Strawberry Curd Tarts

Here we are in the middle of summer, the weather is toasty warm, the skies are deep blue and the sun is ripening my favorite fruit… strawberries.   Strawberries are at all the farmer’s markets and also at my favorite strawberry stands located on the sides of roads that beg everyone driving by to stop and buy a couple of pints of beautiful red berries.  There is rarely a week that goes by that I don’t buy at least three pints of berries, everyone loves them.  We mostly just slice the berries and eat them plain or with a little sugar on top.  Sometimes though a luscious strawberry dessert is needed and today I am sharing my Strawberry Curd Tarts that we served at our last party.  Really, who doesn’t like eating a beautiful tart?

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Freshly picked, sweet, red and ripe strawberries

My daughter and I recently hosted a tea party and wanted a small fruit dessert that could be easily made but most of all easily eaten.  Making these tarts bite-sized made a great dessert for our guests to pick up from the trays.  These tarts are perfect for dinner parties and buffets, no slicing required and the quests can help themselves. Setting out a large platter of tarts with whole strawberries makes such a colorful presentation, your guests will love them. You can read abo

Check out this post on How To Keep Strawberries Fresh so your berries will last a week or more.

Tart ingredients

• Flour
• Sugar
• Butter
• Eggs
• Strawberries
• Cornstarch
• Whipping Cream

How to make mini tart shells

The dough for these tarts is easy to make and rolls out nice and firm.

Step 1. Mix the flour and sugar in a large bowl. Add cold, cubed butter to the mixture and with a pastry blender or two knives cut the butter into the flour until the butter is the size of peas.

Step 2. Beat the egg and add to the flour mixture and mix until the dough holds together.

Step 3. Turn the dough onto a floured surface and bring together into a ball.

Step 4. Roll the dough to a ⅛″ thickness.

Step 5.  To make the tart shell you simply cut out dough circles with a 2 ½″ round cutter and place the circles inside a 12-cup muffin pan. This technique creates nice sized tart shells that are perfect for holding the strawberry curd. This dough also makes an 8″ tart if you want a larger tart.

Step 6. Bake the tart shells for 20 minutes in a 300 F. degree oven. When the tarts shells are baked let them cool and the tart shells will pop out of the pan.

An easy way to make tart shells

These tart shells are perfect for other desserts

• Fill will pastry cream and top with fruits
• Any type of pudding will work and top with whipped cream – chocolate would be delicious
• Fill with warmed canned fruit
• Add a scoop of ice cream
• Layer with cream cheese and fresh fruits

How to make strawberry curd

I like using the riper strawberries to make the strawberry curd since they have more flavor and juice.

Step 1.  Puree the sliced and hulled strawberries in a food processor.  The easiest way to strain the puree is to put it in a fine-mesh strainer then take a soup ladle and stir and press the puree into a bowl.  This works like a charm.

Step 2. Add the sugar and cornstarch to a medium-sized saucepan and stir, then stir in the egg yolk.

Step 3. Whisk in the strawberry puree and bring the mixture to a boil, then cook over medium heat until thickened.

Step 4. Remove from the heat in stir in room temperature butter until melted.

Step 5. Pour the curd into a bowl, cover with plastic wrap and chill until firm.

Step 6. When you are ready just spoon the strawberry curd into the tart shells.

The strawberry curd does not get ultra-thick but is thick enough to fill the tart shells, just don’t overfill. And, yes, once you cook the puree the color changes.

Step 7. Top the tarts with whipped cream and a sliced strawberry.  Step back and look at your creation then go ahead and try one.  You must make sure they are ok to serve your guests, right?

“Sometimes a luscious strawberry dessert is needed…”

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Here are my recommendations for your baking needs.

This recipe needs a good 12 cup muffin pan which is good for all kinds of desserts. This fine mesh strainer is a kitchen must-have item to strain juices, broths and to remove seeds. You might like these mini ceramic bowls for sauces or desserts. If you serve berries this ceramic berry basket is just nice to display your colorful berries.

More strawberry desserts

Strawberry Shortcakes in a Glass are a simple no-bake dessert to serve with fresh summer berries.

Bake a classic Strawberry Bakewell Tart for dessert. Everyone loves the tender cake with a sweet strawberry filling. This is a British classic.

This Strawberry Chardonnay Gelee is such a refreshing dessert and has just the perfect strawberry flavor with a hint of wine.

Looking for a good dessert to serve at a cookout? Everyone goes crazy when I serve these Strawberry Grilled Cheese Sandwiches.

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I hope you are all having an amazing summer and enjoying the fruits of summer.