Classic Lemon Tart Recipe (2024)

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posted by Zainab Mansarayon May 4, 2018 (updated Nov 10, 2022) 29 comments »

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This classic lemon tart recipe is one you will love. With a sweet shortbread dough and a lip-puckering tart lemon curd filling, it is the lemon lover’s dream.

I realized the other day that I don’t have a classic lemon tart recipe on the blog. Actually, a reader made me realize this. She was making my grapefruit tart with a coconut crust and asked if she could use lemons instead as she didn’t like grapefruit. I was going to point her to a lemon tart recipe instead and realized I never shared one.

All my citrus tart recipes can be made into a lemon tart but I think it is easier for you all if I just create a post just for this recipe. I love when you tell me what to do and how I can help!

This classic lemon tart recipe is one that you will keep in your baking repertoire for a long time. With a sweet tart dough recipe and a lip-puckering tart lemon curd filling, it is the lemon lover’s dream. The recipe that I have been making for a long time is adapted from a few cookbooks. I love the tart dough recipe from Baking Chez Moi becauseit is so versatile and easy to whip up. It bakes up perfect every time, whether it is rolled out or pressed into the tart pan.

Making a lemon tart is truly simple. You make a simple buttery tart dough, that is baked and cooled before the filling. The filling in this classic lemon tart recipe is essentially a lemon curd. Smooth, sweet and lip-puckering. The resulting lemon tart is the perfect combination of sweet and sour in a pastry.

I dressed this tart up with fresh berries as I had plenty on hand. A dollop of homemade whipped cream and a few berries go a long way in making this lemon tart not just a beautiful centerpiece but a sweet delight with juicy berries.

With Mother’s day just around the corner, this classic lemon tart would be perfect for mom and all your spring celebrations.

Grab the recipe below along with some of my favorite spring recipes that would be great for Mother’s Day:

Meyer Lemon Souffle
White Chocolate Rose Cake for Mother’s Day
Lemon Poppy Seed Bundt Cake
Blood Orange Meringue Pie
Grapefruit Yogurt Mousse Tart

Happy Mother’s Day to all the mom’s out there!

Yield: 1 9-inch tart

Classic Lemon Tart Recipe

Prep Time30 minutes

Cook Time45 minutes

Total Time1 hour 15 minutes

Ingredients

For Sweet Tart Dough:

1 ½ cup all-purpose flour
½ cup confectioners’ sugar
¼ teaspoon sea salt
9 tablespoons unsalted butter, cold and cut into small pieces
1 large egg, gently beaten

For Topping:

½ cup fresh berries
¼ cup whipped cream or cool whip

For Lemon Filling:

1 cup granulated sugar
4 large eggs, at room temperature
2/3 cup unsalted butter, softened and cut into small pieces
2 tablespoons fresh lemon zest
½ cup fresh lemon juice

Instructions

For the Crust:

In the bowl of a food processor, combine the flour, sugar and sea salt. Pulse a few times to combine. Add in the butter and pulse until you have coarse pieces, the size of peas. Add in the egg yolk, a little at a time, pulsing after each addition. Once added, pulse the mixture a few more times until the dough comes together.
Transfer the dough onto a work surface and blend the dough together in small pieces using the heel of your hand.
Butter or grease the tart pan. Press the dough evenly over the bottom and up the sides of the pan. You may not use all of the dough if you like a thin crust. Do not overwork the dough as you press it into the tart pan to preserve the shortbready texture of the dough.
Prick the crust all over with a fork and freeze for at least 30 minutes to 1 hour longer, before baking.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Grease the shiny side of an aluminum foil and fit it into the crust. (If your crust is frozen you can bake it as is but if not fill in with pie weights before baking.
Bake crust for 25 minutes, then remove foil (and weights if using). If the dough is puffed, press it down gently with the back of a spoon. Continue baking for another 7 to 10 minutes or until firm and golden brown. Transfer to a wire rack and cool completely.

For the Filling:

In a large heat-resistant bowl, whisk together the sugar, eggs, butter, lemon zest, and juice. Whisk, by hand, for about 5 minutes until mixture is pale and fluffy. Set the bowl over a simmering pot of water (a double boiler) and cook the mixture, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickened about 10 minutes.
Strain the mixture through a fine sieve and discard any solids. Cover the filling and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
Pour the lemon curd into the cooled tart dough. Refrigerate tart until set, about 4 hours or preferably overnight.
Just before serving, top with whipped cream and fresh berries, if desired.

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originally published on May 4, 2018 (last updated Nov 10, 2022)

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