, keep in the fridge until ready to bake (3).
• Leave to cool down completely before adding the cream filling.
• Zest and Juice the Oranges. Set aside the Zest, and place the Juice in a Small Pot (4). Heat up the juice on the stove on low heat until it simmers.
• While the juice is heating up, whisk together the Eggs, Sugar and Cornstarch in a separate heat-proof bowl until smooth.
• Once the Juice starts to simmer, slowly pour it over the Eggs/Sugar/Cornstarch while whisking. Mix well until combined and smooth, then pour it all back into the Pot.
• Place the pot back on the stove on low heat and keep whisking until the liquid starts to thicken (5). Remove from the stove and transfer into a clean Jug or bowl.
• Optional: re-hydrate the gelatine powder with a little bit of cold water and whisk it into the cream until fully dissolved.
• Leave the cream to cool down (6) then add the soft Butter and Orange Zest. Quickly mix it in with an immersion blender (or with a whisk) until fully combined (7).
• Pour the Orange Cream over the fully baked Tart Crust and smooth it out with a small offset spatula if needed. Place in the fridge to set for at least 2 to 3 hours, or up to 24 hours before serving.
• Optional: cut out small segments of fresh orange to garnish the tart before serving.

CLASSIC FRENCH FRUIT TART

Steps:

• Make the Crust: Complete the pâte sucrée through baking and cooling.
• Make the Pastry Cream: In a medium pot, heat the milk until just boiling. Remove the pot from heat. While the milk is warming, in a heat-proof mixing bowl, whisk together the sugar, egg, egg yolks, and cornstarch. Whisk until the mixture is very smooth and has lightened in color, about 2 minutes. Whisking constantly, add about a quarter of the hot milk into the egg mixture. (This is called tempering. Tempering the eggs helps raise their temperature without cooking them, and helps emulsify them into the milk.) Pour the milk-tempered egg mixture into the pot of the remaining milk. Whisk to combine. Return the pot to the heat and cook over medium heat, whisking constantly to prevent "scrambled eggs," especially on the sides and bottom, until the magic happens and the pastry cream thickens, about 2 minutes. Stir in the butter and vanilla and cook one minute more, whisking constantly. The pastry cream should make thick, lazy bubbles. (See note below if you see any coagulated bits of egg in your custard.) Pour the thickened pastry cream into a clean, shallow bowl. Cover it with plastic wrap and push it down in the bowl so it sits directly on the surface of the pastry cream. This prevents a skin from forming on top. Chill until cold, a few hours (or up to 2 days before serving).
• Assemble the Tart: Remove the tart ring and transfer the tart shell to a serving platter. Whisk the chilled pastry cream until smooth, then spread it evenly into the tart shell using an offset spatula. Arrange a generous amount of fruit over the pastry cream in your desired design. In a small saucepan, heat the apricot jam with 1 tablespoon of water over medium heat, whisking, until thin. (Alternatively, heat it in a heat-proof bowl in the microwave for about 30 seconds.) If the jam is especially chunky, strain it through a sieve. Use a pastry brush to gently dab the fruit with a thin layer of apricot glaze. Chill until ready to serve.
• Note: Avoid melon and other fruit with high moisture content, like sliced citrus. These will wilt quickly and seep moisture into the pastry cream. Also avoid oxidizing fruit like apples and bananas; these fruits will turn brown. Berries should be fully dried after rinsing (raspberries should not be washed) and strawberries should be sliced.
• Note: If you see any coagulated egg bits in your finished custard, strain the hot pastry cream through a fine mesh strainer.
• Make-Ahead Instructions: The pastry cream can be made up to 2 days before serving. The tart can be assembled and refrigerated up to one day before serving.

ORANGE TART

Steps:

• Place the flour, confectioners' sugar, almond flour, salt, orange zest and the cold butter into a food processor. Pulse the ingredients until a fine breadcrumb consistency has been formed.
• Add the egg yolk and cold water, pulse again until the mixture sticks together in clumps.
• Tip the contents of the food processor onto your work surface and bring together into a ball with your hands. Knead the pastry a few times until nice and smooth. (If your butter wasn't cold and was a bit too soft your pastry might be too. If so, wrap it in parchment paper and chill in the fridge for 15 minutes.) Set aside.
• Grease a 23cm/9in loose-bottomed tart tin.
• Lay a piece of parchment paper on the work surface. Remove the base of the tart tin and lay it on the paper. Using a pencil, draw a circle onto the paper 4cm/1½ins bigger than the base of the tin.
• Dust the base of the tin with flour. Place the pastry ball in the centre of the tin base and flatten out slightly. Roll out the pastry, still on the tin base, until it meets the circle marks. As you are rolling the pastry, turn the pastry by turning the paper.
• Gently fold the pastry into the centre of the tin base. Carefully lift the tin base off the work surface, drop it into the tin, ease the pastry into the corners and up the sides of the tin, pressing the overhang lightly over the rim. If the pastry has cracked at all, simply press it together to seal.
• Press the pastry into the curves of the tin then lightly prick the base with a fork, but not all the way through. Place the pastry-lined tin onto a baking tray, cover loosely with cling film or tea towel and chill in the fridge for 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 200°C/180°C Fan/390°F/gas mark 6.
• Remove the pastry from the fridge and uncover.
• Line the inside of the pastry with foil so it supports the sides, then fill with baking beans.
• Bake blind for 12-15 minutes, until the pastry is set, then lift out the foil and beans.
• Carefully trim the excess pastry from the sides using a potato peeler, lightly run the peeler over the top of the excess pastry until it falls away, leaving you a smooth top to your edges. Remove the trimmings from the sheet.
• Return the empty pastry case to the oven for another 10-12 minutes or until it is pale golden and completely dry.
• Set aside and allow to cool while you make your orange filling.
• [Optional] If you are using fresh oranges, zest the oranges and set aside the zest for later. Now juice the oranges and place the juice into a small pot.
• Heat the orange juice on the stove over low heat until it simmers.
• While the juice is heating up, whisk together the eggs, sugar and cornstarch in a bowl until smooth.
• Once the juice starts to simmer, slowly pour it over the egg mixture while whisking. Mix well until combined and smooth, then pour it back into the pot.
• Place the pot back over a low heat and keep mixing until the liquid starts to thicken. Remove from the heat and transfer into a mixing bowl. Add the gelatine powder and whisk until fully incorporated.
• Leave the filling to cool down slightly then add the soft butter, orange zest and Angostura orange bitters. Quickly mix it in with a whisk until fully combined.
• Pour the orange filling into the pastry case and lightly drop the case onto your counter, from about 2.5cm (1 inch) off of the counter, a few times until all bubbles have been released from the filling. Place in the fridge to set for at least 3 hours or, for best results, overnight.
• Remove the tart from the tin.
• Place the cream, confectioners' sugar and the Angostura orange bitters into a bowl and whisk together until firm.
• Now decorate as you see fit. Feel free to take inspiration from the photos or just go with your own ideas. Enjoy!

BLOOD ORANGE TART

Steps:

• First, make the pastry. Put the flour, butter, icing sugar and 1/4 tsp salt in a food processor and pulse until you can't feel any lumps of butter. Add the egg yolk, vanilla, orange zest and 2 tsp cold water, and pulse again until the pastry starts to clump together in pieces. Tip onto your surface and gently bring together into a ball. Wrap in cling film and chill for 30 mins.
• Roll out the pastry on a floured surface to line a 23cm round tart tin, about 3cm deep. Pinch any overhanging excess back down the outside of the tin (to trim after baking), prick the base with a fork and chill for another 30 mins.
• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Line the pastry with a big sheet of scrunched up baking parchment, then fill with baking beans or rice. Bake for 15 mins, then remove the paper and beans, and bake for another 5-15 mins until golden brown and crisp. Let the pastry cool for 5 mins, then carefully trim the excess pastry with a small, sharp knife. Beat the egg white with a fork, then brush all over the inside and cut edge of the pastry and bake for a further 2 mins - this helps keep the pastry crisp when the wet filling is added.
• Remove the pastry case from the oven and lower the heat to 160C/140C fan/gas 3. For the filling, whisk together the whole eggs and yolks, then sieve into a larger mixing bowl. Whisk in the caster sugar, crème fraîche, orange zest and juice, and lemon juice. Lift the pastry case back into the oven and place on the middle shelf. Using a jug, pour the filling into the tart. Bake for 35 mins until there is just a slight wobble in the centre when you tap the tin. Cool to room temperature, then chill for 1 hr. LIghtly dust with icing sugar, then serve.

ORANGE CUSTARD TART

Steps:

• For crust:
• Combine first 5 ingredients in large bowl. Add butter, egg yolk and vanilla. Using electric mixer, blend until coarse crumbs form. Knead into ball. (Dough will be very soft.) Pat dough onto bottom and up sides of 13 1/2x4 1/4-inch rectangular tart pan or four 4-inch-diameter tartlet pans with removable bottom. Press into place; trim excess dough. Freeze 20 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Line crust with foil and fill with dried beans or pie weights. Bake 15 minutes. Remove foil and beans. Press crust up sides of pan if necessary. Bake 10 minutes longer. Cool.
• For filling:
• Mix first 6 ingredients in medium bowl. Pour filling into crust. Bake until barely set, about 30 minutes. Cool 20 minutes. Refrigerate until custard is firm, about 3 hours. (Can be prepared 8 hour ahead.)
• Using small sharp knife, cut between membranes of oranges to release segments. Drain well on paper towels. Arrange alternating rows of orange segments and raspberries atop tart.