Description
Cranberry Curd Tart is a festive dessert featuring a buttery tart crust filled with vibrant, tangy-sweet cranberry curd—perfectly smooth, richly flavored, and ideal for holiday gatherings.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed (for crust)
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar (for crust)
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar (for curd)
- 3 large eggs (or 5 egg yolks)
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter (for curd), cut into cubes
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch mixed with 1 tablespoon water (optional, for thickening)
Instructions
- In a food processor or mixing bowl, combine flour, cold butter, sugar, and salt. Pulse or cut in until coarse crumbs form.
- Press mixture into a 9-inch tart pan with removable bottom. Chill for 30 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 375 °F (190 °C). Line crust with parchment and fill with pie weights. Blind-bake for 15 minutes.
- Remove weights and parchment; bake another 5–7 minutes until lightly golden. Cool completely.
- In a saucepan over medium heat, combine cranberries and sugar. Cook until berries burst and juices are released, about 10 minutes.
- Strain cranberry mixture through a fine-mesh sieve, pressing to extract smooth liquid. Discard solids.
- Return cranberry puree to the saucepan. Whisk in eggs or yolks until fully incorporated.
- Cook over low heat, whisking constantly, until thickened and able to coat the back of a spoon, about 5–8 minutes.
- If needed, whisk in cornstarch slurry and cook 1–2 more minutes.
- Remove from heat and stir in butter and optional vanilla extract until smooth and glossy.
- Pour warm curd into cooled crust and smooth the top.
- Chill tart for at least 2–3 hours until fully set. Garnish as desired before serving.
Notes
- Use fresh or frozen cranberries; thaw and drain if using frozen.
- Strain the cranberry mixture to ensure a silky curd texture.
- Use egg yolks for a richer filling; whole eggs offer a lighter curd.
- Decorate with whipped cream, sugared cranberries, or mint for festive flair.
- Chill thoroughly before slicing for clean, firm portions.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 290
- Sugar: 22g
- Sodium: 120mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 105mg