Classic Lemon Tart Recipe – Easy, Elegant, and Irresistible. 

Sharp, silky, and just sweet enough, a lemon tart is a proper classic. It balances crisp, buttery pastry with a citrusy curd that feels light but luxurious. Perfect for weekend lunches and garden suppers, serve chilled with a dollop of crème fraîche or a few raspberries.

Ingredients

For the pastry:

·       200g plain flour

·       100g unsalted butter, cold and cubed

·       50g icing sugar

·       1 egg yolk

·       1–2 tbsp cold water

For the filling:

·       4 large eggs

·       150g caster sugar

·       150ml double cream

·       Zest of 2 unwaxed lemons

·       120ml fresh lemon juice (about 3 lemons)

Optional:

·       Icing sugar, to dust

·       Crème fraîche or whipped cream, to serve

METHOD

1. Make the pastry
Tip the flour, butter, and icing sugar into a food processor and pulse until it resembles breadcrumbs. Add the egg yolk and a tablespoon of cold water. Pulse again until it just comes together. If needed, add a little more water. Shape into a disc, wrap in clingfilm and chill in the fridge for 30 minutes.

Preheat your oven to 180°C (160°C fan, Gas Mark 4). Roll out the chilled pastry on a lightly floured surface and line a 23cm loose-bottomed tart tin. Prick the base with a fork, line with baking paper, and fill with baking beans or rice. Blind bake for 15 minutes, then remove the paper and beans and bake for another 10 minutes until golden and cooked through. Leave to cool slightly.

2. Make the filling
Whisk the eggs and caster sugar together in a large bowl. Stir in the cream, lemon zest, and juice. Pour the mixture into the tart case.

3. Bake
Reduce the oven to 150°C (130°C fan, Gas Mark 2). Bake the tart for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the filling is just set with a slight wobble in the middle. Leave to cool at room temperature, then chill in the fridge for at least 2 hours.

4. Serve
Dust with icing sugar, add sliced fruit for decoration, and serve chilled. Crème fraîche or seasonal berries make a great pairing.

If you’re not up for rolling pastry, COOK does a brilliant Lemon Tart delivered straight to your door, no mess, no effort, just slice and serve, and enjoy the deliciousness.