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Homemade Fresh Berry Tart Recipe

Updated on April 22, 2013
Fresh Blackberry and Blueberry Tart (Black and Blue Berry Tart)
Fresh Blackberry and Blueberry Tart (Black and Blue Berry Tart) | Source

Fresh Berry Tart

5 stars from 4 ratings of Black and Blue Berry Tart

My Blackberry Bushes

Big blackberry bushes have big blackberry thorns!
Big blackberry bushes have big blackberry thorns! | Source

Homemade Berry Tart Recipe

Complete Tart Recipe From Dough To Filling

Growing in my backyard are these wild and unmanageable blackberry bushes. Thick with thorns, spiderwebs, and the most amazingly plump and flavorful berries. Before the thicket was able to completely take over, I decided to pick as many of these fresh black-beauties and add them to a mascarpone cheese-filled tart. It was far easier than I imagined and the outcome, when combined with sweet blueberries and the sweet creamy filling, ended up being a Blackberry and blueberry tart my family could not stop eating!

What Is A Pie

A pie and a tart have some differences; pies have sloped sides with either a top or bottom crust, or with both top and bottom crust.
A pie and a tart have some differences; pies have sloped sides with either a top or bottom crust, or with both top and bottom crust. | Source

Pie vs. Tart: What's The Difference

What Makes A Pie A Pie

A pie can be a savory or sweet preparation that offers both, a filling and a crust. The side of a pie pan has angled sides which are wider at the top, creating a sloped outer edge. This delight can have a bottom crust only, or a top crust only, as well as having both a top and bottom crust. Pie crust is usually made using flour, salt, cold water, and some form of fat (like butter, lard, shortening, or some combination of these).

What Is A Tart

A tart has shallow sides, bottom crust only, and a removable bottom.
A tart has shallow sides, bottom crust only, and a removable bottom. | Source

What Makes A Tart A Tart

A tart can be a savory or sweet preparation that has low (shallow) sides and ONLY a bottom crust. Tart crusts are generally made from pastry dough; flour, unsalted butter, sometimes sugar, and cold water. The idea with this crust is to create a crumbly sturdy or firm vessel. Tart pans are specially designed with a removable bottom—sometimes tarts are created using a pastry ring mold on a baking sheet—so it can be unmolded and served sliced before heading to the dinner or dessert table.

Cook Time (Not including 1-1/2 hours chill time for pastry dough)

Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 35 min
Ready in: 1 hour
Yields: Serves 8 people easily.
Berries and the acid from lemons make a very good combination!
Berries and the acid from lemons make a very good combination! | Source

NOTE: Making A Tart Dessert

Don't let the instructions scare you off, it looks like a lot of steps, but it really isn't. The pastry dough (which is actually very easy to make because the food processor does all of the work for you) takes about 5 minutes to complete and shape into a disc. The rest of the recipe is a real breeze. So, let's get started making your beautiful Black And Blue Berry Tart!

Ingredients for Tart Crust, Filling, Glaze, and Topping

  • (crust) 1 cup All Purpose Flour
  • (crust) 1/4 cup Ground Almonds, A spice grinder works great for this!
  • (crust) 1-1/2 teaspoons Granulated White Sugar
  • (crust) 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • (crust) 1 stick (1/2 cup) Unsalted Butter, VERY COLD & cut in 1/2" cubes
  • (crust) 1/4 teaspoon Almond Extract, Added to the cold water
  • (crust) 4 to 6 tablespoons Ice Cold Water, Add almond extract to 4 TBL of the water and mix.
  • (filling) 1 cup Mascarpone Cheese
  • (filling) 1/3 cup Heavy Cream, Very cold
  • (filling) 1/4 cup Granulated White Sugar
  • (filling) 1/2 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
  • (glaze) 1 cup Granulated White Sugar
  • (glaze) 1 cup Water
  • (glaze) 2 lemons Juice and zest
  • (topping) 2 cups Blackberries, Rinsed, dried and chilled
  • (topping) 2 cups Blueberries, Rinsed, dried and chilled

Technique For Making Tart Crust (for our recipe, follow the measurments in the ingredients section of the article, not those in the video)

Step By Step Berry Tart Instructions

Click thumbnail to view full-size
Pastry dough is a lot more simple to make than it sounds! Add ice cold almond water 1 TBL at a time, pulsing each time. Th second the dough binds together, pour it out onto a lightly floured surface.Pull dough together into a disc, wrap in plastic wrap, and chill for at least 1 hour in the refrigerator. In the mean time, you will be making a simple lemon glaze (syrup) which brings a boost of flavor and visual appeal to your finished fresh berry tart.Start the filling by combining mascarpone cheese, sugar, vanilla, and heavy cream.Beat the ingredients until they reach the stiff-peak stage. Only about 90 seconds. If you over beat the filling it will break and take on a very unpleasant texture. Roll out the chilled dough to a 12' diameter (about 1/8" thick). Put in pan, press into sides, cut extra from top, and chill in freezer for 30 minutes.Poke hole in bottom of crust with a fork, add weights, bake 20 min. remove weights bake 10 more minutes. Remove to cool at room temperature.Fill tart crust, arrange berries on top in a beautiful pattern.Brush on the chilled lemon glaze.
Pastry dough is a lot more simple to make than it sounds!
Pastry dough is a lot more simple to make than it sounds! | Source
Add ice cold almond water 1 TBL at a time, pulsing each time. Th second the dough binds together, pour it out onto a lightly floured surface.
Add ice cold almond water 1 TBL at a time, pulsing each time. Th second the dough binds together, pour it out onto a lightly floured surface. | Source
Pull dough together into a disc, wrap in plastic wrap, and chill for at least 1 hour in the refrigerator.
Pull dough together into a disc, wrap in plastic wrap, and chill for at least 1 hour in the refrigerator. | Source
In the mean time, you will be making a simple lemon glaze (syrup) which brings a boost of flavor and visual appeal to your finished fresh berry tart.
In the mean time, you will be making a simple lemon glaze (syrup) which brings a boost of flavor and visual appeal to your finished fresh berry tart. | Source
Start the filling by combining mascarpone cheese, sugar, vanilla, and heavy cream.
Start the filling by combining mascarpone cheese, sugar, vanilla, and heavy cream. | Source
Beat the ingredients until they reach the stiff-peak stage. Only about 90 seconds. If you over beat the filling it will break and take on a very unpleasant texture.
Beat the ingredients until they reach the stiff-peak stage. Only about 90 seconds. If you over beat the filling it will break and take on a very unpleasant texture. | Source
Roll out the chilled dough to a 12' diameter (about 1/8" thick). Put in pan, press into sides, cut extra from top, and chill in freezer for 30 minutes.
Roll out the chilled dough to a 12' diameter (about 1/8" thick). Put in pan, press into sides, cut extra from top, and chill in freezer for 30 minutes. | Source
Poke hole in bottom of crust with a fork, add weights, bake 20 min. remove weights bake 10 more minutes. Remove to cool at room temperature.
Poke hole in bottom of crust with a fork, add weights, bake 20 min. remove weights bake 10 more minutes. Remove to cool at room temperature. | Source
Fill tart crust, arrange berries on top in a beautiful pattern.
Fill tart crust, arrange berries on top in a beautiful pattern. | Source
Brush on the chilled lemon glaze.
Brush on the chilled lemon glaze. | Source

Finished Berry Tart Pattern

Finished berry tart.
Finished berry tart. | Source

A Fresh Berry Tart Goes Pretty Fast!

A fresh berry tart won't last long once it has been sliced!
A fresh berry tart won't last long once it has been sliced! | Source

Instructions For Making A Berry Tart

  1. PASTRY CRUST PART 1: A). Combine flour, ground almonds, and sugar in a food processor. Pulse to mix. B). Add the very cold 1/2" butter cubes and pulse 7 or 8 times until it looks like course sand. C). Add the almond extract to 4 tablespoons of the ice cold water. Add this water to the flour and butter mix one tablespoon at a time, pulsing 1 time between each spoonful. Add more water a tablespoon at a time if needed. D). When the dough begins to just slightly bind together, remove from bowl and ball it up. E). On a lightly floured surface shape the dough into a 5" or 5-1/2" disc. F). Wrap the disc tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least one hour.
  2. PASTRY CRUST PART 2: G). Remove disc from refrigerator and allow to sit at room temp for 5 minutes. H). Sprinkle a little flour on a cold surface and on the top of the disc. Using a rolling-pin roll out the disc to a 12" circle (about 1/8" thick). I). Carefully place dough into a 9" fluted tart pan. Gently press the dough into the sides of the pan. Let the dough come up the sides so it is slightly above the rim, then, trim flush to pan rim. J). Place tart crust in the freezer for 30 minutes. K). Preheat oven to 350°F. L). Remove the tart from freezer and poke the bottom with a fork several times. M). Line the crust with foil and fill with beans or pastry weights. N). Place tart pan on the middle rack and bake 20 minutes. O). Remove the weights from the tart by grabbing the sides of the foil, and then return tart to the oven and bake another 10 to 15 minutes until lightly golden brown at the edges. P). Remove from oven, and allow to cool completely at room temperature.
  3. LEMON GLAZE: While your tart crust is cooling, in a small saucepan over medium-high heat, bring 1 cup of sugar and 1 cup of water to a boil. Reduce heat to a moderate boil for about 5 minutes stirring very frequently. Take off heat, add juice and zest of 2 lemons and stir to combine. Bring back to a boil for 30 seconds, remove from heat and chill in refrigerator until you are ready to glaze the tart.
  4. TART FILLING: On high, beat together (using either a hand mixer or a stand mixer) mascarpone cheese, heavy cream, sugar, and vanilla extract until stiff peaks are achieved-- about 90 seconds, no longer or the filing can break and look more like cottage cheese than a creamy tart filling. Scoop mixture into cooled crust and spread it evenly so the top is very smooth and level.
  5. TART BERRIES: Place one row of blackberries closest to the outer edge of the tart and all of the way around the perimeter. Inside this row, place a row of blueberries so they are butted up close to the first row all of the way around. Continue this process until the top of the tart is completely covered in a beautiful pattern. Using the lemon syrup (GLAZE) brush the berries coating them until they are shiny and glistening.
  6. TART SERVICE: Remove the sides (outer rim) of tart pan, you may have to carefully nudge the crust away from the pan sides with a butter knife. Slice 8 pieces using a sharp knife or pie spatula and serve.

Mascarpone Cheese (plain)

Nutrition Facts
Serving size: 1 ounce
Calories 120
Calories from Fat117
% Daily Value *
Fat 13 g20%
Saturated fat 7 g35%
Carbohydrates 35 g12%
Sugar 0 g
Fiber 0 g
Protein 2 g4%
Cholesterol 35 mg12%
* The Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet, so your values may change depending on your calorie needs. The values here may not be 100% accurate because the recipes have not been professionally evaluated nor have they been evaluated by the U.S. FDA.

Where Do The Most Blueberries Grow

A
Maryland, USA:
Maryland, USA

get directions

Maryland provides large cultivation of blueberries.

B
Western Oregon:
Western, Eugene, OR, USA

get directions

Western Oregon provides large cultivation of blueberries, as well.

C
Michigan, USA:
Michigan, USA

get directions

Michigan provides large cultivation of blueberries, as well.

D
New Jersey, USA:
New Jersey, USA

get directions

New Jersey provides large cultivation of blueberries, as well.

E
North Carolina, USA:
North Carolina, USA

get directions

North Carolina provides large cultivation of blueberries, as well.

F
Washington (State) USA:
Washington, USA

get directions

Washington provides large cultivation of blueberries, as well.

G
California, USA:
California, USA

get directions

Blueberry growth is rapidly increasing in California. This is due to the introduction of new varieties originating on the east coast of North America.

What You Think Really Does Matter!

Has making a tart dessert been something you have avoided because it sounds too difficult?

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Rasberry Upside Down Cake; A Recipe For You And Your Kids!

Nothing like a fun afternoon spent with your kids in the kitchen! Fun, learning, bonding, and cake! Try making this easy Raspberry Upside Down Cake Recipe that you and the kids will enjoy from start to yummy finish!

Making A Tart Of Any Kind

If berries are not your thing, you can always try different toppings. Most fruit works well with the vanilla mascarpone filling, and chocolate always brings a welcome taste experience. And don't forget about those fresh strawberries and kiwi, which make phenomenal tarts! Use your imagination and favorite combinations to discover first hand that making tarts is no more difficult—and possibly a whole lot easier—than making the same old pie. Enjoy!

Beautiful Black and Blue Berry Tart

A "Blackberry and Blueberry Tart" is as beautiful as it is tasty!
A "Blackberry and Blueberry Tart" is as beautiful as it is tasty! | Source
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