If you want to create a spectacular and delicious dessert, perfect for special occasions like Valentine’s Day, the Cream Tart with Soft Shortcrust Pastry is the perfect idea! It consists of two layers of crumbly biscuit dough filled with a luscious Camy Cream, decorated as you like with fruit, flowers, chocolates, or candies. The soft pastry makes it easy to enjoy without breaking the cake during cutting.
This recipe is truly perfect! Found on the blog Sprinkless Dress and tried for you, for me and my sweetheart.
- Difficulty: Easy
- Cost: Medium
- Rest time: 2 Hours
- Preparation time: 30 Minutes
- Cooking methods: Electric oven
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: All seasons, Valentine's Day
Ingredients
- 2 cups All-purpose flour
- 9 tbsp Butter (soft)
- 3 cups Powdered sugar
- 1 Egg (medium whole)
- 1 Egg yolk (medium)
- 1 tsp Baking powder
- 1 pinch Salt
- 1 Lemon zest
- 18 oz Mascarpone (cold)
- 1 cup Heavy cream (cold)
- 6 oz Condensed milk (cold)
- Fresh fruit as desired
- Fresh flowers
- Sugar flowers
- Chocolates
Preparation
In a bowl, mix the soft butter with the powdered sugar and a pinch of salt.
Add the whole egg, the yolk, and the grated lemon zest, mixing well.
Incorporate the sifted flour with the baking powder and mix until a soft dough is obtained.
Form a loaf, wrap it in plastic wrap, and let it rest in the fridge for 2 hours.
After resting, roll the dough out on a floured parchment paper to a thickness of about 1/5 inch.
Cut out two heart-shaped (or other desired shapes) using a cardboard template.
Prick the surface with a fork and bake in a fan oven at 320°F for about 15 minutes, until the pastry is golden.
Let it cool completely before handling to avoid breaking it.In a bowl, whip the cold mascarpone, cream, and condensed milk with electric beaters until a fluffy and firm cream is obtained.
Put the cream in a piping bag with a smooth nozzle.
Place the first biscuit on a tray and make tufts of Camy Cream over the entire surface.
Place the second biscuit on top and repeat the operation.
Decorate the surface with fresh fruit, flowers, chocolates, or candies as desired.
Tips
You can make the Cream Tart in other shapes like numbers or letters.
For a cocoa version, replace ¼ cup of flour with ¼ cup of unsweetened cocoa powder.
If you have leftover dough, reuse it to create decorative cookies.
Now, enjoy this wonderful Cream Tart with Soft Shortcrust Pastry!
FAQ – Cream Tart with Soft Shortcrust Pastry
Can I prepare the soft shortcrust pastry in advance?
Yes, you can prepare the dough and store it in the refrigerator wrapped in plastic wrap for up to 2 days. Alternatively, you can bake the cookies and store them in an airtight container for up to 3 days before assembling the cake.
Can the soft shortcrust pastry be frozen?
Yes, you can freeze the dough wrapped in plastic wrap for up to 1 month. When you want to use it, let it thaw in the refrigerator before rolling it out.
How far in advance can I assemble the cake?
It is best to assemble it the same day you serve it, so the pastry won’t absorb too much moisture from the cream. If necessary, you can do it a few hours in advance and store it in the refrigerator.
How long does the Cream Tart last?
Once assembled, it should be stored in the refrigerator and consumed within 1-2 days to maintain the freshness of the cream and the pastry.
