Water Tart Without Butter and Eggs: An easy, light dessert for Mother’s Day
I don’t know about you, but in my house there’s always a craving for something sweet! However, we know that indulging every day can have unwanted effects.
That’s why I always look for the right compromise in my recipes: lighter desserts that are still indulgent. I enjoy experimenting with healthier alternatives by removing fats, reducing sugars, or avoiding ingredients like eggs and butter.
A light yet tasty tart
This tart without butter and without eggs was created with that goal in mind: a simple, wholesome dessert suitable for the whole family.
Perfect also for special occasions like Mother’s Day, it’s a pantry-style dessert that wins you over with its simplicity and goodness.
Water shortcrust: quick, no resting time
The real strength of this recipe is the water shortcrust pastry, a base ready in a few minutes, no need to rest in the fridge, no rolling pin needed and easy to press directly into the pan with your hands.
An ideal solution for those short on time who still want a homemade dessert.
Filling: let your imagination run wild
For this version I used a homemade apple and blueberry jam, but you can customize the tart as you like. So feel free to use pastry cream, jams, spreads, peanut butter or whatever your imagination suggests. The light base will pair perfectly even with richer fillings!
A healthy treat for any moment
In short, this homemade light tart is perfect for a healthy, wholesome breakfast or snack, or as a simple dessert for special occasions! A sweet treat without excess, ideal for the whole family and perfect for lovingly celebrating Mother’s Day.
If you love tarts in general, and alternative shortcrusts compared to the traditional butter one, here are more ideas below for inspiration:
- Difficulty: Very easy
- Cost: Budget-friendly
- Preparation time: 10 Minutes
- Portions: pan Ø 9 in
- Cooking methods: Electric oven
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: Autumn, Winter and Spring
Ingredients
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- 145 g all-purpose flour (about 1 1/6 cups (5.1 oz))
- 70 g erythritol (about 1/3 cup (2.5 oz) — or 50 g (about 1/4 cup) brown sugar)
- 50 g water (warm — about 1.7 fl oz (3 tbsp))
- 30 ml vegetable oil (about 2 tbsp)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/3 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 pinch salt
- 250 g blueberry and apple jam (or another jam of your choice — about 1 cup (8.8 oz))
- 35 g almonds (sliced — about 1/3 cup (1.25 oz))
- 2 tablespoons almond flour (optional)
- as needed powdered sugar
Tools
- 1 Mixing bowl
- 1 Ladle
- 1 Tart pan
Steps
In a mixing bowl, combine the dry ingredients: erythritol with the flour and the sifted baking powder, and add a pinch of salt (fig. 1).
Add the vegetable oil and the warm water (fig. 2).
Finally add the vanilla extract and whisk quickly by hand (fig. 3).
In a few minutes you’ll have a smooth, homogeneous dough ball (fig. 4).
After well oiling and flouring a pan, press the dough little by little with your hands until it goes 2 cm (about 3/4 in) over the edge (fig. 5).
Spread your favorite jam — I used the apple and blueberry jam I made at home (fig. 6).
Smooth with a spatula and sprinkle the surface with a handful of almond flour (fig. 7).
Garnish with sliced almonds and bake in a preheated oven at 356°F for 20 minutes covered with a sheet of parchment paper, then another 20 minutes uncovered. Turn the oven off and let cool completely before removing from the pan.
Once cooled you can serve it dusted with powdered sugar to taste.
And voilà… the water tart is ready to enjoy!
Enjoy from La Cucina di FeFè!
Storage
👉 The water tart with apple and blueberry jam keeps under a glass cake dome or in pantry containers for up to 3–4 days.
FAQ (Questions & Answers)
1. Can I replace all-purpose flour with rice flour?
Yes, you can use the same weight of rice flour as the all-purpose flour indicated in the recipe. However, be aware that rice flour absorbs liquids differently. You may need to adjust the amount of liquid.
2. How can I replace baking powder?
If you cannot have baking powder or don’t have it on hand, try using about 1/4 teaspoon baking soda with a few drops of lemon juice. Alternatively, mix about 1/4 teaspoon baking soda with 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar — this is the closest substitute to baking powder.
