Summer Fruit Creme Brulee Tart

Summer Fruit Creme Brulee Tart

I was going to title this recipe as Nectarine Creme Brulee Tart but the truth is that this elegant tart could be made with any number of fresh seasonal fruits like peaches, plums, apricots or cherries. I've even made it with fresh strawberries in one of my personal favorite versions. Baked in a creamy vanilla custard, surrounded by a sweet butter pastry and finished with a thin, crispy, caramelized sugar layer, this is one very delicious way to enjoy the season's best fruit.


Sweet Butter Pastry

• 1 1/4 cups flour
• pinch salt
• 2 tbsp sugar
• 1/2 cup cold butter, cut in small cubes
• 1 large egg yolk
• 1/2  tsp vanilla extract
• 1 ounce ice water

Mix together the  flour, salt and sugar. Using a pastry cutter, cut the butter into the dry ingredients until it resembles a coarse meal and pea sized pieces of butter still remain in the mixture. You can also use a food processor to pulse the butter into the flour mixture if you prefer.

Whisk together the water, vanilla and egg yolk. Pour over the dry ingredients and toss together gently with a wooden spoon only until a soft dough forms. Form the dough into a round, wrap in plastic wrap and let the dough rest in the fridge for at least 20 minutes before rolling it out to about a 10 inch round and place in a 9 inch ungreased tart pan. You will need to blind bake the pastry before adding the filling. Blind baking is essential so that the bottom of the pastry will not get soggy.

Strawberry Summer Fruit Creme Brulee Tart

To blind bake a crust simply place a piece of parchment paper or aluminum foil over the dough and fill the pan with baking weights. (Marbles, dry beans, peas, rice or barley work just as well as anything else.) Bake at 375 degrees F for about 15-20 minutes. Remove baking weights and parchment and bake for an additional 5 minutes. Remove from oven and reduce the temperature to 325 degrees F.

• approximately 3 nectarines , pitted and thickly sliced (or an equivalent amount of other summer fruit like strawberries)

Arrange the slices in the pastry crust, ensuring that they do not touch and that there is room to pour in the custard.

Custard

• 3 large egg yolks
• 2 tbsp sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup whipping cream

In a small saucepan, whip together the egg yolks, vanilla and sugar until light in color and slightly foamy. Scald the cream  to almost boiling and slowly whisk into the egg yolk mixture. Cook over medium low heat, stirring constantly until the mixture thickens enough to coat the wooden spoon and you can draw a line through the custard with your finger on the back of the spoon. Slowly pour the custard into the tart pan between the fruit and bake for approximately 35- 40 minutes. Cool completely to room temperature before refrigerating to completely chill the tart. You can serve the tart at this point or you can add a caramelized sugar crust on top.

Lightly sprinkle about

• 2 tbsp sugar

over the top of the tart. Using a butane kitchen torch, wave the flame constantly and lightly over the surface of the dessert until it begins to brown. A light touch is important. Alternatively, you can try to caramelize the sugar under the broiler. You will need to watch it very closely and spin the pan frequently to evenly distribute the heat over the surface of the tart. Chill before serving.

Summer Fruit Creme Brulee Tart