Lemon lovers, this one’s for YOU! My Tarte Au Citron is not just any lemon tart—it’s a zesty, sweet, and tangy explosion of flavor that will have you coming back for more. It’s bright, bold, and absolutely perfect for when you want a dessert that’s as refreshing as it is indulgent.
The secret to this tart? That lemony filling! It’s silky smooth with just the right balance of tartness to make your taste buds dance. And don’t get me started on the buttery crust—flaky, golden, and the perfect base for all that citrusy goodness. You’ll love how every bite is a mix of creamy, zingy lemon and melt-in-your-mouth pastry.
But here’s the kicker—it’s surprisingly easy to make! Whether you’re whipping it up for a special occasion or just treating yourself (you deserve it!), this lemon tart will steal the show. It’s like sunshine on a plate, and trust me, once you try it, you’ll never want another lemon dessert again!
I found that adding crème fraiche or sour cream to lemony desserts does not take away from the rich lemony taste, but balances them out and makes them less acidic and overall more pleasant and balanced.
Love the vibrant colour!
For the tart shell:
Beat butter and sugar, add salt. Sift in flour and stir with a wooden spoon. Knead gently by hand and shape into a disk. Store in the fridge for half an hour but not more. Roll between two gently floured parchment paper sheets. Roll out to as best of a circle as you can which is slightly longer than diameter plus double the height of the tart shell. My tart pan was 10” in diameter and 1” in height; be sure to use a tart pan with a removable bottom. Therefore, I rolled my dough into a circle of just over 12” in diameter. Transfer this to the shell the best you can without breaking it. If it breaks, gently fix the dough by evenly pinching it with your finger. Take care to press it into all the crevasses of the tart shell. Make sure it’s all the same thickness. If you need to repair the top of the shell, add a piece of extra dough to the bottom of the shell and push it upwards. Roll clean rolling pin over the tart shell to cut off the excess dough. Put the tart pan on a baking sheet to avoid accidentally breaking it, dock with a fork and chill for at least 45 minutes. Bake @ 325° for 20-25 minutes (23 for me) until it just begins to brown like a sugar cookie but is still very pale all around. It will shrink slightly, but don’t worry, the recipe accounts for that. Cool completely before filling. Take care not to break it.
For tart filling:
Combine eggs, egg yolks, pinch of salt and sugar in a double boiler over barely simmering water. This concoction is called sabayon. Set the bowl over a pot of barely simmering water.
Your sabayon will need to be cooked, while being constantly whisked to avoid scrambling of the eggs, for 8-10 mins total; make sure the internal temperature has reached 175°, at which point your eggs will be fully cooked and safe to eat. Add lemon juice in 3 additions through the cooking process. Turn off the heat, leave the bowl in a double boiler and start adding butter one tablespoon at a time, stirring with a rubber spatula constantly, waiting for each piece to incorporate, before adding the next piece. Strain into the bowl. Add the sour cream and mix it in well. Pour into the cooled tart and chill for at least 4 hours. Enjoy!
Note: I typically use two eggs, but after giving this recipe some thought, and aiming to please the majority, I decided to add one more egg as it makes the texture more "set."
Ingredients
Directions
For the tart shell:
Beat butter and sugar, add salt. Sift in flour and stir with a wooden spoon. Knead gently by hand and shape into a disk. Store in the fridge for half an hour but not more. Roll between two gently floured parchment paper sheets. Roll out to as best of a circle as you can which is slightly longer than diameter plus double the height of the tart shell. My tart pan was 10” in diameter and 1” in height; be sure to use a tart pan with a removable bottom. Therefore, I rolled my dough into a circle of just over 12” in diameter. Transfer this to the shell the best you can without breaking it. If it breaks, gently fix the dough by evenly pinching it with your finger. Take care to press it into all the crevasses of the tart shell. Make sure it’s all the same thickness. If you need to repair the top of the shell, add a piece of extra dough to the bottom of the shell and push it upwards. Roll clean rolling pin over the tart shell to cut off the excess dough. Put the tart pan on a baking sheet to avoid accidentally breaking it, dock with a fork and chill for at least 45 minutes. Bake @ 325° for 20-25 minutes (23 for me) until it just begins to brown like a sugar cookie but is still very pale all around. It will shrink slightly, but don’t worry, the recipe accounts for that. Cool completely before filling. Take care not to break it.
For tart filling:
Combine eggs, egg yolks, pinch of salt and sugar in a double boiler over barely simmering water. This concoction is called sabayon. Set the bowl over a pot of barely simmering water.
Your sabayon will need to be cooked, while being constantly whisked to avoid scrambling of the eggs, for 8-10 mins total; make sure the internal temperature has reached 175°, at which point your eggs will be fully cooked and safe to eat. Add lemon juice in 3 additions through the cooking process. Turn off the heat, leave the bowl in a double boiler and start adding butter one tablespoon at a time, stirring with a rubber spatula constantly, waiting for each piece to incorporate, before adding the next piece. Strain into the bowl. Add the sour cream and mix it in well. Pour into the cooled tart and chill for at least 4 hours. Enjoy!
Note: I typically use two eggs, but after giving this recipe some thought, and aiming to please the majority, I decided to add one more egg as it makes the texture more "set."
Notes
