You'll Want to Make Our Most Irresistible Tart Recipes for Dessert Again and Again
If you ask us, these tarts are even better than pie. While we know that's a controversial statement, we know you'll agree once you'e tried our lemon tart, rainbow fruit tart, frozen mochaccino tart, and any of the other tart recipes here;
Although they may look fussy, tarts are actually a lot easier to make than many pies, and they're just as lovely (if not more so!) to serve and eat. They're also a bit unexpected, with many other desserts higher up on the popularity list. Whether you've never made one before or consider yourself an expert, this collection of tart recipes is sure to delight, as it truly has something for every taste.
Fruit-filled tarts are probably some of the most recognizable ones, and many, like the Almond Custard Tart with Strawberries that's pictured here, feature a custard on the bottom that does a sort of double duty as base and glue atop the crust, helping the fruit stay in place. Our Rainbow Fruit Tart is a glory to behold, with its dazzling array of colors. Less familiar but equally spectacular is a Cranberry-Meringue Tart, which stars a pucker-perfect filling with a creamy meringue "wreath" piped on top. You'll also find a Persimmon Tart, a Rhubarb Custard Tart, and a Peach and Blueberry Tart with Cream Cheese Filling in the slides ahead. Can't decide between chocolate or fruit? Our Chocolate-Mousse Tart with Fresh Berries lets you have both.
If chocolate is your thing, though, we've got options—and some very delicious ones at that. Our Candied-Orange Chocolate-Caramel Tart has a thick layer of chocolate ganache (not to mention candied orange zest and fleur de sel), and coffee and chocolate come together beautifully in a coffeeshop-inspired Frozen Café-Mochaccino Tart.
And then there are the definitely-didn't-see-that coming tarts. One such example? Our Peanut Butter and Jelly Tart, which you can use almost any type of jelly in. Whichever you choose, it's a nostalgic treat for all ages.
1 of 15
Rainbow Fruit Tart
Want to elicit oohs and ahhs? Look no further than this ROYGBIV-inspired tart. You can use any fruits you like, but to get the real rainbow effect, you'll want to include a wide array—we like strawberries or raspberries, apricots, nectarines or very yellow mango, kiwifruits, blueberries, and plums or cherries.
2 of 15
Candied-Orange Chocolate-Caramel Tart
To impart a citrus flavor to this knockout dessert, we used the syrup leftover from candying orange peel to make the caramel. A thick layer of chocolate ganache follows, and sprinklings of the candied zest and fleur de sel glimmer on top like encrusted jewels.
3 of 15
Peanut Butter Cup Tart
Our grown-up twist on the beloved childhood treat teams a chocolate wafer crust with a decadent peanut butter filling and swirled chocolate ganache topping.
4 of 15
Lemon Curd Soufflé Tart
This delicious, elegant lemon tart is as light as a feather. It's made with a simple pâte sucrée dough and a quick homemade lemon curd.
5 of 15
Peanut Butter and Jelly Tart
The classic nutty-sweet combo of peanut butter and jelly has escaped the confines of the sandwich and landed in a tart. With the help of a skewer, these two classic ingredients become artfully (yet easily) swirled.
6 of 15
Cranberry-Meringue Tart
Although this spectacular cranberry tart makes a terrific Thanksgiving dessert, it would be welcome on any fall or winter table. It has an easy press-in crust made with a buttery mixture of crushed saltines which balances out the pucker-perfect curd filling. The finishing touch is a creamy meringue "wreath" piped on top.
7 of 15
Frozen Café-Mochaccino Tart
Coffee and chocolate are such a marvelous combination, and they come together beautifully in this coffeeshop-inspired tart. To make it, you fill a chocolate-shortbread shell with chocolate and coffee ice creams, and while they set, you whip up an airy caramel meringue to dollop on top.
8 of 15
Apple Rose Tart
Did you know that apple tarts deliver a more concentrated apple flavor than the more common double-crust pies? As an added bonus, you don't have to wait hours for them to cool. If you have a mandoline, you'll save time and get evenly sliced apples, all the better for arranging in a beautiful rose-like formation.
9 of 15
Chocolate-Mousse Tart with Fresh Berries
Can't decide between chocolate or fruit? This recipe lets you have both. A gluten-free almond crust cradles dark-chocolate mousse to form a dramatic backdrop for a crown of fresh raspberries.
10 of 15
Peach and Blueberry Tart with Cream Cheese Filling
This new take on cheesecake is easier to make and so summery. The no-bake cream-cheese filling floats on a crisp, buttery press-in crust. Thin peach wedges (peeled for a luxurious finish) and blueberries tossed in sugar, lemon, and salt make a lovely topping.
11 of 15
Rhubarb Custard Tart
Blind-baking the crust helps keep this tart's bottom firm and crunchy, so you don't have to worry about the creamy custard and tart rhubarb creating a soggy result.
12 of 15
Milk Tart with Brown-Sugar Crust
A silky milk custard in a snappy, cookie-like brown-sugar pate sucrée, this tart has just the right balance of crust and filling. The whisper-weight layer of ground cinnamon adds a hint of warmth to the otherwise cool confection.
13 of 15
Apricot Cheesecake Tart
Not all tarts have a pastry crust, as this delectable option proves. It's almost more cheesecake than tart as its crust is the graham cracker crust classic and it's filling pure cheesecake. And those polka dots? They're applied with a squeeze bottle. Even better, you can use any flavor of jam you like. We went with apricot for bright pops of orange.
14 of 15
Persimmon Tart
This delightful dessert has a one-two punch of smooth, fudgy custard filling and a crackly bruléed top. And it uses a winter fruit you don't see often but that has a wonderfully sweet and delicate taste.