Sunday, January 3, 2010

Need a Little Sunshine? Bake a Lemon Tart

I recently received a wonderful surprise box full of lemons from my sweet blog friend Jenny Matlock, and I have been happily reaming, squeezing. and zesting them into almost everything I have cooked in the past few weeks, but this Lemon Tart recipe I found on The Joy Of Baking website took top prize! With just a few ingredients and an easy" press in" shortbread dough made in the food processor, this delicious and light dessert was the perfect ending to a New Year's Eve dinner and brought a welcomed taste of sunshine to a cold winter's night.

Lemon Tart

CRUST:
1 cup (140 grams) all purpose flour
1/3 cup (36 grams) confectioners (powdered or icing) sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (114 grams) cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces

FILLING:
5 ounces (140 grams) cream cheese, room temperature.
1/2 cup (100 grams) granulated white sugar
1/2 cup (120 ml) fresh lemon juice (approximately two large lemons)
2 large eggs
1 tablespoon grated lemon zest

TOPPING:
1/2 cup (120 ml) heavy whipping cream
1 tablespoon confectioners (powdered or icing) sugar

Lemon Zest - The yellow outer rind of the lemon that contains the fruit's flavor and perfume.
TIPS:
Always remove the zest first before halving and squeezing the lemon.
Use a fine strainer to remove the seeds and pulp from the juice.


Grease with butter, or a cooking spray, an 8 inch (20 cm) or 9 inch (23 cm) tart pan with a removable bottom. Set aside.

FOR CRUST: In your food processor, place the flour, sugar, and salt and process to combine. Add the butter and pulse until the pastry starts to come together and form clumps. Place the pastry in the prepared tart pan and, using your fingertips, evenly press the pastry onto the bottom and up the sides of the pan. (Can use the back of a spoon to smooth the surface of the pastry.) Pierce the bottom of the crust with the tines of a fork. (This will prevent the pastry crust from puffing up while it bakes.) Cover and place the pastry crust in the freezer for 15 minutes to chill. (This will help prevent the crust from shrinking while it bakes.)

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C) and place rack in center of oven.

When the pastry is completely chilled, place the tart pan on a larger baking pan and bake until the crust is golden brown, about 13 - 15 minutes. Remove from oven and place on a wire rack to cool while you make the filling.

Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees (177 degrees C).


FOR FILLING: In a food processor or electric mixer place the cream cheese and process until smooth. Add sugar and process until incorporated. Add eggs, one at a time, and process until thoroughly combined. Add remaining ingredients and process until well blended and smooth. Pour filling into pre baked tart shell and bake for approximately 25 - 30 minutes or until filling is set. Transfer tart to a wire rack to cool and then cover and refrigerate until well chilled, at least an hour.


TOPPING: Put mixing bowl and whisk in the freezer for 15 minutes. Beat the whipping cream and powdered sugar until stiff peaks form. Transfer the whipped cream to a pastry bag fitted with star tip (#4B), and pipe stars over the entire surface of the tart. * I did not do this step but instead served each piece with a dollop of whipped cream, as it was only going to be my husband and myself eating the tart, but if I was serving this at a dinner party I would definitely pipe whip cream stars on top for a pretty presentation.

Refrigerate until serving time.


That's it! It was very easy to prepare and had a definite citrus taste that was not too sweet, not too tart.... very refreshing!

I'm adding this post to Mary at The Little Red House blog's "Mosaic Monday" event. Please visit Mary's blog today to see her beautiful vintage winter mosaic and links to many wonderful mosaics!
I'm also joining MellowYellowBadge Mellow Yellow Monday!
Happy New Year to all!




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49 comments:

Kathy said...

It has been cold over here in the bay area recently Pat. I know it's nothing compared to some states and even Europe. but your lemon tart mosaic did bring a ray of sunshine here tonight, Bet it tasted as good too, hugs, Kathy.

BailiwickStudio said...

There's nothing like a bowl of lemons to brighten up a day... the tart looks scrumptious! ::Jill

Anonymous said...

A lovely bright mosaic for a dreary cold day in the UK.
I love to have a lemon desert after a meal it is so refreshing.

Have a good week, Jackie in UK.

My name is Riet said...

Oh dear, I started slimming on the first , just no sugar, sweets and chocolate and here I find this wo nderful recipe. I am writing it down and will make it maybe in April. LOL. Thank you for the recipe it looks delicious.

nuts said...

it looks yummy, i wanna try this sometime but i need to get some fresh lemon first.
mine is here!

Valerie said...

Oh my - I think that is why yellow is one of my favorite colors. I will have to try this! I love Lemon!!

Jojo said...

Sounds heavenly and looks beautiful but no more sweets for a while. Somehow I managed to gain an extra 3 pounds over the holidays. The problem is that I was trying to loose 7 so that gives me an extra 10 that I just don't need.

I found an adorable plate that I displayed through the holidays that read "Christmas calories don't count." Big mistake. What was I thinking!

Ciao Chow Linda said...

Lucky you to receive all those fresh lemons - and what a good use you put them to! It certainly does bring a ray of summer sunshine into this frigid day.

Annalisa said...

Looks delicious!Thank you for sharing and for the recipe.I'll try it one day,
have a lovely day and...
Happy New Year.
Buon Anno
Hugs e ciao,
Annalisa

Just a little something from Judy said...

You have a way of making lemon tart look beautiful! Thanks for taking the time to share this great sounding recipe with us. How fortunate you are to receive a gift of lemons in the middle of winter. I wanted to reach through my computer and taste this tart.

Tara said...

Pat

Oooh, yummy! Doesn't this look delish! It pops right off the page! Gosh, I could use this with a cup of joe this a.m.--I am off to work after having off :0(
Why does vaca always go so fast> thanks for the tart!

Anonymous said...

So delish- even the smell of lemons can brighten up a dark day. Here we had bright blue skies this morning and i woke to sunlight streaming through the curtains. So fuul of the joys of Spring i woke up only to see the tempewrature was only 3C! Just above freezing.

storyteller said...

Thanks for the recipes! My lemon tree is LOADED with more fruit than I can use and/or share with others at the moment ... so I may 'bake a little sunshine' myself to give away. I shared a Mosaic of Neighborhood Shadows at Sacred Ruminations this week. Happy Mosaic Monday ;-)
Hugs and blessings,

PAT said...

That looks absolutely wonderful. The photos are so beautiful, I can almost taste the lemon tart! Yum!

Dimple said...

That looks yummy! Perhaps I'll save the recipe for later, when I'm not trying to lose weight!

Junie Moon said...

What a lovely bit of sunshine to see today. I love the recipe and the pictures. This is defintely something I want to try. Thanks for sharing it with us, Pat.

Carol said...

Thanks for the sunshine & the recipe! Have a happy week!

Arlene Delloro said...

Your tart looks so enticing. Lemon tart is my favorite, especially since I had one in a now defunct Italian restaurant a few years back. Theirs sported a shortbread crust, but the lemon is the star. I'm inspired to try lightening the filling with Neufchatel, but I would probably eat the whole tart. I'll have to live vicariously.

Golden West said...

Lemons are so versatile - it's great to have a bowl handy!

Sara said...

We have had so much snow - not a lot in inches - but, daily storms - for three days! Today, it is beautiful out - clear blue skies!

That Lemon tart looks so good. It is on my list to make.

black eyed susans kitchen said...

Beautiful and delicious and made twice as good because the lemons were a gift! Life can be pretty good when life gives you lemons.
♥, Susan

Linda Lou said...

Happy New Year Pat-you know lemons are just the thing we need to bring sunshine into 2010...and add a little limoncello for ane extra zip!!

Vee said...

Oh I am going to try it soon...grocery day is coming!

Katt said...

Looks totally de~lish!!

Nola said...

Happy New Year to You! The tart looks yummy; lemon is one of my all time favorite flavors.

Laura @ the shorehouse. said...

Thank you for sharing this recipe...it looks incredible! And those lemons are the freshest, most beautiful ones I've even seen. How lovely of Jenny!

And what a way to start a year!! Happy (official!) new year Pat!

SavoringTime in the Kitchen said...

I love that kind of sunshine! Lemon tart is a favorite of mine and this recipe does sound great.

Sea Witch said...

Muy mother, may she rest in peace, would be all over this. I adore lemons as well, one of my favorite candy undulgences are dark chocolate lemon cremes. OMG, they curl my toes. Great receipe and I have got to try it. Stay warm. SEa Witch

Donna said...

It looks yummy, Pat! I love anything lemon.

Happy New Year to you!!

Hugs,
Donna

Carol said...

It does look like a plate of sunshine! Have to try this one, looks fantastic!

Jemina said...

che buon! Grazie for sharing the recipe. I'd definitely love to try this one. I love lemons.

my MYM

Anonymous said...

Ooohhh it does look heavenly. And aren't you sweet to share the recipe. ~Jeanne

steviewren said...

My mouth began watering the second I saw your delicious and beautiful lemon tart. Give me a citrusy dessert any day over chocolate. Your recipe sounds as easy as you said. I may give it a try...the only problem is that I would eat it all, instead of sharing.

Judy said...

That works for me...I love lemons...and your tart looks yummy!

Mary said...

Omigosh, I'm drooling! I am most definitely going to try that soon! Thanks for sharing at MM, Pat! :)

Carolyn said...

It looks so good and thank you for the recipe.

Carolyn

Unknown said...

Looks so good and bright!

I've got your dishes on the 'wanted' items at 2 antique malls here...maybe I'll run across them! :)

eileeninmd said...

It does look yummy, thanks for the recipe. Great photos.

Foodie with Little Thyme! said...

Yum! I would love a bite...or two!

Kat said...

Bless you Pat for sharing this recipe! It really does sound delicious and I think it sounds simple enough that I'll try it. And a huge thank you for steering me to Jenny's blog! What a great way to start the new year. Kathy

Sue said...

Hi Pat...Happy New Year!! Thanks for another great recipe...I'm having the ladies over for lunch next Monday and didn't know what I was making for dessert....this is it..I love anything lemon....I just got back from the city and had a typical NYC experiance....we ate at Quality Meats after seeing Ragtime (funny story about that posting soon)....when I caught the waitress itching her head with the fork then putting it down on the table she was setting.....Hey, I happen to be sitting infront of a mirror.....but the food was great.

Tracy Watier said...

Yum! Looks like a recipe even me and my short attention span could handle. And I love lemon desserts.
Happy New Year to you Pat! I haven't left a comment in a while though I have stopped in for a peek now and then. With the holidays and year-end business busy-ness behind me, I'll have more time to stop and say Hi!

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Makes my mouth water, Pat.... YUMMY... I'd love those Lemon Tarts... Thanks for the recipe! Now--will you come down and make them for me????????

Hugs,
Betsy

The Quintessential Magpie said...

What a fabulous looking dessert, Pat! Oh, it looks divine!

xo,

Sheila :-)

Proud Italian Cook said...

This looks so refreshing Pat, I want to try this but I'm detoxing, maybe I'll try it with reduced fat cream cheese to lighten it up some, hey every little bit helps! I've made your blueberry tart several times, it's always so good!

Tracy said...

Hi, Pat! Happy New Year, my friend! So good to be back from our trip and now catch up with you and your holiday news. Your recent post are so festive and tasty. Especially this lemon tart! I love anything with lemons. And I look forward to giving this good recipe a try... even though hubby and I are going no-sugar this year, there will be room for an occasional treat, I think. ;o) Happy Days to you & yours in 2010 ((BIG HUGS))

Claudia said...

What a delectable tart. Aren't lemons the most wonderful things? They can go anywhere. This has been a nice bright respite in my afternoon.

steviewren said...

I came back to salivate over that yummy sunny tart some more!

Louise said...

What a great way to gain a little sunshine! You must have both very much enjoyed the scrumptious lemon tart you made. x