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.
68 K 3.4/5 (14 reviews)
3 hours 15 min.
Easy
1 tart
8 IngredientsLast modified on: December 30th 2019
For 1 tart, you will need:
- 1
350 g sweetcrust pastry (pâte sablée) - 2
450 g lemon confectioner's custard - 3
450 g lime confectioner's custard (pastry cream) - 4
½ lemon (optional) - 5
½ lime (optional) - 6
100 g caster sugar (optional) - 7
20 g water (optional) - 8
20 g apricot glaze (optional) - Total weight: 1,250 grams
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 350 g 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 450 g lemon confectioner's custard, then 450 g 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 100 g caster sugar with 20 g 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 | 550 RDI=210 % | 2,570 RDI=240 % | 1,720 RDI=260 % | 24,600 RDI=1,230 % | 102,990 RDI: 1,230 % |
| Per 100 g | 40 RDI=20 % | 210 RDI=20 % | 140 RDI=20 % | 1,970 RDI=100 % | 8,240 RDI: 100 % |
How much will it cost?
- For 1 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)
Lime confectioner's custard (pastry cream)
You can get more informations, or check-out other recipes which use it, for example:
Lemon Confectioner's Custard
You can get more informations, or check-out other recipes which use it, for example: Clafoutis "Marie-Antoinette", Mini lemon millefeuilles, Lemon Meringue Pie Verrines, Ramekins with almonds, apples and lemon, Strawberry feuilleté, ... See them all 5
Sweetcrust pastry (pâte sablée)
You can get more informations, or check-out other recipes which use it, for example: Blackberry and almond fondant tart, Apple custard tart, Plum tart "En passant par la Lorraine", Lemon tart, Tarte Jurassienne, ... See them all 43
Other recipes you may also like
Fruit crumble
A fruit pudding: very easy to do and delicious: just a layer of fruit with a golden crunchy topping.February 21th 2011358 K4.0 1 hour 15 min.
Flambéd bananas
The trick of this recipe is to end up with bananas caramelised on the outside, still firm on the inside, coated with a tasty syrup which is not 95% butter.February 21th 2011328 K 14 40 min.
Passion fruit jellies
Usually to make fruit jellies or (fruit "paste"), it's like jam but you need to cook fruit pulp and sugar much longer. Unfortunately, this long cooking is bad for both vitamins and flavour. In this recipe we use a special jam gelling agent, to reduce cooking time as much as possible .July 4th 2018334 K4 2 hours 30 min.
European glass
A little dessert that's rather long to make, but which will always impress your guests. Layered in a glass: a jellied red fruit coulis, a layer of pineapple charlotte cream, a layer of kiwi coulis, topped with a peeled clementine segment. It's "european" because it resembles the italian flag, and in...August 15th 2010233 K5 2 hours 30 min.
Finger biscuits
These small biscuits, that look a bit like savoy biscuits, are delicious alone or with Champagne, but are also the base for charlottes or Tiramisu.July 30th 2021343 K5 50 min.
News list of cooking-ez.com
Sign up to receive the latest recipes (next batch due to be sent on 2025-05-18)
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.