Lemon Lime Tart Recipes

THE BEST LEMON TART EVER

Steps:

• Combine butter, 1/2 cup sugar, vanilla extract, and salt in the mixing bowl of a stand mixer; mix ingredients thoroughly with a paddle attachment. Mix flour into butter mixture to make a smooth dough. Press dough into a 9-inch tart pan; refrigerate crust for 30 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Bake crust until light golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Whisk sugar, eggs, lemon zest, lemon juice, and 1/2 cup flour in a bowl until smooth. Pour lemon filling into crust. Cover edges of crust with strips of aluminum foil to prevent burning.
• Bake tart until filling is set, about 20 minutes. Cool completely and dust with confectioners' sugar.

LEMON AND LIME CREAM TART

Steps:

• With this particular tart, as it has a moist filling, it's important to egg-wash the uncooked tart shell before adding the filling. This adds a sort of waterproof layer and keeps the pastry crisp and short for longer.
• Whisk together the sugar and eggs in a bowl. When they are well mixed, slowly stir in the cream and the juices. Put the cooked tart shell back into the oven and then pour the filling into it -- I find this reduces spillage. Bake for around 40 to 45 minutes at 180C/350F/Gas 4 or until the filling is set, but still semi-wobbly in the middle (obviously different ovens will cook at different rate so it is good for you to try this tart a couple of times to gauge exactly when you should take it out of the oven). After cooling for an hour, the semi-wobbly filling will have firmed up to the perfect consistency; soft and smooth. If you cut it before it has had time to rest it will pour out or be extremely gooey.
• You can dust it with a little icing sugar, if you wish. Serve with a huge pile of fresh raspberries or strawberries. Whatever you decide to serve it with should be quite simple so that you let the tart do the talking.

LEMON AND LIME TART

Steps:

• Spray 10-inch tart pan with removable bottom with cooking spray.
• Whisk all-purpose flour, cake flour and salt in medium bowl.
• Beat butter and powdered sugar in large bowl at medium speed until smooth. Beat in 1 egg yolk and vanilla until combined. Stir in flour mixture just until combined. Shape into flat round; cover and refrigerate 30 to 60 minutes or until firm.
• Roll dough between two sheets of waxed paper into 12-inch round 1/8 inch thick. Remove top piece of waxed paper; invert dough into tart pan. Remove waxed paper; carefully press dough into pan. Trim dough even with top of pan; freeze 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat oven to 375°F.
• Line crust with foil, covering edges; fill with pie weights or dried beans. Bake 15 minutes; remove foil and weights. Reduce oven temperature to 350°F Bake 10 minutes to firm and lightly brown crust. Cool on wire rack while preparing filling.
• Whisk condensed milk and lemon and lime juices in large bowl until blended. Whisk in 5 egg yolks and lemon peel until blended; pour into slightly cooled crust.
• Bake at 350°F for 30 minutes or until center is firm and set. Cool on wire rack to room temperature, about 1 hour. Cover and refrigerate 8 hours or overnight. Serve chilled. Refrigerate leftovers.

LEMON TART WITH A TOUCH OF LIME

Steps:

• Make the dough: In a food processor, pulse flour, sugar and salt. Add butter and pulse briefly until well combined. Add egg and pulse just until dough comes together. Dough will be rather soft. Wrap with waxed paper or plastic wrap, and press to make a 1-inch-thick disk. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or it will be too soft to handle. (Make the dough up to 2 days in advance, if desired.)
• Remove dough from the refrigerator and let soften at room temperature until pliable and soft, about 15 minutes. Using your fingertips, press dough into a 9-inch fluted tart pan with removable bottom, making sure it is pressed evenly across the bottom and up the sides, about 1/8-inch thick. Press the dough against the sides to the very top. Pinch off any excess and smooth the edge. You'll have slightly too much dough - save any left over to patch cracks after blind baking. Chill the tart dough in the pan until ready to bake. (You can also freeze it at this point, if you like, for up to a week.)
• When ready to blind bake, heat oven to 350 degrees. Place the dough-lined tart pan on a baking sheet, and bake to a pale golden brown, about 30 minutes. (Pie weights shouldn't be necessary, but check the dough during baking, to make sure sides are not slumping. If so, press the sides back up with a wooden spoon.) For even browning, turn the tray halfway through the baking. Remove from oven, and cool to room temperature.
• Make the filling: Put lemon and lime zest, lemon juice, lime juice, sugar and butter in a heavy saucepan over medium heat. Cook until butter is melted and mixture is hot, 4 to 5 minutes. In a medium bowl, beat together eggs and yolks.
• Whisk the hot mixture gradually into the eggs to temper them. Then pour everything back into the saucepan and return to heat. Cook, whisking constantly, until mixture thickens to a milkshake consistency, about 5 minutes. (Do not overcook, or it will curdle.) Pour through a fine-meshed sieve into a bowl and allow to cool to room temperature, whisking occasionally. Mixture will continue to thicken as it cools. (At this point, you can continue with the recipe, or cover the filling and refrigerate for up to 2 days.)
• Spoon the lemon curd into the baked tart shell. Using a spatula, spread the curd evenly into the shell. Bake in a 350-degree oven until filling is set (not jiggly), about 10 minutes. Cool to room temperature. (This can be done several hours before serving.) Just before serving, top tart with lime zest and dust edges with confectioners' sugar, if desired.

CARAMELIZED LEMON-LIME TART

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Roll out the pate sucre to a circle about 1/4 inch thick and large enough to slightly overlap a 9-inch metal tart pan. Fit the dough into the pan and trim the edges. Line the bottom and sides of the shell with parchment, or coffee filter papers, or aluminum foil. Fill the lining with dried beans, rice or aluminum beans and bake in the oven for 20 to 25 minutes. Cool and remove the beans and the lining. Return the shell to the oven and bake until golden, 5 to 10 minutes longer.
• In a large metal bowl, whisk together the whole eggs, egg yolks, 1 cup sugar, lemon and lime juice, and zests. Set over simmering water and continue to whisk until the mixture is very thick, about 10 minutes.
• Turn off the flame and whisk in the butter, a few pieces at a time. (You don't want the mixture to cool down before all the butter is incorporated.) Strain the filling into a bowl. Scrape into the baked tart shell and smooth with a metal spatula. Cool and then refrigerate until firm, 3 to 4 hours, up to overnight.
• Sprinkle the remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar evenly over the top of the filling. With a propane blowtorch, caramelize the sugar. (This can also be done under the broiler. Place the tart on the broiler tray directly under the flame, watching carefully to prevent burning). Refrigerate the tart for at least 30 minutes. Or, if desired, eliminate the 2 tablespoons of sugar and arrange circles of raspberries on top of the tart. Sift a little powdered sugar over the berries just before serving.
• Cut into slices and serve. If you have caramelized the sugar, serve the tart with fresh strawberries or raspberries.
• In a food processor fitted with the steel blade, combine the flour and sugar. Add the butter and process until the texture resembles fine meal.
• In a small bowl, whisk together the yolks and 1 tablespoon of the cream. Scrape into the machine and process until a ball begins to form, using the additional tablespoon of cream, if necessary. Remove the dough from the machine, and on a lightly floured surface, press down into a circle. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

CARAMELIZED LEMON-LIME TART

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Roll out the pate sucre to a circle about 1/4 inch thick and large enough to slightly overlap a 9-inch metal tart pan. Fit the dough into the pan and trim the edges. Line the bottom and sides of the shell with parchment, or coffee filter papers, or aluminum foil. Fill the lining with dried beans, rice or aluminum beans, and bake in the oven for 20 to 25 minutes. Cool and remove the beans and the lining. Return the shell to the oven and bake until golden, 5 to 10 minutes longer.
• In a large metal bowl, whisk together the whole eggs, egg yolks, 1 cup sugar, lemon and lime juice, and zests. Set over simmering water and continue to whisk until the mixture is very thick, about 10 minutes.
• Turn off the flame and whisk in the butter, a few pieces at a time. (You don't want the mixture to cool down before all the butter is incorporated.) Strain the filling into a bowl. Scrape into the baked tart shell and smooth with a metal spatula. Cool and then refrigerate until firm, 3 to 4 hours, up to overnight.
• Sprinkle the remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar evenly over the top of the filling. With a propane blowtorch, caramelize the sugar. (This can also be done under the broiler. Place the tart on the broiler tray directly under the flame, watching carefully to prevent burning). Refrigerate the tart for at least 30 minutes. Or, if desired, eliminate the 2 tablespoons of sugar and arrange circles of raspberries on top of the tart. Sift a little powdered sugar over the berries just before serving.
• Cut into slices and serve. If you have caramelized the sugar, serve the tart with fresh strawberries or raspberries.
• In a food processor fitted with the steel blade, combine the flour and sugar. Add the butter and process until the texture resembles fine meal.
• In a small bowl, whisk together the yolks and 1 tablespoon of the cream. Scrape into the machine and process until a ball begins to form, using the additional tablespoon of cream, if necessary. Remove the dough from the machine, and on a lightly floured surface, press down into a circle. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

LEMON-LIME MERINGUE PIE

Steps:

• To make the crust, combine the flour, sugar, salt, and butter in food processor, electric mixer, or large mixing bowl. Using the blade attachment of the food processor, the paddle attachment of the electric mixer, or a pastry cutter, cut the cold butter into the flour until the mixture resembles a coarse meal. If you are using a processor, transfer the mixture to a bowl. Sprinkle the 2 tablespoons water and the vanilla over the mixture and mix with a fork until the dough clumps together. Gather the dough into a ball, wrap it in plastic wrap, and flatten into a 1-inch-thick disk. Refrigerate the dough for 30 minutes, until it is firm enough to roll out.
• Have ready an 11-inch fluted tart pan with a removable bottom (or a 9-inch deep-dish pie pan). On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough into a 13-inch circle. Set the rolling pin on top of the dough on the diagonal, and flip the dough edge (about one-third of the dough width) over the rolling pin. Holding the dough against the pin gently with one hand, pick up the pin and set the dough in the tart pan, centering it as well as you can. Trim the dough to leave about a 1/2-inch overhang all the way around, saving the trimmings at room temperature for later crust repair work. Gently push the dough into the pan so that it fits snugly against the sides, then fold the overhang toward the inside, pressing the folded dough against the sides. With thumb and forefinger, gently pinch the dough so that the sides of the tart extend about 1/4 inch above the edge of the pan, with an even thickness all the way up and around. Freeze the crust for 30 to 40 minutes, until it is hard. While the crust is chilling, preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
• When the crust is hard, line it with a piece of aluminum foil large enough to cover it, and fill with beans, rice, or pie weights. (Do not prick the crust!) Bake the crust for 35 minutes, then remove the weights and foil and bake for another 15 minutes, until the crust is golden brown and feels dry. If holes developed anywhere in the crust, they can easily be patched now by gently spackling with the leftover dough, but be careful not to break the tart sides while making repairs. Whisk the egg with 1 teaspoon of water to make an egg wash and brush all over the bottom and sides of the crust. Return the crust to the oven and bake for 5 minutes more, until the egg is set and dry. Set the crust aside on a rack to cool.
• About 15 minutes before the crust will finish baking, make the filling: Whisk the eggs and granulated sugar together in a bowl until smooth. Whisk in the lime juice and lemon juice, until smooth. Whisk in the cream, then strain the filling through a fine-mesh sieve into a large measuring cup and stir in the lemon zest. The filling will be quite liquid at this point.
• Without removing the crust from the oven, pour the filling into the crust (it's easier to do it this way than to juggle the full pie shell from counter to oven). Reduce the oven heat to 325 degrees and bake the pie for 35 to 40 minutes, until the center is just set. Cool the pie on a rack, then refrigerate until cold.
• To prepare the meringue, place the egg whites and cream of tartar in an electric mixer fitted with the whip attachment. Place the brown sugar in a small, heavy saucepan, add water to cover, attach a candy thermometer to the pan, and turn the heat on high. When the sugar is at about 240 degrees, start whipping the whites on high speed (they should be foamy and starting to thicken before you add the sugar). When the sugar is at the high soft-ball stage (245 degrees), remove the thermometer from the sugar and, with the mixer still running, carefully avoiding the whip, pour the sugar into the egg whites in a thin stream. When steam starts to come off the whites, add the sugar more quickly. When all sugar has been added, continue whipping until firm but soft peaks form. The meringue should still be quite warm. Quickly spread the meringue on top of the pie, shaping it with a rubber spatula to form a high, smooth dome. With the back of a soup spoon, make decorative waves, working quickly because as the meringue cools it will become stiff and difficult to shape. Preheat the broiler and place the pie on a lower oven rack to brown, turning every few seconds to brown evenly. Store the finished pie in the refrigerator, but plan on serving it within 3 to 5 hours, as the meringue may start to weep.

LEMON-LIME SOUFFLE TART

Steps:

• Lemon Curd (makes 2 cups, only use 1 1/2 cups).
• In a large heatproof bowl, whisk together the eggs, egg yolks, and sugar.
• Whisk in the lemon zest, juice, and salt.
• Place the bowl over a pot of barely simmering water, and gently cook the curd, whisking constantly to avoid scrambling the eggs, until curd thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon, about 10 minutes (or you can cook over direct heat if you are sufficiently skilled).
• Remove the bowl from the heat, and whisk in the butter.
• Strain the mixture through a fine sieve, and set the bowl in a large bowl filled with water and ice.
• Whisk until cool.
• Cover the curd, and refrigerate until it is thoroughly cold, at least 2 hours.
• The curd will keep for up to 3 days in the refrigerator.
• Almond Crust.
• To make the crust: In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and confectioners' sugar until combined, about 1 minute.
• Beat in the egg and zest.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, almond flour, and salt.
• Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture in two batches, scraping down the sides of the bowl between additions.
• Mix until dough is smooth.
• Scrape dough onto a piece of plastic wrap, and form it into a disk.
• Chill for at least 1 hour and up to 3 days.
• Make the tart.
• Preheat the oven to 325°.
• On a lightly floured surface, roll dough out to a 14-inch round about 1/8 inch thick.
• Fit the dough into a 10-inch tart pan with a removable bottom.
• Trim away any excess dough, and use a fork to prick the crust all over.
• Bake the tart crust until pale golden, 20 to 25 minutes.
• Transfer to a wire rack to cool.
• (The tart shell can be made 8 hours ahead.) Increase oven temperature to 375°.
• To prepare the filling: In the detached bowl of an electric mixer, whisk together 5 tablespoons sugar, egg yolks, flour, lemon juice, and lime juice.
• Place the bowl over a pot of gently simmering water, and whisk the mixture constantly to avoid scrambling the eggs.
• Continue whisking until mixture gets quite thick, about 8 minutes.
• Strain through a fine sieve into the bowl of an electric mixer, if necessary.
• Using the whisk attachment, beat the lemon cream on high speed until thick, cool, and light, about 5 minutes.
• In a clean bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat the egg whites until they hold soft peaks.
• Slowly add the remaining 5 tablespoons of sugar, and beat until stiff peaks form, taking care not to overbeat the whites.
• Fold a third of the meringue into the lemon cream to lighten it, then fold in the remaining meringue in two batches.
• Spread the lemon curd in an even layer into the bottom of the crust.
• Spoon the soufflé topping onto the lemon curd, mounding it attractively.
• Bake the tart until the soufflé is golden brown and spongy, 20 to 25 minutes.
• Dust the top with confectioners' sugar, and serve warm.