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Custard and Sour Cherry Tartlets

17/11/2023

Custard and sour cherry tartlets are a delicious and refined dessert, perfect for the end of a meal or as an afternoon snack. Here is the recipe to prepare them.

Ingredients

For the shortcrust pastry:

  • 300 g of type 00 flour
  • 150 g of cold butter, cubed
  • 120 g of icing sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 egg yolk
  • Zest of 1 untreated lemon
  • A pinch of salt

For the custard cream:

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

Additionally:

  • Candied sour cherries (to taste)

Preparation

  1. Start with the shortcrust pastry: in a large bowl, mix the flour with the cold butter until you get a sandy mixture. Add the icing sugar, grated lemon zest, and a pinch of salt. Incorporate the egg and yolk and work quickly until you form a smooth dough. Wrap it in cling film and let it rest in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.

  2. While the dough is resting, prepare the custard cream: heat the milk in a pot with the lemon zest. In a bowl, beat the yolks with sugar until they become light and fluffy. Add the sifted flour and mix well.

  3. Remove the lemon zest from the hot milk and pour in the egg yolk, sugar, and flour mixture, stirring constantly to avoid lumps. Cook over medium heat, continuing to stir, until the cream thickens.

  4. Remove the cream from the heat and transfer it to a bowl. Cover with cling film making sure it is in contact with the cream and let it cool completely.

  5. Take the pastry dough from the fridge and roll it out on a floured surface to a thickness of about 5 mm. Use tartlet molds to cut out the shortcrust pastry discs and line the molds with them, pricking the bottom with a fork.

  6. Pre-bake the tartlet bases in a preheated oven at 180 °C for about 10-15 minutes or until they begin to lightly brown.

  7. Remove the bases from the oven, let them cool slightly, then fill them with the cold custard cream and top with some candied sour cherries.

  8. Let them rest in the fridge for at least an hour before serving.

Curiosity

Sour cherries are a type of cherry with a slightly tart and bitter taste, greatly appreciated in Italian pastry-making. They are often used in syrup to garnish sweets and desserts, and pair perfectly with the sweetness of the custard cream. The contrast of flavors makes the tartlets with cream and sour cherries a delightful play of contrasts.

Custard and Sour Cherry Tartlets