This site uses only a few technical cookies necessary for its operation. By continuing to browse, you accept their use.
To find out more...
To find out more...
Lemon tart
Lemon tart (tarte au citron) is one of France's great classic desserts, though there are many different versions. This is more or less the classic version, with sweetcrust pastry and a creamy filling that uses both lemon zest and juice for a deliciously tart tart!
52 K 3.7/5 (6 reviews)
1 hour 35 min.
Easy
3 tarts
9 IngredientsLast modified on: September 18th 2019
For 3 tarts, you will need:
- 1
4 cups sweetcrust pastry (pâte sablée) - 2
2 ¼ cups butter - 3
1 ½ cup caster sugar - 4
2 tablespoons vanilla sugar - 5
6 lemons - 6
2 cups egg ( How to... ) - 7 12 slices lemon (optional)
- 8 1 1⁄3 cup caster sugar (optional)
- 9
1 1⁄3 cup water (optional)
Change measures:
Times for this recipe
Preparation: 1 hour 30 min.
Cooking: 6 min.
All in all: 1 hour 35 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.
In a mixing bowl, cut 2 ¼ cups butter into small pieces and leave at room temperature to soften.
Stage 2 - 5 min.
Pour 1 ½ cup caster sugar and 2 tablespoons vanilla sugar into a medium-sized saucepan, then zest 6 lemons over.
Mix in with a whisk, cover and leave the sugar to absorb all the flavour of the lemon zest (this can be prepared the day before and left overnight in the fridge, which is even better).
Mix in with a whisk, cover and leave the sugar to absorb all the flavour of the lemon zest (this can be prepared the day before and left overnight in the fridge, which is even better).
Stage 3 - 1 hour
Blind bake the tart case made with 4 cups sweetcrust pastry (pâte sablée).
Stage 4 - 3 min.
Take the pan containing the sugar and lemon zest. Add 2 cups egg, the juice of both lemons and mix with a whisk.
Stage 5
Put the pan on low heat and stir constantly...
Stage 6 - 6 min.
...until the mixture thickens.
Stage 7 - 2 min.
Pour the hot filling mixture through a fine sieve into the bowl with the butter...
Stage 8 - 5 min.
...and push through the sieve with a soft spatula, leaving only the lemon zest, which can be discarded.
Stage 9 - 2 min.
Mix the butter thoroughly into the lemon mixture.
Stage 10 - 2 min.
Finish with a quick blitz from a blender to give a smooth, creamy lemon filling.
Stage 11 - 3 min.
Pour the filling into the tart case while it is still hot. Smooth the top if necessary and refrigerate until serving.
Stage 12
If you would like to add a touch of decoration, cut 3 or 4 slices of lemon (a mandolin is the ideal tool for this).
Stage 13
Candy the lemon slices by simmering in 1 1⁄3 cup caster sugar with 1 1⁄3 cup water for 15 minutes.
Stage 14
Arrange the lemon slices around the top of the tart.
Remarks
Using the same basic idea, you can make this tart with other citrus fruit: lime, grapefruit, orange, etc.
Keeping: 1or 2 days in the fridge, covered with plastic film.
Source: Home made.
Nutritional information
| Proteins (gr) | Carbohydrates (gr) | Fats (gr) | Energy value (in k-calories) | Energy value (in k-joules) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whole recipe | 870 RDI=330 % | 5,420 RDI=510 % | 3,900 RDI=590 % | 59,790 RDI=2,990 % | 250,350 RDI: 2,990 % |
| Per 100 g | 30 RDI=10 % | 180 RDI=20 % | 130 RDI=20 % | 1,990 RDI=100 % | 8,350 RDI: 100 % |
| Per tart | 290 RDI=110 % | 1,810 RDI=170 % | 1,300 RDI=200 % | 19,930 RDI=1,000 % | 83,450 RDI: 1,000 % |
How much will it cost?
- For 3 tarts : 12.35 €
- Per tart : 4.15 €
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)
Sweetcrust pastry (pâte sablée)
You can get more informations, or check-out other recipes which use it, for example: Citrus tart, Cherry and pistachio tarts, How to make tart cases, Lemon and lime custard tart, Croute à thé, ... See them all 43
Butter
Like these other recipes: Seafood feuillantines, Mushroom duxelles, Kouign-amann, The strange gratin, Chocolate sweetcrust pastry, ... See them all 476
Egg
Like these other recipes: Eggs Florentine, Little lemon biscuits, Nanou's apple and almond cake, Galette Charentaise, Baked eggs with chicken and spinach, ... See them all 238
Caster sugar
Like these other recipes: Milk rolls, Pistachio panna cotta with custard, Coconut pyramids, Poaching syrup, Flambéd bananas , ... See them all 360
Other recipes you may also like
Almond cream
Light and delicious, it is used in a lot of desserts like tarts, cakes and pies (epiphany galette). August 31th 2025473 K 25 20 min.
Preserved tomatoes
Softer than dried tomatoes, they can be used as a kind of chutney in pasta dishes for instance, or simply served to accompany an aperitif. February 21th 2011352 K4.8 5 hours 6 min.
New tiramisu
This new version of tiramisu is easier, and in my opinion much better. You will certainly appreciate, like me, the light creamy taste, this time presented in brandy goblets. January 19th 2015402 K3.3 55 min.
Puff or flaky pastry (pâte feuilletée)
Puff pastry is an incredible assembly of thin layers of butter enclosed in thin layers of dough. After cooking this give a succession of thin crisp pastry leaves that produce exceptional desserts or pies. It's a jewel of French patisserie. Making your own puff pastry is not very difficult, it's just a little work with a good recipe (like this one!). This recipe is for quick puff pastry ("feuilletage rapide") perfect for beginners. January 19th 2011464 K 63.3 2 hours 45 min.
Cranachan
Cranachan is a traditional Scottish dessert made with whipped cream, raspberries, rolled oats and whisky. In this recipe, the oats are made into a nougatine before being incorporated into the cream. October 13th 2013111 K 14.1 45 min.
News list of cooking-ez.com
Sign up to receive the latest recipes (next batch due to be sent on 2025-09-14)
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.