So, Imma be real honest with you for a moment here. I am a tiny woman with little-to-no upper body strength. I wish it weren't true, but it is. And I have the tiniest little stick arms to boot. I don't often wear wrist jewelry or watches because they're just too big for me and slip right over my equally tiny hands.
Such is the plight of stick arm folk.
Now, I'm not trying to paint a oh-woe-is-me sort of picture here. I came to terms with my stick-armedness and lack of wrist accessories years ago. What I am trying to say, is that I get overly excited about things that make me feel strong.
And not like normal people experiences of feeling strong, but like "I opened this jar all by myself!" or "I pulled something too hard and it ripped because I'm obviously TOO STRONG FOR MY OWN GOOD!" You know, little victories.
So you can only imagine my simultaneous dismay and inner Strong Woman fueled joy when I pulled the front off the oven door while baking the shell for this tart. I AM TOO STRONG FOR MY OWN GOOD! And no, we're not going to talk about how the front was already loose and missing a screw...
SO MUCH STICK ARM STRENGTH.
Followed by a mild string of swear words as I remembered my tart shell was already in the oven and getting crisper by the minute. Obviously not the best time to go all Rambo on the oven door...
And speaking of ovens and oven use, it's hot here. Like oh-so-hot. And with only hotter days on the way according to the forecast. Which is why we're going all minimal-baking with this red, white, and blue beauty right here. Just 10 minutes of baking. 10 MINUTES. And if the short baking time hasn't sold you on this summery treat, maybe the cold vanilla custard and fresh fruit will.
THIS on a hot summer day = Best. Thing. EVER. After ice cream... but it's a close second for sure! And just in time for adding to your 4th of July BBQ line up.
Recipe
A Red, White, and Blue Tart
This strawberry, blueberry, and vanilla custard filled red, white, and blue tart makes the perfect dessert for a summer BBQ or 4th of July get-together!
- Prep Time: 3 hours
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 3 hours 12 minutes
- Yield: 12
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
For the tart shell:
- Store bought pie dough with 2 rolls of dough OR 2x this pie dough recipe
For the vanilla custard filling:
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- 2 tbsp. corn starch
- 1 ½ cups milk
- 2 egg yolks
- 1 tbsp. butter
- ½ tbsp. vanilla extract
Fruit:
- ½-¾ lb. fresh strawberries, sliced
- 1 cup fresh blueberries
Instructions
- Roll out or unwrap your pie dough, and gently press it into your tart pan. Trim away any excess around the top. Prick the bottom of the dough, and fill with pie weights (if you don't have pie weights you can bake it without, just be prepared to press down any air pockets). Bake at 450F/230C for 10-12 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown (if using pie weights, remove the weights for the last 5 minutes of baking).
- While the tart crust bakes, roll out or unwrap your second crust. Using star cookie cutters in various sizes, punch out star shaped pieces of crust. When the tart crust comes out, bake the stars at the same temperature for 6-7 minutes, or until golden brown. Immediately dust the stars with powdered sugar once you take them out.
- To make the vanilla filling, combine the milk and granulated sugar in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. In a small bowl, whisk together the corn starch and egg yolks. Once the milk mixture is hot (but not boiling) pour half of it into the egg mixture, whisking constantly. Pour the egg mixture back into the saucepan, whisking the entire time, and bring to a boil. Boil for a few minutes until the mixture is thick. Remove the pan from the heat and whisk in the vanilla extract and butter.
- Allow the mixture to cool to about room temperature before pouring it into the tart crust. Wrap the crust and filling with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator until the filling has set.
- Layer the tart with slices of strawberries, whole blueberries, and the powdered sugar dusted stars.
Notes
Vanilla tart filling adapted from Betty Crocker's Cookbook (1978) pg. 302
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 95
- Sugar: 9.6g
- Sodium: 46mg
- Fat: 3.5g
- Saturated Fat: 1.7g
- Carbohydrates: 14.8g
- Fiber: .9g
- Protein: 1.9g
- Cholesterol: 41mg
Emily Cope-Kyle says
What a gorgeous dessert!! I love the video too! Yumming and pinning for later 🙂
The Simple, Sweet Life says
Thank you Emily! I'm so glad you liked it! 😀
grace says
this is as beautiful and patriotic as it is appetizing and satisfying! what a spectacular dessert--bravo!
The Simple, Sweet Life says
What a sweet comment! Thank you Grace! 😀
Sue Gregory says
Beautifully photographed and oh sooo delicious!! I love it 🙂
The Simple, Sweet Life says
Thank you! So glad you were able to finally get a slice or two (or three...)! 😀
Lucy says
I can't believe how simple this recipe is! The tart looks like it came from a fancy pastry shop. It will be so perfect for the 4th!
The Simple, Sweet Life says
Awww thank you Lucy! It really is super simple, which, in my opinion, is totally the best kind of dessert. 😉
Elsa | the whinery says
Hope you got that oven door fixed, 'cos we need you to keep making beautiful desserts like this! 🙂 Well, not when it's too hot, because that's just not fun. The tart looks wonderful, and so easy to make, I'll have to try it someday.
The Simple, Sweet Life says
Haha, well, we were able to screw the door back on for the moment. New oven on the way so fingers crossed my inner She Hulk doesn't make another appearance before then. 😉 So glad you liked the tart! 😀
Antonina says
My Dear Claire..... not only you are a fantastic baker but you are also funny. Yes you are tiny but what a fierce baker. I am so privileged to be on a receiving end of gorgeous and YUMMY creations. I am so lucky. Here is to YOU BEAUTIFUL CLAIRE. THANK YOU.
The Simple, Sweet Life says
Awwww you just made my day Antonina! Thank you for such a sweet and heartfelt comment! 😀 I'm so glad you enjoy the treats I bring by!
Linda @ 2 Cookin' Mamas says
That is one beautiful dessert! Love the video. I'm still working on perfecting that art myself. Hope your oven will survive - lol! Definitely making this soon as it's super hot here too.
The Simple, Sweet Life says
Doesn't sound like anyone's getting a break from this heat! Even my in-laws in Norway are experiencing 90F temperatures (and that's in NORWAY for cryin' out loud). The oven is momentarily pieced back together, so assuming my inner body builder doesn't make another appearance, we should be good until a new oven arrives. 😉 So glad you liked the tart! 😀