French Fruit Tart
This French Fruit Tart is everything delicious, all wrapped into one light and crispy tart. A rainbow of fresh fruit sitting on top of silky-smooth vanilla bean French pastry cream.
Table of Contents
My favourite thing…
My favourite thing about the French Fruit Tart is how simple but tasty it is. The fruit on top is a delicious addition and I love ho colourful it is! But you know what my favourite thing is? The little black vanilla bean specs. I love seeing that in desserts!
What does this French Fruit Tart taste like?
The tart itself is not actually very sweet. The crust is delicate but not too crumbly. The pastry cream filling is soft and silky but holds its shape well and the fruit on top helps add colour and flavour. It’s a simple idea but when it all comes together a magnificent treat!
What you need for the French Fruit Tart
All-purpose flour – This is sometimes also known as
Powdered sugar – Using powdered sugar as opposed to caster or granulated results in a much finer biscuit crumb which is what you’re after with this tart. A delicious and delicate tart crust!
Vanilla extract – Don’t skimp on good vanilla. Use home-made or buy a really good quality one. A little goes a long way.
Unsalted butter – if using salted butter, simply leave the salt out of the recipe.
Egg yolks – Egg yolks are used in the crust to create a rich tart crust and in the French pastry cream to help thicken it and give it a rich flavour as well.
Whole milk – you may also use skim milk if you wish. If you only have plant-based milk, you can use that instead, however it will alter the flavour of the pastry cream.
Heavy cream – You want to use cream that’s used for whipping. It must have at least 30% fat content.
Caster sugar – This is also known as superfine sugar. You want to avoid using granulated sugar if you can get superfine sugar. You can even make your own superfine sugar from granulated sugar using a food blender!
Salt – I used fine salt.
Corn starch – This is also known as arrowroot powder and is used to thicken the pastry cream.
Vanilla bean paste – this is really strong in flavour and will add those iconic little black vanilla bean specs in your pastry cream letting people know you rich honey. You use good quality vanilla.
Fruit – This is where you can get creative. I used:
- kiwi fruit, peeled and sliced
- strawberries, cleaned dried and sliced in half
- mandarin, peeled and segmented
- raspberries, washed and dried
- blueberries, washed and dried.
But you can use any type of fruit you like! Mango anyone?
How to make the tart
Crust
1. Add the flour, vanilla extract, and powdered sugar to the bowl of a food processor and blitz for 20 seconds to combine.
2. Next, add the butter and pulse until you reach lentil sized pieces.
3. Lastly, add the egg yolks and blitz until small clumps of dough form.
4. Turn the crumbly mixture out your workbench and bunch it together (without kneading).
5. Form a rough disc shape and then wrap in plastic. Chill for 60 minutes.
6. Dust your workbench with flour.
7. Use a rolling pin to roll out to 14 inches wide.
8. Carefully roll over the rolling pin
9. Transfer and unroll over a 9-inch tart tin with removable bottom.
10. Carefully lift the dough over the tart to allow it to naturally fall into the corns of the tart.
11. Use the rolling pin to cut the excess pastry away.
12. Use a fork to prick holes into the dough.
13. Place the tart tin on a baking tray. Scrunch up a large piece of baking paper and then un-scrunch it. Place on the inside of the tart tin.
14. Fill with baking beads. I used dried chickpeas. Bake for 15 minutes.
15. Take it out of the oven, carefully lift out the beads using the corners of the baking paper and bake on 150°C / 300°F for a further 10 minutes.
16. Once baked, allow to cool completely.
Pastry Cream
1. Add the milk, cream and a 1/4 cup of sugar into a large saucepan. Bring to a gentle boil on medium heat then take off the heat.
2. Add the egg yolks, remaining sugar, corn starch, salt and vanilla bean paste to a small mixing bowl. Use whisk to mix until well combined.
3. Add about 1/4 cup of the hot milk mixture.
4. Whisk to combine.
5. Add the milk egg mixture to the pot with the milk and whisk to combine.
6. Place back on medium heat and whisk until thick.
7. You should be able to run your finger across the back of a spoon and it will not come back together.
8. Add the butter.
9. Whisk in until completely melted into the pastry cream.
10. Transfer to a medium sized bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Allow to cool completely.
Let’s decorate!
1. Add the custard in the tart shell.
2. Spread around using a spatula and get it as smooth as you can.
3. Once chilled, Arrange the fruits on top.
4. Brush with the apple or pineapple conserve on top.
Tips for making the French Fruit Tart!
- Make sure you decorate it with fruit only an hour before you serve it. The fruit can sometimes cause the pastry cream to look split.
- if you want to prepare as much as possible in advance, the fruits can be sliced and prepped a day in advance, simply store in separate airtight containers, in the fridge before adding to the tart.
Other Recipes You Might Like!
Easy Passionfruit Banana Bread – Easy, delicious banana bread with cream cheese frosting, topped with fresh passionfruit pulp!
Strawberry Mango Margarita Cupcakes – Easy, cocktail inspired cupcakes!
Black Forest Tart – Indulgent chocolate and cherry tart!
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I hope you guys enjoyed this simple but delicious French Fruit Tart with me. Please comment in the comments section below, or feel free to share with your family and friends on social media. I’ll see you all on the following recipe. Happy baking!
N x

French Fruit Tart
Serves 12
Ingredients
Crust
- 1 1/2 cups (225 g) all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup (75 g) powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup (110 g) unsalted butter
- 4 egg yolks
Pastry Cream
- 1 1/2 cups (375 ml) whole milk
- 1/2 cup (125 ml) heavy cream
- 1/2 cup (105 g) caster sugar
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 4 tbsp corn starch
- 6 egg yolks
- 1 1/2 tsp vanilla bean paste
- 1/2 cup (105 g) unsalted butter
Fruit Topping
- 2 kiwis peeled and sliced
- 10 strawberries sliced in half
- 1/2 cup mandarin peeled and sliced
- 1/2 cup blueberries
- 1/4 cup raspberries 1/2
- 1/2 cup pineapple
Learn How To Make it! [VIDEO]
Instructions
Crust
- Add the flour, vanilla extract, and powdered sugar to the bowl of a food processor and blitz for 20 seconds to combine. Add the butter and pulse until you reach lentil sized pieces. Add the egg yolks and blitz until small clumps of dough form. Keep theegg whites because we’ll be using them for the meringue!
- Turn the crumbly mixtureout your work bench and bunch it together (without kneading). Form a rough discshape and then wrap in plastic. Chill for 60 minutes.
- Preheat your oven to 180°C/ 355°F.
- Dust your workbench with flour and use a rolling pin to roll out to 14 inches wide. Carefully roll over the rolling pin and then transfer and unroll over a 9-inch tart tin with removable bottom. Carefully lift the dough over the tart to allow it to naturally fall into the corners of the tart. You don’t want to stretch it or it will shrink as it bakes and become uneven. Discard excess dough.
- Place the tart tin on a baking tray. Scrunch up a large piece of baking paper and then un-scrunch it. Place on the inside of the tart tin. Fill with baking beads. I used dried chickpeas. Bake for 15 minutes. Take it out of the oven, carefully lift out the beads using the corners of the baking paper and bake on 150°C / 300°F for a further 10 minutes. Once baked, allow to cool completely.
Pastry Cream
- Add the milk, cream and a 1/4 cup of sugar into a large saucepan. Bring to a gentle boil on medium heat then take off the heat.
- Add the egg yolks, remaining sugar, corn starch, salt and vanilla bean paste to a small mixing bowl. Use whisk to mix until well combined. Add about 1/4 cup of the hot milk mixture and whisk to combine. Add the milk egg mixture to the pot with the milk and whisk to combine. Place back on medium heat and whisk until thick. You should be able to run your finger across the back of a spoon and it will not come backtogether.
- Add the butter and whisk in until completely melted into the pastry cream. Transfer to a medium sized bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Allow to cool completely.
Let's decorate!
- Arrange the fruits on top and then brush with the apple or pineapple conserve on top. Slice and serve immediately.
2 comments
I find that the biggest mistak pastry makers make when using fresh fruit, what tops them, takes them to a higher level of professional, is to glaze the fruit. You mention but don’t truly describe the importance and how too. It isn’t complicated but has a protocol. Warm a favorite jam, jelly or conserve till thin. My favorite is apricot. Best to strain chunks or skins with seive. Use a pastry brush or silicone brush to delicately paint from center outward, while it is still warm. Thank you for the reminder of such a wonderful tart, with step by step details.
Thanks Kimberly! N x