If you’ve been wanting to hang out but can’t come up with anything fun, or can’t convince your friends, I have the perfect solution. Fruit tarts. It’s finally spring and there is no better way to celebrate the incoming of the new season than with a dessert, and no better way to do that than with people you care about. 

Why fruit tarts? Well, they’re not only simple and a great dessert for even a beginner, but they also showcase and highlight any type of fruit that is now in its prime.

Baking with friends is a perfect way to bond and grow closer to each other, the tasty treat you create is also a pretty nice plus. It’s important to spend time with your friends, and remind them that they’re important to you. Inviting them to bake with you is a perfect way to do so, or you could even make a tart to enjoy together.

Now, let’s get into it.

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The Custard

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ cup of whole milk
• ½ cup heavy cream 
• ½ cup sugar, divided
• pinch of salt
• 3 tablespoons cornstarch
• 4 tablespoons cold butter cut into pieces
• 5 egg yolks ½ teaspoons vanilla extract

Steps:

1. Combine Egg Mixture

• In a medium bowl whisk together half the sugar, salt, cornstarch, and egg yolks until the mixture becomes light and creamy
• When separating yolks from whites, you can save the egg whites in a separate bowl for other dishes to minimize waste

2. Mix and Simmer

• In a medium saucepan, combine the milk, cream, and the remaining sugar and mix. Stir occasionally until the liquid comes to a simmer
• Look for little bubbles, not a full boil

3. Tempering

• While continuously whisking, slowly pour in about ½ cup of the warm milk mixture into the egg mixture at a time
• Tempering the mixture, adding little by little, prevents the yolks from scrambling

4. Cook until Thickened

• Transfer the tempered egg mixture back into the saucepan and turn the heat to medium. Cook for 2 minutes, whisking constantly until the mixture thickens
• It might take a little longer than 2 minutes, but cook until there is a pudding consistency

5. Whisk in Butter and Flavoring

• Remove the saucepan from the heat and then whisk in the butter and vanilla extract until smooth and glossy

6. Chill

• Transfer the pastry cream to a bowl and cover it with plastic wrap placed directly on the surface of the pastry cream and then refrigerate for at least 2 hours before decorating 
• The plastic wrap goes right on top of the cream to avoid creating a skin on the surface

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The Crust

A fan favorite life hack is purchasing a pre-made pie crust instead of making one from scratch. The crust-making process is one that is long and difficult for beginners, and the best part of a tart is the filling anyways. 

The best type of crust to buy is a graham cracker pie crust, it pairs well with the pastry cream and it tastes even better because it’s less work. 

Once your cream has finished cooling you can scoop it into the premade crust and spread it out so it’s smooth. After this, your tart is ready to decorate. 

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Decorating

Best fruits to use:

• Strawberries 
• Blueberries
• Raspberries
• Blackberries
• Kiwis

Using different colored fruits helps keep the tarts looking fresh and interesting, but picking your favorite fruits is also key. 

Decorating the tarts is subjectively the best part, the creative and decorative aspect of it is something that is super fun. Having each friend be in charge of different fruits, or taking turns placing pieces of fruits works pretty well. 

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Once your tart is finished you can enjoy it with friends, family, or even by yourself. It’s the perfect treat to tote along to a picnic or share after a meal. Your tart is also safe in the fridge for a few days, so you can make it in advance for a date if that works best for you. No matter where you eat it, or who you eat it with, it will be delicious and will definitely create a special memory between you and those you’re with.