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Shortcrust Pastry Box with Fruit

17/11/2023

The shortcrust pastry box with fruit is a delicious and colorful dessert, perfect for celebrating spring and summer with the freshness of seasonal fruit. I will provide you with a classic recipe with an Italian twist, such as an Italian-style shortcrust and suggestions for the fruit you might use.

Ingredients for the shortcrust pastry:

  • 250 g of type 00 flour
  • 125 g of cold butter from the fridge
  • 100 g of powdered sugar
  • 1 whole egg
  • 1 yolk
  • Grated zest of 1 untreated lemon
  • A pinch of salt

Ingredients for the custard cream:

  • 500 ml of whole milk
  • 4 egg yolks
  • 100 g of sugar
  • 40 g of type 00 flour
  • Zest of 1 untreated lemon

Fresh fruit for decoration (to choose from):

  • Strawberries
  • Blueberries
  • Raspberries
  • Kiwi
  • Peaches
  • Apricots

Preparation of the shortcrust pastry:

  1. In a large bowl, sift the flour and powdered sugar.
  2. Add the cold butter, cut into cubes, and start working with the tips of your fingers to obtain a sandy mixture.
  3. Add the egg, the yolk, the grated lemon zest, and a pinch of salt, and work the dough until it forms a compact ball.
  4. Wrap the shortcrust pastry in cling film and let it rest in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.

Preparation of the custard cream:

  1. Heat the milk with the lemon zest in a small pot without bringing it to a boil.
  2. In a bowl, whisk the yolks with the sugar until you get a light and frothy mixture. Add the flour and mix well.
  3. Pour the hot milk, after removing the lemon zest, into the egg and sugar mixture, stirring continuously.
  4. Put everything back on the heat and thicken the cream, continuing to stir. When ready, transfer to a bowl and cover with cling film in contact. Allow to cool.

Assembly:

  1. Roll out the shortcrust pastry into a 5 mm thick sheet and line a previously buttered and floured tart mold.
  2. Prick the bottom with a fork and bake blind in a preheated oven at 180 °C for about 15-20 minutes, or until golden brown.
  3. Allow the shortcrust base to cool, then spread an even layer of the cold custard cream on top.
  4. Decorate the surface with the fresh fruit as desired, creating a colorful and captivating design.

Curiosity

The shortcrust pastry box with fruit is a dessert that, in addition to being aesthetically very beautiful, is also versatile as you can use your preferred fruit or whatever is in season. In Italy, it’s common to find these tarts during festivals or the summer months, where the bright colors of fresh fruit stand out.

For an extra touch, you can glaze the fruit with some apricot gelatin slightly dissolved with a little water, to give shine and protect the fruit from oxidation. Good work and enjoy your meal!

Shortcrust Pastry Box with Fruit