Lemon and lime custard tart
This is a delicious version of the classic French baker's "flan", with the twin flavours of lemon and lime.
It involves two different confectioner's custards poured one on top of the other. This gives an attractive layered effect when the tart is cut. Not just pretty, it is delicious.
It involves two different confectioner's custards poured one on top of the other. This gives an attractive layered effect when the tart is cut. Not just pretty, it is delicious.
70 K 3.4/5 (14 reviews)
3 hours 15 min.
Easy
3 tarts
8 IngredientsLast modified on: December 30th 2019
For 3 tarts, you will need:
- 1
1 litre 50 ml sweetcrust pastry (pâte sablée) - 2
1 litre 350 ml lemon confectioner's custard - 3
1 litre 350 ml lime confectioner's custard (pastry cream) - 4
2 lemon (optional) - 5
2 lime (optional) - 6
300 mls caster sugar (optional) - 7
60 mls water (optional) - 8
60 mls apricot glaze (optional)
Change measures:
Times for this recipe
Preparation: 1 hour 15 min.
Resting: 1 hour
Cooking: 1 hour
All in all: 3 hours 15 min.
If you start now, at , you will finish around : ?.Change start time
To finish around 7pm, you'll need to have started before: .Change end time
Step by step recipe
Stage 1 - 5 min.
Roll out 1 litre 50 ml sweetcrust pastry (pâte sablée) and line the tin or mould, following these tips.
Instead of a tin, here I am using a dessert ring 8 inches (20 cm) in diameter and 2 inches (5 cm) tall. This is in keeping with the French tradition of a "flan": small and fairly deep.
Instead of a tin, here I am using a dessert ring 8 inches (20 cm) in diameter and 2 inches (5 cm) tall. This is in keeping with the French tradition of a "flan": small and fairly deep.
Stage 2 - 1 hour
Prepare 1 litre 350 ml lemon confectioner's custard, then 1 litre 350 ml lime confectioner's custard (pastry cream).
Note: For convenience, these two custards can be prepared the day before.
Pour the lime custard into the pastry case and spread in as even a layer as possible, using the back of a tablespoon, for example.
Note: For convenience, these two custards can be prepared the day before.
Pour the lime custard into the pastry case and spread in as even a layer as possible, using the back of a tablespoon, for example.
Stage 3 - 3 min.
Pour the lemon confectioner's custard on top and smooth the surface.
Stage 4 - 50 min.
Preheat the oven to 360°F (180°C). Bake the tart for about 50 minutes.
Do keep an eye on how both the top of the custard and the pastry are browning, and vary the cooking time if necessary.
Do keep an eye on how both the top of the custard and the pastry are browning, and vary the cooking time if necessary.
Stage 5 - 30 min.
Leave to cool for 30 minutes, then remove the dessert ring and refrigerate the tart overnight.
Warning: the tart will still be very fragile at this stage, so you will need to manipulate it with great care to avoid it breaking.
Warning: the tart will still be very fragile at this stage, so you will need to manipulate it with great care to avoid it breaking.
Stage 6 - 10 min.
If you would like an attractive decoration for your tart, cut a few thin slices of lemon and lime. Give them a light candied finish by simmering in 300 mls caster sugar with 60 mls water on very low heat for about 10 minutes.
Stage 7 - 30 min.
Stage 8 - 5 min.
Stage 9
Serve cool, but not (too) cold.
Remarks
If you make the custards the day before (or even earlier), as suggested in stage 2, loosen them by adding 2 tablespoonsful of fresh cream and whisking in vigorously before pouring into the pastry case.
This tart is a fairly luxurious version, with its sweetcrust pastry case, but there's no reason you couldn't use a simpler pastry, such as plain shortcrust.
If you would rather have the green layer on top, simply pour the custards into the case the other way round.
For a smoother, richer version, replace half the milk in the confectioner's custard recipe with cream.
This tart is a fairly luxurious version, with its sweetcrust pastry case, but there's no reason you couldn't use a simpler pastry, such as plain shortcrust.
If you would rather have the green layer on top, simply pour the custards into the case the other way round.
For a smoother, richer version, replace half the milk in the confectioner's custard recipe with cream.
Keeping: Several days in the fridge, covered with plastic film.
Source: Home-made, but this recipe is affectionately dedicated to Seb, a (very) great fan of citrus flavours, who will no doubt recognise himself in it.
Nutritional information
| Proteins (gr) | Carbohydrates (gr) | Fats (gr) | Energy value (in k-calories) | Energy value (in k-joules) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whole recipe | 1,640 RDI=630 % | 7,710 RDI=730 % | 5,160 RDI=780 % | 73,800 RDI=3,690 % | 308,980 RDI: 3,690 % |
| Per 100 g | 40 RDI=20 % | 210 RDI=20 % | 140 RDI=20 % | 1,970 RDI=100 % | 8,240 RDI: 100 % |
| Per tart | 550 RDI=210 % | 2,570 RDI=240 % | 1,720 RDI=260 % | 24,600 RDI=1,230 % | 102,990 RDI: 1,230 % |
How much will it cost?
- For 3 tarts : 14.05 €
- Per tart : 4.70 €
Change currency: 
Note: Be careful, these prices are only an estimate, you can consult the table of prices by ingredients used for this estimate.
This recipe uses (among others)
Lemon Confectioner's Custard
You can get more informations, or check-out other recipes which use it, for example: Ramekins with almonds, apples and lemon, Lemon Meringue Pie Verrines, Strawberry feuilleté, Clafoutis "Marie-Antoinette", Mini lemon millefeuilles, ... See them all 5
Lime confectioner's custard (pastry cream)
You can get more informations, or check-out other recipes which use it, for example:
Sweetcrust pastry (pâte sablée)
You can get more informations, or check-out other recipes which use it, for example: Rhubarb tart, Key Lime Pie for Jeremy, Lemon and grated apple tart, Chocolate tart, Pistachio custard tart, ... See them all 43
Other recipes you may also like
Chestnut cake
This delightful cake is doubly chestnutty: it contains chestnut flour, and sweet chestnut purée.May 8th 2020341 K5 1 hour 15 min.
Crème brulée
Crème brûlée (burned cream) is quite easy to prepare: it's a simple egg-cream dessert. The only difficulty is in making the delicious crunchy caramel layer on top. The perfect crème brulée (for me) is a cold and soft cream, with on top a nice hot caramel crust. This is a completely new version...December 31th 20111.67 M 74.3 4 hours 40 min.
Candied grapefruit peel
Not really a dessert, more a kind of sweet. After soakiing, strips of grapefruit skin are cooked very slowly to conservethem in sugar. It's a real treat with coffee at the end of a meal.December 20th 2018380 K 14 1 day 1 hour 25 min.
Fresh mint ice-cream
This well-flavoured ice-cream is excellent on its own, or in profiteroles with a chocolate sauce for example.February 21th 2011535 K4.6 1 hour 35 min.
Chinois
"Chinese" - what a strange name for this cake! A kind of brioche, filled with confectioner's custard (crème pâtissière) which can be decorated with fondant icing.September 10th 2018269 K 24.7 5 hours 30 min.
News list of cooking-ez.com
Sign up to receive the latest recipes (next batch due to be sent on 2025-07-06)
Note: We'll never share your e-mail address with anyone else.
Post a comment or question
Follow this recipe
If you are interested in this recipe, you can "follow" it, by entering your email address here. You will then receive a notification immediately each time the recipe is modified or a new comment is added. Please note that you will need to confirm this following.
Note: We'll never share your e-mail address with anyone else.
Alternatively: you can subscribe to the mailing list of cooling-ez.com , you will receive a e-mail for each new recipe published on the site.