The Christmas tart is a dessert that cannot be missing from the holiday table. In addition to the classic panettone or pandoro, a homemade dessert always brings warmth and a festive aroma.
This recipe is simple yet highly scenic, perfect to prepare in advance.
The shortcrust pastry I use is a spiced base and fragrant, ideal for Christmas, while the filling is made with red currant jam, which gives that beautiful red touch typical of the holidays.
For decoration, I chose Christmas cookie cutters that make the tart elegant yet delicious and genuine.
If you love homemade Christmas desserts, also try the gingerbread cookies and the homemade layered pandoro: two recipes that bring all the Christmas aroma to the table.
Merry Christmas, friends,
see you soon, Susy ❤️
I also leave you with:
- Difficulty: Very Easy
- Cost: Economical
- Preparation time: 15 Minutes
- Portions: 6
- Cooking methods: Oven, Electric oven
- Cuisine: Italian
- Energy 518.87 (Kcal)
- Carbohydrates 92.70 (g) of which sugars 50.13 (g)
- Proteins 6.88 (g)
- Fat 14.68 (g) of which saturated 9.15 (g)of which unsaturated 5.20 (g)
- Fibers 1.78 (g)
- Sodium 142.07 (mg)
Indicative values for a portion of 160 g processed in an automated way starting from the nutritional information available on the CREA* and FoodData Central** databases. It is not food and / or nutritional advice.
* CREATES Food and Nutrition Research Center: https://www.crea.gov.it/alimenti-e-nutrizione https://www.alimentinutrizione.it ** U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov
Ingredients for the Christmas Tart
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup whole cane sugar
- 7 tbsp butter
- 1 egg
- 2 tbsp acacia honey
- 1/4 tsp ginger powder
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
- 1 tsp cinnamon powder
- 1/8 tsp salt
- 1/8 tsp baking soda
- to taste red currant jam
- Pan
- Cookie Cutter
Preparing the Christmas Tart
1. In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, salt, spices, baking soda, and cold butter cut into pieces. Work with hands until a crumbly mixture is obtained.
2. Add the honey and egg, continue kneading with hands until a compact and homogeneous dough is obtained.
3. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and let it rest in the refrigerator for about 2 hours.
The resting time is essential to make the dough elastic and to blend all the spicy aromas that make it fragrant and irresistible.
4. After the time has elapsed, roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface, place it in the mold, and trim the excess from the edges.
5. Fill with the red currant jam and decorate the surface with Christmas cookie cutters.
6. Bake in a preheated static oven at 350°F for about 40 minutes, until the tart is golden and crisp.
7. Remove from oven, let it cool completely, and serve.
Simple, scenic, and fragrant with spices: the homemade Christmas tart is the perfect dessert to bring a touch of magic to the holiday table
Storage and Useful Tips
The Christmas tart keeps perfectly for 4-5 days at room temperature, covered with a cake dome or inside an airtight container. I recommend keeping it in a cool, dry place, away from heat sources.
If you want to prepare it in advance, you can make the spiced shortcrust pastry 1 or 2 days ahead and store it in the refrigerator, well wrapped in plastic. Alternatively, it can be frozen for up to 1 month: when needed, let it thaw slowly in the fridge before rolling it out.
For an even more Christmas effect, you can decorate the surface with powdered sugar or small shortcrust stars. If you prefer a more intense flavor, try replacing the red currant jam with forest fruit or sour cherry jam.
For a gluten-free version, use a gluten-free flour mix for tarts, keeping the aromas and resting times unchanged.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a different jam?
Yes, you can replace the red currant jam with berry, sour cherry, or cherry jam. The important thing is that it has a nice deep red color, perfect for evoking the Christmas atmosphere.
